Thinking About Learning

Each year I send out a technology survey to my teachers to get a read on their “technology temperatures.” The survey provides me with a picture of how they perceive their use of technology and of their preferences for professional development.  This year my district generated the list of questions.  I used the free version of Survey Monkey for the survey, so I was limited to 10 questions.  That didn’t leave any space for questions of my own, but the information I received was helpful.  After I received the results, I used Open Mind 2 to convert the results to a web page: Tech Survey 09-10.

The start of school this year has been  particularly challenging due to so many new technology products in our district: new Windows domain, new Outlook email that replaced Groupwise, PowerSchool replaced SASI, and PowerTeacher gradebook replaced IGPro.  There have been so many glitches and frustrations.  In some ways the “tools” have eclipsed instructional support in the areas of time and need.  Now that it’s time to generate the first term report card, PowerTeacher has become a major time consumer.

The survey results, however, provided me with a good dose of encouragement!  Most of my faculty seems to be developing some self-confidence in using technology in the classroom.  They’re also showing interest in learning new technology skills and in exploring a variety of tools for improving and enhancing learning.  Unfortunately my opportunities for providing professional development sessions are very limited this year.  My district adopted a new literacy coaching model this year, and the literacy coaches visit our school every 3 weeks.  This plan eats up designated training time that the math coach and I used to have to meet with grade level teams.  I have found, however, that one-to-one mentoring is actually my best strategy anyway.  I try to meet with teams as they work on collaborative planning so that I know what standards they are planning to teach.  Then I’m able to go to individual teachers with project ideas that will address those standards.  This is the part of my job that I love!  I’m hoping that after we get this first round of report cards printed that I’ll begin finding the time to fully focus on teaching and learning.