ITSE+Standard+TF-V

**Apply technology to enhance and improve personal productivity and professional practice.**

As a Campus Technology Support Specialist, I have always viewed my role as one that supports teachers with their use of technology both for productivity and student learning. I am constantly amazed at the teachers’ lack of technical skills with productivity tools, many operating at a beginner’s level. Williamson and Redish (2009) indicated that one reason teachers have not realized the technology’s full potential is the inability to conceptualized how productivity tools can be used to meet the purposes and needs of educators. With this knowledge, I chose my activities in this competency to provide technology professional development for the campus that encouraged teachers and administrators to become more self-sufficient in the use of productivity tools and adept at applying tools and skills.

Focusing on teacher and student productivity in the classroom, I developed and presented several trainings on the usefulness of websites and Web 2.0 tools in the classroom. Following the model used by Mouza (2002/2003), the teachers were given time to explore and build their technical skills, then worked on a variety of activities that demonstrated how it could be integrated into the curriculum. I found this method was effective in building the teachers’ capacity in the use of the technology. Throughout this experience, I found myself having to increase my knowledge on best practices for integrating productivity tools into the educational setting. I created a page on my campus website with the tools, access to tutorials, and a list of how the tools could be used. This site is always evolving as I come across new tools and ideas to share. One great source of information was chatting with several members of my cohort. We shared ideas, successes and failures as we worked on this standard. I found that as I talked about my learning, I was able to understand the concepts better and how to implement the activities I had planned.

Looking toward the future, I realize that technology is ever changing and will require time to research, understand and apply the tools to productivity. “By helping other educators become proficient users of productivity tools technologists can help transform schools into efficient workplaces reflecting the skills and knowledge students need to be productive members of society in the digital age” (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 104). Following Mill’s (2007) recommendation, I plan to incorporate Web 2.0 and other productivity tools into my everyday use with faculty and staff therefore introducing them to the tools in the educational setting.

Mills, L. B. (2007). The next wave now: Web 2.0. //The Education Digest//, 73(4), 4-5.

Mouza, C. (2002/2003). Learning to teach with new technology: Implications for professional development. //Journal for Research on Technology in Education//, 35(2), 272-289.

Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). ISTE’s technology facilitation and leadership standards: What every K-12 leader should know and be able to do. Washington, DC: International Society for Technology Education.