1. Week Five: Course Reflection What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned? When I read the course name I expected a class on the role of an instructional leader at the campus level, which may have included technology. Once I reviewed the course description, I expected the class to cover a variety of issues facing schools concerning the 21st century learner. The course exceeded my expectations covering both the pros and cons of technology through the articles and the application of the content by exploring the state requirements, assessment and use of technology tools that can be applied to the classroom. The course offered future instructional leaders a wealth of information to consider and ensure they understand in the realm of technology. To the extent that you achieved those outcomes, are they still relevant to the work you do at school? Why or why not? Having the opportunity to read several articles that discussed professional development, I am confident that this course is extremely relevant to my current position. As an instructional facilitator for the district, it is important that I incorporate technology applications into all of my instructional trainings so teachers gain a better understanding of how they can be used in the classroom. I have already begun to have discussions with teachers about using student blog pages as running portfolios for progress and to record fluency data. The teachers are excited and the few students who we have piloting the program are excited that they get to use the computer. I am exploring podcasting short instructional clips and using blogging to discuss instructional approaches for teachers across the district. What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them? I would have like have participated in the webcasts. I also would have liked the opportunity to explore some other types of technology described in the course. I made notes to try podcasting and wiki’s. I also made notes to explore some of the areas on the SBEC standards I did not understand or have knowledge. These included the different types of files, the difference between digital and analog and creating linear and non-linear multimedia projects incorporating text, audio, video, and graphics. The standards have provided me a checklist of skills to improve to ensure that I am proficient in all areas before assuming an instructional leadership position. Were you successful in carrying out the course assignments? If not what prevented or discouraged you? While I successfully completed all of the course assignments, it was not without some anxiety. The creation of the blog page and then attaching different types of files that needed conversion was intimidating. Having completed the process, I am thankful to have the skill. I know that this is knowledge I will use again soon. The creation of the action plan was a difficult task. The instructions left some interpretation as whether it was a global plan for professional development or a detailed plan of need specific to the district. What did you learn from this course…about yourself, your technology and leadership skills and your attitudes? This course offered an opportunity to explore technology with a purpose with instructions for application. I learned that while I felt intimidated, I enjoyed exploring and learning using technology. I often wonder why I decided to earn a master’s degree online. I believe this opportunity allows me experience the use of technology for education. I am a 21st century learner in the aspect that this program is a distance learning class. Even though I do not see my classmates, I have made friendships through discussion boards, e-mail and social networking with classmates. The opportunities technology offers should not be limited to post secondary schools but be incorporated throughout all levels of schooling. What is the educational value of blogs and blogging to the 21st century learner? Blogging allows access to the world. The skills our current learners need include effective communication, working collaboratively, technical writing and technology skills. Blogging incorporates all of these skills. It allows students access to discussion beyond the walls of the school building. Blogs also act as a running portfolio of student work. Teachers are able to show progress by comparing past work with current work. It also provides students with skills that they will use in employment. Blogs are also powerful tools for principals and leadership to communicate with the staff. They allow for collaboration and discussion without having to be in the same room or time schedule. What are the concerns of blogs and blogging in education? Blogging poses concerns for student safety. Students using blog sites that are not protected by the districts technology are open for the world to access. The blog sites for educational use must be monitored to ensure students are not communicating inappropriately. They need to be protected from predators and cyber bullying. Ethical technology use is essential to instructional technology programs. This includes teaching students with whom and how they should post. Districts also need to control the content that is posted to blog sites, ensuring the content promotes the district in a positive way. How can you us blogging to communicate with school stakeholders? Instructional leaders can use blogging to communicate with their faculty, form professional learning communities, provide professional development, and foster relations with parents and community members. This forum allows community members and parents to comment on the happenings at the school. Principals can use blogging to communicate information once shared during faculty meetings and teachers can then comment on the information. Blogging can be used by teachers to collaborate with other teachers within their departments, schools, district and profession. Teacher can use blogging for instructional purposes in the classroom. Students can use blogging to reach the world beyond the school walls.