NETS-T+Standard+5


 * //Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership//**

//Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers://

a. participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning. b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others. c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning. d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community.


 * Reflection**

Technology facilitators and leaders assist teachers by connecting content and pedagogy with technological methods. Appropriately, facilitators must have the knowledge, skills, and attitude to promote and assist with these connections. However, it is just as important that teachers have professional knowledge of technology integration themselves. Teachers need to be able to interact at the same level, speak the language, have a working understanding and intuitiveness of technologies that facilitators are trying to integrate. As indicated by Williamson & Redish (2009), "Students also benefit indirectly when educators use technology to enhance their own productivity and professional practice." Teachers should be involved in technology learning communities, share in the decision making process, research new ways of infusing pedagogies with technology, and improve the technological effectiveness of the teaching profession in general.

The provided articles meet Standard 5 requirements of teacher technological development, contribution to learning communities, and collaboration with peers on local and national levels. The "Presenting with Pizzazz" PowerPoint is intended to teach teachers how to connect technology with pedagogy and curriculum. It describes the benefits and types of instructional technology available and how it applies to teacher and student centered learning. It allows for reflection & evaluation of technology tools and inspires teachers to pursue professional development on their own. The "Letters of Recommendation" artifact is a compilation of letters from student assistants whom I have developed leadership and technology skills as they worked in support roles under my tutelage. Lastly, the link to the "Academic Lab Management Conference" is an annual event that brings facilitators like myself together to discuss technology issues, ideas, and future computer lab technologies in an open forum format. I attend these conferences on a regular basis to participate in learning communities on a national level and promote community building support among peer facilitators. This ultimately improves student learning through effective use of technology my college's computer labs.

The weakness of these artifacts is that they are meant to improve the professionalism of facilitators like myself and are not attuned to the professional development of the teachers whom I serve. Facilitators must not only improve their own knowledge, skills, and pedagogical methods, but must encourage teachers to do the same. It is important that I find appropriate methods to encourage this development in teachers through targeted workshops, involvement with teacher-to-teacher learning communities, and leadership initiatives.


 * Artifacts**

Presenting with Pizazz media type="custom" key="22040772" Handout:

Letters of Recommendation:

Link: Academic Lab Management Conference (LabMan)