Technology Assessments

Being a teacher for over 15 years, I thought that I had learned many aspects of technology and had been kept "up to date" with professional development and self training. I am also a very TEKS driven teacher so am aware of the technology TEKS. However, after taking the SETDA and the Rubric for Technology Use, I realize that I have some weaknesses in the technology area and that the TEKS are much broader then I first thought.

The Technology Applications Inventory is divided into four areas of Foundations, Information Acquistion, Solving Problems with Technology Tools, and Communication. My strength was in the area of Foundations. These are primarily the tools that I use on a daily basis and teach my students. Therefore, I have the greatest amount of confidence and tend to get better at what I know rather than learning new things.

The area in which I am weakest was Solving Problems with Technology Tools. This area uses many specific products to help create and integrate. There were many products that I was not familiar with and I'm not sure if that is because our school doesn't do much with those products or I have just chosen not to learn them.

The SETDA survey had more to do with technology at our school than what I know. Overall, we have a great technology department but we still lack professional development. We are like the school in the article that let products drive our professional development. We are starting to collect data for technology but are still in the beginning stages of collecting that data. I thought an interesting word in the survey was "expectation". The question referred to how much teachers are expected to use the computers and what products the teachers are expected to use. Our administration and district buys many products but as of yet has not set any expectations for teachers usage.

Overall, I believe that these surveys are a very accurate picture of what I know about technology and what are school is doing with technology. It also shows me that I have much to learn about technology and that in order to lead a school, I have a great deal more to learn.