1.2+Position+and+Leadership+Goals


 * Position Goals **

It is my desire to further my career as an emerging technologist in acquiring a position as a technology facilitator at the elementary school level. In this setting, I will best utilize my skills and background experiences to assist teachers in integrating technologies. Williamson and Redish (2009) stressed, “The work of technology facilitators most likely occurs in one-to-one coaching or small group scenarios” (p.24). Considering that my learner orientation is hands-on, this would be my best fit as I mentor and model the benefits of technology at the campus level. Furthermore, my background experience in using technology in the classroom came during my formative years as a first year teacher at a pilot technology elementary school. Through this experience, I fully understand the importance of getting teachers to embrace and adapt technology implementation in the foundational years of our Digital Natives. ** Leadership Goals **

I, moreover, seek to be the kind of leader that initiates technology use in a non-threatening way. We understand the impediments of technology use due to teachers’ lack of knowledge, skill, and understanding in integrating it into the learning. I want to lead firmly realizing the urgency of now for its use yet gently remembering how challenging this can be for some teachers to adopt. Prensky (2001) reminds us of this significance with this metaphor, “It’s very serious, because the single biggest problem facing education today is that our Digital Immigrant instructors, who speak an outdated language (that of the pre-digital age), are struggling to teach a population that speaks an entirely new language” (p. 3). The need to transform minds of these immigrants to embrace teaching that is engaging and embedded in the curriculum is my driving force. Understanding the need to accommodate such a wide array of diverse digital natives fuels this drive. My personal need to apply my learning in a hands-on way and make a difference in the trenches furthermore propels me. I choose people in my line of work which entails being engaged with them on all fronts. Through directly working with teachers and sometimes students, my initiatives will enhance learning and make a difference ultimately in improving the school I am in. Ultimately, with this experience, I plan to affect change and become a technology leader as a district technology specialist.

Prensky, M. (2001). //Digital natives, digital immigrants: Part 1//. On the Horizon, //9//(5), 1-6.

Williamson, J, & Redish, T. (2009). //ISTE’s technology and leadership standards: what every K-12 technologist should know and be able to do.// Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.