EDLD 5370 Week 1.6 Assignment - Reflection on TF Standard II

"Education Technology Facilitators plan, design, and model effective learning environments and multiple experiences supported by technology"(Williamson, 2007). Incorporating technology, for some teachers, seems to be difficult. I teach actual technology classes so it comes naturally to me. "Asking teachers to integrate technology into their instructional designs invariably adds new layers of complexity to the planning proces" (Williamson, 2007). I think this is what keeps some from adding technology to a curriculum, especially when the educator is not comfortable with the technology themselves. It may be easier to do a rotation of reading, lecture, assessment but is the student truely understanding the concept at hand? I know from my own learning experiences as a student, I learn a subject easier when I have a hands on activity or something engaging relating to it. "Because they lack strategies to integrate student computer skills efficiently and seamlessly into instruction, teachers are also concerned that training students to use technology will drastically reduce the amount of time dedicated to achieving mandated content standards" (Williamson, 2007). I agree with this statement because I run into this issue all the time as a computer teacher. A teacher assigns a project for a student to do using technology but doesn't take the time out of class to teach them how to create what is needed or even take them to a computer lab. Therefore, I get students asking me to teach them. I disagree with that because I feel obligated to help the student thus not to fail, but I shouldn't have to give my time to help with what the original teacher should have done in the first place. Possibly they are jumping to TF Standard II without being fully knowledgable in TF Standard I? I applaud the efforts, but don't care much for the direction they set out in. To combat this issue, I agree that we should "immerse teachers in professional learning experiences similar to the learning experiences they are expected to design" (Williamson, 2007). Giving professional development with proper follow up is the key. The more educators use technology, the more comfortable they are with it and the more likely they are to incorporate it into their curriculum. "Applied effectively, technology implementation not only increases student learning, understanding, and acheivement but also augments motivation to learn, encourages collaborative learning, and supports the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills" (Pitler, 2007).

Pilter, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., Malenoski, K. (2007). Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). ISTE's Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.