Techie in Primary

I have come to the end of my EDU777 class and have finished my technology proposal project. I have spent the last 7 weeks of class working on each part of this technology proposal. Some aspects of the project were easier than others. Trying to understand the challenges to the proposal left me feeling doubtful that it would be successful. However, this was obviously a very important aspect of building the proposal, tweaking and adjusting the proposal as needing and thinking of all the pros and cons.  This project has helped me to better understand the role of a technology specialist in a school. Especially, the scope of the job as well as the many hats a technology specialist might wear. The research, planning, and organizational work that was necessary to create the technology plan showed me how complex the position can be. In addition to coaching teachers and planning technology instruction for students, the technology specialist is also a problem solver and may be relied on to...

Looking Back This week I am finishing up my first class for my technology specialist degree at Dominican University. Before starting this class I was a little nervous. Do I know enough about technology? Will I be able to keep up? How much of it will go over my head? Am I flexible enough in my thinking and teaching to try new things? I thought back to last school year when my kindergarten team was piloting the 1:1 device initiative in our school district. I was terrified! My students didn't touch the iPads until October and every time they did I was filled with anxiety, expecting something to go wrong. I can say with confidence that I have come a very long way. Those devices really changed my teaching and my students learning. Creating, explaining their thinking, and sharing was really transformative for my students. That experience encouraged me to start my technology specialist classes at Dominican. This first tech class allowed me to try so many new things: my first blog, T...