Administrators+Evaluating+Teacher+Use+of+Technology

**Administrators Evaluating Teacher Use of Technology **

The purpose of the survey is to assist administrators in their evaluation of teacher technology use in order to guide professional development for 2012 - 2013. This assessment helps establish a baseline of where the teachers are in their use of technology. Future surveys will help evaluate continued technology use and where teacher supports are needed.

Before creating a needs’ assessment, it is important to recall goals found in Southern Lehigh’s Educational Technology Report. One of the goals is developing highly qualified teachers as measured by “engagement in professional development experiences, and demonstration of continual growth through annual observations/evaluations by supervisors” (SLSD, 2011, p.18). The report also states that the district is addressing the current needs of teachers through professional development academies and workshops utilizing a variety of technology and software (SLSD, 2011, p. 51). The report adds the district will “work with the Building Principals to monitor observable classroom behaviors that promote 21st century learning and student-centered, technology rich learning activities” (SLSD, 2011, p. 53). Finally, the plan states the district will “develop a differentiated plan for all teachers and administrators to develop a personal professional growth plan to demonstrate proficiency in the NET Standards” (SLSD, 2011, p. 18).These goals show the appropriateness of making a survey for supervisors and building principals to evaluate teachers’ use of technology to ensure learning is student-centered, technology-rich, promotes 21st century skills, and demonstrates NET Standards.

The NET Standards for Administrators provides an additional reason for evaluating teachers’ use of technology, that is, to improve schools through “effective use of information and technology resources” (ISTE, 2009, p. 2). Administrators achieve this by collecting and analyzing data, interpreting and sharing those results “to improve staff performance and student learning” (ISTE, 2009, p. 2).

To answer these needs, I generated a survey “Administrators Evaluating Teacher Use of Technology” using Google Docs. The survey is based upon the Education Technology Report to promote “21st century learning and student-centered, technology rich learning activities” (SLSD, 2011, p. 53). Since SLSD participated in the Classrooms for the Future (CFF) grant, the survey includes technology found in a smart classroom (Hatboro-Horsham, 2007). The survey includes NETS for Students standards (ISTE, 2008) and 21st Century Skills (P21, 2011). I utilized current research information from two documents I had written for the proposal—“Classroom Observation Tool ”  and “Implementation of a Ubiquitous Computing Environment.” I made use of Ribble’s (2011) definition of digital citizenship to help explain a question in the survey.Moskowitz and Martaban (2009) stressed the importance of blogs, wikis, Google Docs, and online databases so I included these as well. At the end of the survey, I derived three questions from Amankwatia’s (2008) “School District Administrator Interview Protocol” which in turn had been modified from Cates (2004). Finally, I got ideas of how to format the survey from OurIMPACT (2003). The link for my Google Docs survey “Administrators Evaluating Teacher Use of Technology” is as follows: []

**Reflections **

This activity fulfills the requirements for
 * I.A. Identification, selection, installation and maintenance of technology infrastructure, and hardware and software applications for school administration and instruction including: **
 * Assessment of educational and administrative technological needs **
 * I.C. Management and administration of technology programs at the building, district and regional levels including: **
 * Monitoring and evaluating technology plans **

The activity was to “design a needs assessment of our Administrative team to guide Professional Development for the 12-13 school year.” The activity fulfills PDE requirements by assessing teachers’ technological needs (IA) and evaluating if they fulfill the goals of the technology plan (IC).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">As I created the survey, I found it very helpful to find out what were the District’s goals as stated in the Education Technology Plan. In addition, my research on “Classroom Observation Tool <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;">” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">and “Implementation of a Ubiquitous Computing Environment <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;">” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">helped me focus on a clear objective in formulating the survey. Although the school has recently conducted a school wide survey on technology use in March 2012, yet it was from the teacher’s perspective. An observation conducted by administrative or other trained staff will help triangulate the results and help to better evaluate what teacher’s needs are in terms of professional development.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Even though making my own observation tool was a great experience and is tailored to meet the needs of SLSD, yet it has never been used. However, it is a valid tool because it is based upon the District’s goals as well as standards established by NET Standards and 21st Century Skills. It is reliable if used correctly and in the same manner each time. An excellent observation tool--I mentioned in my research in “Classroom Observation Tool” <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;">report--is <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|ICOT] <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;">, developed by ISTE’s staff and consultants. ICOT is a valuable tool that is both reliable and valid. ICOT provides <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|training] <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;"> as well. I would recommend its use. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Another free assessment offered by Partnership for 21st Century Skills (n.d.) called <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|MILE Guide Self-Assessment Survey] <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. It allows administrators assess how their schools implement 21st Century Skills.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">References **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Amankwatia, T. B. (2008). //Teaching with technology for 21st-century learning: A multiple-case study of a school district's high school laptop initiative// (Doctoral dissertation). Available from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Hatboro-Horsham. (2007). //Classrooms for the future.// Retrieved from http://www.casenex.com/casenet/pages/cases/hatboroHorshamEL/yearOneGrant.pdf

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">ISTE. (2008). //ISTE NETS-S//. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students.aspx

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">ISTE. (2009). //ISTE NETS-A.// Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS-A_Standards.sflb.ashx

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Moskowitz, S. & Martaban, S. (2009). //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Administrators accessing the effectiveness of technology //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. Retrieved from http://www.mcgillivray.org/kevin/NCCE09/Administrators%20Accessing%20the%20Effectiveness%20of%20Technology.pdf

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">OurIMPACT. (3002). //OurIMPACT for administrators.// Retrieved from http://www.ourimpact.com/service2.htm

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">P21. (2011). //Framework for 21st century learning.// Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">P21. (n.d.). //Mile guide self-assessment survey.// Retrieved from http://mileguide.p21.org/

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Ribble, M. (2011). //Digital citizenship: Using technology appropriately//. Retrieved from http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Southern Lehigh School District. (2011). //Educational technology report//. Retrieved from http://www.slsd.org/files/filesystem/Ed%20Tech%20Plan.pd