As a leader in educational technology, what can you do to help make emerging technologies valuable to others, while maintaining gender, cultural, and socioeconomic sensitivity?
I believe the first step in making emerging technologies important to others is getting the word out about them. People can not use the technology if they do not know it exists. I have placed myself in a role at my school as the go to person for the implementation of technology in the classroom. One of the ways that I have done this is that I have started an interactive document where I have placed all of the great technology tools and a description of what they do and how to use them on a shared drive that all teachers can access it. I have also started creating tutorials for each of these technologies for support. In addition to this interactive document I have been holding monthly presentations for my staff where I extend an invitation for all to come and learn about the “newest” technology. I believe that through these two services that I am offering to my staff I am giving them all the opportunity to get their toes wet with technology and that when they are ready to jump in they will know that they have a support system in me.
I want emerging technologies to be valuable to all and I am trying to maintain gender, cultural, and socioeconomic sensitivity through keeping all technologies that I present on free, easy to use, and available through any of the school’s shared computer lab. If I can continue to present upon technologies that fit all of these characteristics I should be able to steer clear of any sensitivity issues. This will begin to be more challenging as I do more and more presentations, but for now, I have not had any problems with these issues. I hope I can still say that in six months.
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Kassidy,
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with you that we have to introduce the emerging technologies to others before the technologies can have any value to them. Being a resource within your school is an excellent way to introduce the emerging technologies. You have the opportunity to work with both, other educators and students. That is an excellent route to take. Good post.
Tia
Kassidy, I like some of your ideas on decreasing the digital divide. I concern I had was how do we, as stewards for educational technology, empower others to assist us in our endeavors? I like the idea of being available to our faculties for support, but how do we develop and extend opportunities to others to become more active in technology? Just some thoughts! Thank you
ReplyDeleteshane