Technology Assessment Surveys

In our first assignment for Instructional Leadership - The Technology Link, we were asked to develop a blog and respond to two different surveys. The first survey was a "Technology Applications Inventory" which can be accessed at: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/technology/techapp/assess/teksurv.pdf. This survey focused primarily on the familiarity of the instructor with technology and its uses. Out of 58 total yes or no questions, I only answered no to two questions. I am pretty confident in my own personal use of technology and feel that I can learn whatever I don’t currently know. The second survey was a SETDA survey for teachers which can be found at http://www.setda-peti.org/tools.html. This survey had some questions asking about teacher comfort with technology and access to things like online gradebooks, but much of it focused on research based use of technology in the classroom. My answers were less confident on this survey than on the first one. For instance, I know that students have access to technology at school, but I know that many of our students do not have access to the internet or an updated computer at home. Also, we have the use of things like laptops for students, mimios, science probes, and interwrite boards, but teachers are not required to use them and many teachers are intimidated by the technology because they have not been given enough time and training to feel comfortable using the equipment with their students. I enjoy trying out new “toys” and use the fact that I teach AP level seniors first and second period as an opportunity to try new things even if I am not 100% comfortable with the technology yet. My seniors help me troubleshoot when something is not working correctly. I feel very comfortable using things like the laptops for students and the interwrite board. I know how to use the mimio as a way to control my desktop from the whiteboard, but I would like to learn more of the interactive tricks available using that tool. I think the surveys are a great tool for assessing a teacher’s individual use of technology as well as a district’s use of technology. The important thing is to make sure that teachers and districts that take these surveys act upon the results that they find.