Technology Skills Assessment

After completing the Technology Applications Inventory and the SETDA District Survey, I realized that although I feel like I know technology pretty well, I have several areas to grow in! The Technology Applications Inventory revealed that I do know the “basics” of technology and could share that knowledge comfortably with teachers. Completing the research class helped me grow in the information acquisition domain. Although I am stronger in the foundations and information acquisition domains, I have lots of growth needed in solving problems with technology tools and the communications domain. I need more experience with spreadsheets, databases, multimedia projects. What surprised me the most was the communication domain. After completing the inventory, I realized that although I use technology in my job to communicate with teachers, I do not use technology in a variety of ways to communicate. I really need to learn more about communicating using more multimedia presentation styles.

While completing the SETDA District Survey, I realized I still have much knowledge to gain regarding district implementation of technology. Although our district has a technology department that trains us in many avenues of technology, I realized I do not know the impact the technology is having on the students. Although we work closely with the technology department to embed technology in each of the content areas, I do not know if the use of technology is impacting student achievement in those core content areas. Nor do I know if data is being collected to determine if technology is impacting students’ 21st Century Skills, student engagement, or student proficiency with technology. I need to visit with the technology department to see if/how this data is being collected. What pleased me the most about completing the survey was verifying all the training on technology that is offered to our teachers and the expectation of using technology in the classroom. The only part of technology that isn’t included in our district for students is their own email. Our district also has been working hard at the student:computer ratio. Currently the ratio at the elementary is 1:2.75, at the middle schools 1:2.88, and 1:2 at the high schools.

Completing both the inventory and survey has taught me areas I need to gain more information in. I will be visiting with our technology coordinator to determine how data is being collected on the impact of using technology with students. I also will be trying to learn more about multimedia presentation styles, along with getting some experience in creating spreadsheets and databases.