Running head: VISION AND RATIONALE

Vision and Rationale Wayne Cordy Kennesaw State University

VISION AND RATIONALE Vision Statement Student centered strategies will be used to integrate technology into the curriculum by engaging students in meaningful technology opportunities that develop core knowledge and skills they will need in the 21st century. Quality professional learning on student centered technology will be provided frequently and consistently to teachers and administrators. All stakeholders including parents and community members will support meaningful technology experiences that require students to think critically and problem solve consistently. Rationale

In order for students to be prepared for the 21st century, we must provide beyond just core skills and knowledge. We must provide experiences that challenge students to use their knowledge and skills by thinking critically, applying knowledge to new situations, analyzing information, comprehending new ideas, communicating, collaborating, solving problem, making decisions (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2002, p. 11). Student centered learning opportunities are the way that we fulfill this goal. According to Moeller and Reitzes (2011), student-centered learning environments, students are more engaged, responsible learners. They work to develop and explore their own unique academic and career interests, and produce authentic, professional quality work to demonstrate their learning (p. 17). Student centered technology environments provide flexibility in how schools approach student learning. Moeller

and Reitzes (2011) state that a student-centered school moves away from the current one-sizefits-all approach to education towards a more adaptive and flexible approach in which learning opportunities are customized to maximize learning outcomes (p. 17). Student use of technology shows many benefits and the overall effects of technology on student outcomes may

VISION AND RATIONALE be greater than previously thought (Waxman et al., 2003, p. 18). Using technology in

insolation will not lead to these results. Creigton (2003) asserts that technology in itself will not get us where we want to go. It must be driven by teachers and students using technology as a tool to perform at a higher level (p. 102). Meaningful uses of technology leads to deeper learning and application by students. According to Baylor and Ritchie (2002), if a technology enhanced lesson is integrated into the larger curriculum with direct tie-ins, students are more likely to infuse the knowledge into existing cognitive structures (p. 7). In order to maximize our resources and increase the likelihood of successful integration we need to help teachers understand how to use technology to facilitate meaningful learning, defined as that which enables students to construct deep and connected knowledge, which can be applied to real situations (Ertmer & Ottenbreit Leftwich, p. 258). Moeller and Reitzes (2011) state that while technology can support student centered learning, technology alone is not likely to transform traditional learning environments into student-centered ones (p. 45). We must also shift our perception of technology and its purpose in the educational process. According to Ertmer (2010), it is time to shift our mindsets away from the notion that technology provides a supplemental teaching tool and assume, as with other professions, that technology is essential to successful performance outcomes (p. 256). Our use of student centered technology must be purposeful and seen as an essential part of our curriculum that promotes the development and use of higher thinking skills among our students. Teachers Role Teachers provide daily opportunities for students to engage and interact with technology in meaningful ways that utilized diverse student centered strategies. Students will take a more active role in their learning and teachers will become guides or facilitators in the learning process

VISION AND RATIONALE Teacher technology leaders will work with colleagues to develop proficiency in strategic

professional learning that focuses on the use of technology along with student centered strategies that are effective with developing 21st skills among students. Moreover, teachers will reflect over their practice to ensure that student center practices are being implemented successfully and meeting the needs of their students. Students Role Students will use diverse technology to think critically, apply knowledge to new situations, analyze information, comprehend new ideas, communicate, collaborate, solve problems, and make decisions. In addition, students will use tools to effectively create products that reflect their learning and share these products with authentic audiences. Students will frequently reflect on their learning using technology and gauge their effectiveness with using technology during the learning process. Administrators Role The administration team will promote student centered technology strategies and endorse teacher use of such strategies with students. Administrators will also use available resources

and structures to provide teachers will professional learning including technology leaders, technology mentors, etc. Technology leaders will provide need based professional learning opportunities that focus on student centered technology strategies which may include ongoing support through mentor programs. The administrators will work with technology leaders to provide learning opportunities for parents and other stakeholders that focus on diverse technology and student centered strategies used with these tools. Finally, the administration

VISION AND RATIONALE

team will support student centered innovation in technology used by teachers to meet the needs of students. Parents Role Parents advocate for the use of student centered strategies with technology in the classroom by holding the school and school district accountable for the implementation. Moreover, parents will support these strategies by working with their children to complete at home assignments that require technology. Parents will also further their learning by participating in learning opportunities provided by the school. School Districts Role The school district will collaborate with the school to analyze technology need, evaluate the purchases of technologies based on student learning needs, and adequately fund technology purchases. District officials will also advocate for the use of student technology centered strategies among teachers and create structures that reward innovate teacher use of student centered strategies with technology integration. Conclusion The success of our integration depends on all stakeholders working together to develop the strategies and structures that will harness the power of student centered technology learning strategies. When technology usage is meaningful and student centered, students succeed and gain skills that essential to citizenry in the 21st century. By moving away from the traditional structure that has taken place and moving to a space where students are the focus, we will provide the high quality instruction we seek and want for our students.

VISION AND RATIONALE References

Baylor, A.L. & Ritchie, D. (2002). What Factors Facilitate Teacher Skill, Teacher Morale, and Perceived Student Learning in Technology-Using Classrooms? Computers & Education, 39(4), 395-414.

Creighton, T. (2003). The principal as technology leader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, Inc. Ertmer, P & Ottenbreit-Leftwich, A., (2010). Teacher Technology Change: How Knowledge, Confidence, Beliefs, and Culture Intersect. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 42 (3), 255284 Moeller, B. & Reitzes, T. (2011). Integrating Technology with Technology Learning. Nellie Quincy, MA. Nellie Mae Education Foundation. Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (2002) Learning for the 21st Century: A Report and Mile Guide for 21st Century Skills. Retrieved February 1, 2014 from http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/P21_Report.pdf Waxman, H., Lin, M., & Michko, G. (2003) A Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Teaching and Learning with Technology on Student Outcomes. Naperville, IL. Learning Point Associates.