Visionary Leadership

Candidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to inspire and lead the development and implementation of a shared vision for the effective use of technology to promote excellence and support transformational change throughout the organization.

Element 1.1 Shared Vision - Candidates facilitate the development and implementation of a shared vision for the use of technology in teaching, learning, and leadership.

Element 1.2 Strategic Planning - Candidates facilitate the design, development, implementation, communication, and evaluation of technology-infused strategic plans.

Element 1.3 Policies, Procedures, Programs & Funding - Candidates research, recommend, and implement policies, procedures, programs, and funding strategies to support implementation of the shared vision represented in the school, district, state, and federal technology plans and guidelines. Funding strategies may include the development, submission, and evaluation of formal grant proposals.

Element 1.4 Diffusion of Innovations & Change - Candidates research, recommend, and implement strategies for initiating and sustaining technology innovations and for managing the change process in schools.

FRIT 7232 Grant Proposal

Summary for FRIT 7232 Grant Proposal

My group in FRIT 7232 Visionary Leadership in Instructional Technology, were asked to create a grant concerning acquiring Promethean Boards with ActivInspire software to implement into the classroom. During this assignment, my group helped create and design a shared vision for our grant (with strategically designed goals and objectives), and we worked together on creating a balanced proposal explaining the budget needed for any stakeholders involved.

I found that this assignment was extremely beneficial in understanding how to write a grant effectively to gain resources that would benefit both students, parents, administration, and community stakeholders alike. Working together with my group, we were able to effectively use each other's strengths to create a grant proposal that took into account training, acquisition of required hardware and software, and the implementation of these things into the classroom and curriculum.

FRIT 7232 Technology Plan Comparison

Summary for FRIT 7232 Technology Plan Comparison

My group in FRIT 7232 concentrated on looking at various Web 2.0 to evaluate effectiveness and usefulness in the classroom. While doing this, I was shocked at all that goes into what one needs to look at when deciding what Web 2.0 tools are most effective and useful in the school. When weighing the features, we used a number of categories, including cost. I found this beneficial, especially when one is trying to discuss with the principal and stakeholders.

While researching and doing this project, I was introduced to a number of Web 2.0 tools that I had not yet utilized. This was great, because I found so many to be wonderful in extending the curriculum, and giving my students excitement when it comes to learning. I am very happy to have completed this and from what I learned from it.

FRIT 7232 Technology Plan Evaluation

Summary for FRIT 7232 Technology Plan Evaluation

In FRIT 7232, we were asked to create a technology plan evaluation concerning a school that our group was teaching at. I found this to be an assignment that I learned a lot from, and it helped that we as a group could rely on each other's strengths. It also helped us clarify any misunderstandings we may have had when creating and completing the technology evaluation.

Developing the rubric and categories that were used to evaluate this plan was time consuming, but it truly helped me understand what to look for when looking at a technology plan, and deciding whether it is viable and lends itself to success, or if it does not help extend learning and the curriculum. Overall I had a great time with my group completing this.

FRIT 7739 Technology Program Administrator

Summary for FRIT 7739 Technology Program Administrator

In FRIT 7739, this project concerned itself with gathering and collecting information on my particular site's Media and Technology center as well as what our Technology Program Administrator is responsible for. The project went into using a variety of methods to collect information on the actual goals and objectives of the media center, various activities offered, as well as various technology and spaces the media cener and technology administrator are responsible for.

Reflection on Standard 1: Visionary Leadership

By completing the above artifacts, I believe that I have shown Visionary Leadership and achieved the standards that are required. I was able to come up with a shared vision through working with peers and collecting data from various methods such as needs assessments, surveys, interviews, and observation of available resources to help pinpoint the problem or need in the class or school and create a plan to fulfill that need. I did not know however how much detail and steps went into various technology plans and grant proposals. To me, it felt like first being a doctor and find out what is the overall problem that is needed by the students. Once the diagnosis was made, I was able to use that data and information to set up the design, development, implementation, communication, and evaluation of technology to create a more blended curriculum. I also feel the completion of these artifacts gave me a better idea what is needed to formulate a successful program, and determine the effectiveness of that program even after it has been created. I also was able to get a different view on what is needed to get the program off the ground. This includes how it is to be funded, implemented, gathering of resources, and open communication with various stakeholders. I do see how it takes more than one person to design a truly effective vision, and I feel confident about evaluating and creating technology plans for the future.