EDLD 5364 Week 4 Reflection - What I Learned

While much time is spent in dealing with administrative issues, a principal or district administrator is more than ever an educational leader with responsibilities for guiding classroom activities and focusing thoughtful attention on the intellectual growth of students and teachers.

Schrum, Lynne; Solomon, Gwen (2007-10-01). Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools (p. 111). International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Kindle Edition.

     In my first year as a campus principal, I have found the statement above to be so true.  While I am continually dealing with discipline, fiscal, or scheduling issues, I am also constantly trying to find ways to expand students' and teachers' intellectual growth.  Schrum and Solomon (2007), discuss the usefulness of technology and it's role in students' and teachers' development.  I believe that it is important for me, as an administrator, to model the use of technology.  I think that by using podcasts to communicate some professional development training sessions, and having teachers participate in group blogs to reflect and share their growth, our school environment will become more eager to embrace the use of technology in the classroom.
     Using technology in the classroom can be a great motivator for students.  Students of today grow up surrounded by technology.  Almost every student in my elementary has access to a smartphone, xbox, iPad, or some type of technology tool.  Incorporating their use in the classroom can be a motivator that helps learning become more fun or interesting.  Pitler states, "Technology can scaffold, or provide support, while students are learning the summarizing process." (2007)  If teachers can experience technology as a motivator and a positive experience in their professional development, then they will be more likely to incorporate the use of technology in their classroom. 
     As an administrator, much of my time is spent trying to motivate students to make better choices in the classroom.  Students who are not motivated to perform in the classroom usually have more behavior problems and usually perform lower on standardized tests.  I believe that by incorporating technology in the classroom, students will be more eager to put forth a greater effort when doing their school work.  Improving in this area should improve test scores and eliminate discipline problems.