APA+paper



     Technology for All Students Sara J. Baragona Huntsville, Alabama  

  ** Technology for All Students ** Technology has been at the center of my life for as long as I can remember. My father’s career in computers moved my family to five states during a six year period of time. As a result of my father’s career, I have felt very comfortable with technology and change. My comfort with technology has benefited me while working with students with auditory impairments. My chosen field within special education is continually changing based on new technology. When I read about the Educational Technology Leadership program I began to think about ways this could benefit my students. This degree program has stretched both my comfort level and beliefs. One will understand my growth by viewing my goals, vision of educational technology, reflections and professional development plan. ** Goals ** ** Personal Goals ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">At the beginning of this program, my goal was to find ways to support general education teachers. My focus was limited to the area of auditory impairment. During the first few educational technology classes, I began to understand that this program could be applied to a much broader spectrum of special education students. After the Teaching with Technology class, I finally realized how technology can impact all students. Wiggins and McTighe in their book, // Understanding by Design, //state that “we show our understanding of something by using it, adapting it, and customizing it” (p 93). This statement lends itself to technology as well as curriculum. I now strive to combine the curriculum and technology in a way that allows all students to show understanding. This new understanding has broadened my goals within education. I continue to pursue the goal of supporting teachers by finding technology that supports the curriculum and student needs. A new focus for me is to become more comfortable with letting go of control in the classroom. When I let students drive the educational experience, I learn more and as a result my students understand on a deeper level. My goal is to share this experience with other teachers and help them learn how to release control. ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Leadership Goals ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> I became a teacher in order to help students. I discovered a passion for working with students with auditory impairments while in my undergraduate degree program. During the past eighteen months, I have found a passion for working with teachers. I hope to pursue a position of instructional technologist so that I can fulfill both my passions. This position would allow me to work with students and teachers using technology. Currently most districts in Alabama do not have this kind of position. I will strive to become a teacher leader within my school building and possibly an instructional coach within the district. My goal will be to educate my administration at both a building and district level about educational technology, the impact it can have on school improvement, and the need for an educational technology department. While this dream might seem lofty, I know that I can make an impact in any position my district gives me by applying the principles I have learned while in the educational technology leadership program. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">