Technology+Facilitator+Standard+IV

Educational technology facilitators apply technology to facilitate a variety of effective assessment and evaluation strategies.

**SELF ASSESSMENT**
As I reflected on the readings in Chapters three and four, I found that some of the most pointed quotes were those that embellished the first pages of the chapters. For the TF/TL Standard IV: Assessment and Evaluation, the opening statement gave us our “light bulb moment” to consider as we read thru the text pages. “Given the level of spending of precious dollars and hours on technology-based activities, we have an obligation to learn as much as we can about how to do it right. We need to know not just what technology uses make us feel good, but which have real long-term payoffs for our students, and the adults who work with them in schools and how to maximize their benefits.” Means and Haertel, 2004.

Our government, our schools, and our families are investing a lot of money and time into this new educational plan for this new generation of students. So much of an investment that we have no choice, we have come so far past the former 20th century technology and ways of processing knowledge, that there is no turning back, no way to turn back the hands of time. But would we really want to?

Our new students are prepared to take on this technology challenge and continue into their digital future and it’s up to us to be their support team and guidance of how to best use these new life tools. As stated in our text by Williamson and Redish, “Business partners and educational technology advocates frequently assert that mastering core academic content as defined in the past is not sufficient to prepare students for meaningful participation in today’s global economy (Honey et al., 2005; NAE U NBC, 2006). In addition to foundational academic knowledge, students must be able to use technologies in ethical, accurate, and insightful ways to support the demands of economics and citizenship in modern society.”

We must continually assess and evaluate what is being taught in our schools and what kind of foundation is being laid for our students. This generation of learners are in fact, the generation that will carry the torch for us into the next century. They will be our teachers, our policeman, our firemen, our doctors, our very lives will depend on what kind of educational foundation was put into place for them and how effective it was in giving them the tools to be the next generation of Digital Native Adults.

**LEARN AS A LEARNER**
Although I do not have teacher conferences that I can attend, I do have opportunities to share the knowledge that I have gained from this program. I have been given the opportunity to be the chairperson of the Web Advisory Committee at the college that I work and where I enjoy collaborating with an assortment of personnel. Since my employment at this particular community college is in its infancy, I do feel humbled by this opportunity and a little ill-prepared to fill the role.

I have worked in the educational advertising field for a number of years and now find myself in web development, where my attention has been turned to the needs of the instructors and the students in providing a digital tool to be accessed in the classrooms, as well as in an off-campus capacity. No longer are the projects I create simply to advertise an upcoming Drama production or a student social event.

**LIFELONG SKILLS**
With this responsibility, I have found the knowledge I have gained from this program has assisted me in understanding more fully the broader picture of education and the direction it is heading. I can now voice my opinion to administrators about what type of digital media and software would be useful in supporting those professors in teaching the 21st century learners that have graduated up to the higher education level. Those students who are expecting to be taught in the only language they understand, that of the digital language, and on their terms and conditions.

**REFERENCES**
Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). //ISTE’s technology facilitation and leadership standards: What every K-12 leader should know and be able to do.// Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.

Honey, N., Fasca, C., Gersick, A., Mandinach, E., & Sinha, S. (2005). //Assessment of 21st century skills: The current landscape.// Retrieved June 11, 2007, from [|www.21centuryskills.org/images/stories/otherdocs/Assessment_Landscape.pdf]

Means, B., & Haertel, G. (2004). Introduction: In B. Means & G. Haertel (Eds). //Using technology evaluation to enhance sudent learning (pp. 1-8).// New York; Teachers College.