Advances in technology have led to many changes in education. My profession requires many hours of continuing education to maintain my EMT certification for my role as Clinical Resource Associate. My students always ask me why I need so much CE. This keeps me up-to-date in new EMT protocol, technology, and best practices in paramedic education. I have worked in education for 14-years. The college’s and my use of technology throughout this timeframe has changed drastically. My students can multitask, search Google for answers, and text each other simultaneously. Presenting information to these tech savvy students can be very challenging. As educational leaders Picciano (2011) believes computers are only useful if teachers have an adequate understanding of technology believing it can enhance their student’s learning empowering the teacher as they create their course curriculum. I use technology to provide simulation, Web-based programs to schedule clinical/field internship rotations and track patient skills necessary for the student to sit for their National Registry Paramedic exam. Sheninger (2014) believes mobile technology holds great potential for students to access and use these types of Web-based programs using mobile devices. Educators not only need 21st century computer skills but also an understanding of the technology behind these devices as well as various software and social media. Mobiles devices are creating new learning experiences for the students as well as opportunities for professional development for administrators and teachers to learn new best practices for the classroom. Of note is the unwillingness of some practicing teachers to change and the lack of student accessibility in some areas providing an inaccuracy of available technology.
I work at the college level and see students that do not have the necessary availability of Internet service to support the Web-based programs nor the mobile devices. This requires the student to come to the college computer lab to complete their data entry causing a disadvantage to the student because they only have 48 hours to enter their data. If a shift occurs on Friday their data entry must be completed by 5 p.m. as the college computer lab is only open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Six of my 24 freshmen students do not have technology access in their home making it possible for them to have a late data entry causing a 5% reduction in their grade for the rotation. Picciano (2011) believes that there is no great concern in accessibility of technology in the homes of students. I would have to disagree particularly in our mountainous region where technology may be spotty and inadequate. Some of the new technologies require greater bandwidth and stronger signals. I believe in our mountainous region there are probably far more issues than may be experienced in other regions. Student geographical regions must be considered when implementing technology in education particularly in online course work.
(Blair, 2013) explains that President John F. Kennedy believed that leadership and learning were essential. This is especially true in our fast-paced digital educational system. Leadership skills are not purchased or given but occur as a recurring learning process. A biblical reference, such as “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory” (Proverbs 11:14, KJV) educators could be viewed as the village who educates the student.
References
Blair, M. (2013). How to be an effective school leader: The changing role of a head. The Guardian, Retrieved
from http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/hays- partner-zone/how-to-be-an-effective-school-
leader-headteacher
Picciano, A. G. (2011). Educational leadership and planning for technology (5th ed). Hunter College, NY: Allyn &
Bacon.
Sheninger, E. (2014). Digital leadership: Changing paradigms for changing times. Thousand Oakes: Corwin.
I work at the college level and see students that do not have the necessary availability of Internet service to support the Web-based programs nor the mobile devices. This requires the student to come to the college computer lab to complete their data entry causing a disadvantage to the student because they only have 48 hours to enter their data. If a shift occurs on Friday their data entry must be completed by 5 p.m. as the college computer lab is only open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Six of my 24 freshmen students do not have technology access in their home making it possible for them to have a late data entry causing a 5% reduction in their grade for the rotation. Picciano (2011) believes that there is no great concern in accessibility of technology in the homes of students. I would have to disagree particularly in our mountainous region where technology may be spotty and inadequate. Some of the new technologies require greater bandwidth and stronger signals. I believe in our mountainous region there are probably far more issues than may be experienced in other regions. Student geographical regions must be considered when implementing technology in education particularly in online course work.
(Blair, 2013) explains that President John F. Kennedy believed that leadership and learning were essential. This is especially true in our fast-paced digital educational system. Leadership skills are not purchased or given but occur as a recurring learning process. A biblical reference, such as “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory” (Proverbs 11:14, KJV) educators could be viewed as the village who educates the student.
References
Blair, M. (2013). How to be an effective school leader: The changing role of a head. The Guardian, Retrieved
from http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/hays- partner-zone/how-to-be-an-effective-school-
leader-headteacher
Picciano, A. G. (2011). Educational leadership and planning for technology (5th ed). Hunter College, NY: Allyn &
Bacon.
Sheninger, E. (2014). Digital leadership: Changing paradigms for changing times. Thousand Oakes: Corwin.