Ideal Job Description 2

Based on my research this week on Instructional Technology, this would be an second ideal job description.

Job Title: District Science Curriculum and Differentiation Coach

 

Primary Objective: To design and develop current and relevant science curriculum for K-12 science

 

Lists of Duties or Tasks Performed:

• Stay up to date on Colorado State Standards
• Create curriculum to be used in K-12 science
• Support and training of technology resources for educators to enhance student learning.
• Design District Professional Development training days for science educators.
• Conduct staff training sessions on updated technology.
• Attend conferences to remain up to date current and relevant curricula
• Design, Develop, Utilize, Manage, and Evaluate science curriculum using instructional technology.
• Evaluate teacher's usage of instructional technology within classroom.
• Communicate ways to differentiate lessons for teachers/students that struggle or need to be challenged. 
• Communicate to all school principal all evaluations.

Description of the Relationships and Roles:

• Supervisor of all district school's science teachers
• Communicate science curricula to science teachers
• Discuss ways to differentiate with science teachers.

Typical qualifications and experience:

Minimum:

• Bachelors of Science in one or more science fields
• Secondary Teaching License in Science
• At least 5-10 years teaching experience
• Knowledge/Experience of Current Technology techniques and practices

Superior:

• Masters in Instructional Technology
• Masters to Bachelors of Science (particularly in more than one science field)
• At least15-20years teaching experience
• Currently work with Current and Relevant Science and Technology techniques

Other Relevant Information:
This job requires you to have an abundant knowledge on ALL science subjects in order to create current curricula. Because of this, it will required an abundant amount of time spent on research and travel to stay current and communicate findings to all district schools.

 

Ideal Job Description

Based on my research this week on Instructional Technology, this would be an ideal job description.

Job Title: Science Educator, Department Technology Coordinator

Primary Objective: To provide technology resources to the science department as a way to improve the students' learning. To enhance the current and relevant scientific topics required to be taught by the Colorado State Standards.

Lists of Duties or Tasks Performed:

• Technical support for science educators for computers, peripherals, and network.
• Support and maitenance of hardware and software for all equipment used by educators.
• Support and training of technology resources for educators to enhance student learning.
• Attend District meetings/trainings to stay up to date on all district requirements.
• Conduct staff training sessions on updated technology.
• Attend trainings to remain up to date on all techniques.
• Assist in teacher evaluation of hardware and software used in lessons.
• Stay up to date on all changes to Colorado State Science Standards.
• Design, Develop, Utilize, Manage, and Evaluate science curriculum using instructional technology.
• Evaluate teacher's usage of instructional technology within classroom.
• Communicate to principal all evaluations.

Description of the Relationships and Roles:

• Supervisor of school's science teachers
• Communicate with school's principal, especially on teacher's strengths and weaknesses.
• Problem solve with a solutions for any weaknesses expressed with a teacher.
• Be open-minded to suggestions and criticisms from all teachers within the science department; express with principal.
• Create an open door policy among the science department.

Typical qualifications and experience:

Minimum:

• Bachelors of Science in one or more science fields
• Secondary Teaching License in Science
• At least 5-10 years teaching experience
• Knowledge/Experience of Current Technology techniques and practices

Superior:

• Masters in Instructional Technology
• Masters to Bachelors of Science (particularly in more than one science field)
• At least 5-10 years teaching experience
• Currently work with Current and Relevant Technology techniques

Other Relevant Information:
This job requires you to be a "people-person." It will entail day to day activities with multiple people and require patience when assisting others. This job will also require constant education to stay current on all technology techniques which may require traveling to conferences to stay up to date.

My Own Definition of Instructional Technology

This week, my class required me to find out the definition of Instructional Technology. I interviewed three specialists as well as did some independent research. I discovered there are many different definitions, however there always seems to be one commonality to all definitions. Instructional Technology is meant to be a tool or resource to help acquire information or an objective. In an earlier blog, I explained what some of my colleagues thought of the subject, and they seemed to come to the same consensus. However, I, personally, thought there was more to instructional technology than just being a tool to help acquire information. This is my definition:

Instructional Technology is scientific theory to keep objectives current and relevant. It is used by myself, the educator, to facilitate cooperative learning among my students and use 21st century skills.

Being that I'm a science teacher, I naturally leaned towards the ideas of a scientific theory. In science, theories are accepted in nature, but have not been proven or disproven. Many educators may argue that Instructional Technology ruins teaching while others may disagree and believe that it helps the education world. I agree with those that believe that it helps education.

According to the AECT, Association for Educational Communications and Technology, "Instructional Technology means a discipline devoted to techniques or ways to make learning more efficient." As a teacher, I'm constantly trying to find ways to teach my students. Of course, there is always a textbook, but why use it when there is something better. By the time the textbook is published, it is already out of date with science discoveries. For example, the textbook that I was given when I a few years ago still expressed that Pluto was a planet! If I used just a textbook, then I would be teaching inaccurate facts to my students!

Instructional Technology doesn't just mean the use of electronics. As I learned from James Pershing and Michael H. Molenda, "Technology actually means a "technique" or "tool" that be applied to solve a problem." According to Pershing and Molenda, even a textbook is a type of technology. However, it might not be the most current use, so that is when other forms of technology may need to be used in the classroom. Since it has been recognized that textbooks have become outdated faster than they are published, a new technique is used: the online textbook. By designing and developing online textbooks, they become much more relevant to utilize in a classroom. Also, they can be constantly evaluated and updated when new science discoveries occur.

Instructional Technology emphasizes techniques or tools to make learning more efficient. As I expressed in my earlier blog, technology should never take the place of an educator. It should be only be used to enhance the learning experience. According to the Reflections on the 2008 AECT definitions, traditional instructional systems are de-emphasized. In this "digital era," no longer are educators teaching the standards in traditional classrooms. There are flipped classrooms, webquests, podcasts, and even online classes. Because of these, it is making life much easier. Adults are able to go back to school because they can in the comfort of their homes. However, it is a tool but not a way to replace the educator. Teachers are still needed to facilitate. I completely agree with AECT thoughts on Educational Technology.

According to the AECT "Educational Technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources." As an educator, it is my job to design lessons that will enhance my students' learning experience with the use of technology, but it should never replace me as the facilitator!!

What is Instructional Technology?

As part of my Master's Program, I'm currently enrolled in EDTC600, Pedagogical Practices in Instructional Technology. As my first week's assignment, I had the opportunity to interview three technology specialists and ask them what does "Instructional Technology" mean to them?

The first interviewee was Shannon S., the building technology coordinator at the middle school where I currently teach. Her job entails development and maintenance of our school's webpage as well as the teacher's links. It is also her job to make sure teachers enforce district guidelines with all technology usage with students as well as their own independent projects. Because of Shannon, our school has webpages and an abundant amount of technology for teachers to use as a teaching tool.

The second interviewee was Mike S., the school's technology para. His job entails to schedule all the computer labs, clickers, digital cameras, and mobile laptop labs for the teachers. He is also responsible for setting them up in the teacher's classroom per his or her request and assisting the teacher if there are any technological problems.

The third interviewee was Jeremy B., the technology teacher at the middle school. Jeremy teaches five different classes which include things such as video production, digital photography, web design, theater tech. crew, etc.

I found all three interviews worthwhile because I was able to connect with some of my colleagues that I hardly get a chance to see, but also hear their thoughts on Instructional Technology. All three of them agreed that the term Instructional Technology a way to use any technology that aides getting information. It provides a resource to enhance teacher's lesson plans, but it is not meant to be in replace of the teacher. By understanding the best practices and goals, then technology can be used to reach those goals.

The role of technology in instruction is meant to be understood to be a tool but not the means to an end.  Being that we are in the "digital age," this is the time to really take advantage of technology, but it is no means something to take place of a teacher. Technology is definitely a quick tool or resource that can be used to acquired the information or objective. If technology is used, then teachers should be taking the time to work with the students and the technology, not let the technology do their job.

The expectations of an Instructional Technology Specialist can be very different from one another. The three interviews that I conducted this week all played completely different roles in the middle school; however, they all had the same goal in mind: Design, Develop, Utilize, Manage, and Evaluate all technology to provide a "digital" experience in education. Because of this, our students are getting the chance to learn the required Colorado State Standards as well as the technology tools that will enhance these standards.

After I interviewed these three specialists, I completely agree with them. Instructional Technology gives teachers the techniques to make learning relevant and current. Because of technology resources, allows teachers to truly enhance the students' learning experience.

Now, what does instructional technology mean to you?