Future Proofing Technology Integration: Saying “No” and Staying Relevant

 

As I have mentioned in previous posts, the job of a technology coordinator is challenging at the best of times. Technology coordinators are responsible for technology budgets, technology purchases, and a multitude of other things. Prior to making purchases, technology coordinators must ensure the technology they plan to integrate is compatible with existing infrastructure. When new technology arrives, technology coordinators provide adequate professional learning and make sure teachers and staff utilize the technology in beneficial ways. In The Technology Coordinators Handbook, Frazier and Hearrington interview Brad Buscher. Brad says technology coordinators should “try to maintain a give-and-take, “go with the flow” attitude when dealing with issues” (2017, p. 125). Prior to reading this, I hadn’t considered technology coordinators to be particularly flexible, but they are! Technology coordinators have a number of extreme pressures and are limited by regulations, infrastructure, and resources. Despite all of this, they are still open to new ideas and they are eager to help accommodate teachers, staff, and students in any way possible.

While technology coordinators are usually excited to help, they also must be able to tell their colleagues and even their administrators “no” when necessary. In The Technology Coordinators Handbook, David Herbert says, “a leader must be able to see the overreaching goal and expectations of a technology department within an organization” (Frazier & Hearrington, 2017, p.148). A proper technology plan helps technology coordinators create a shared vision for technology integration within their school. As leaders, they must use this shared vision in combination with a thorough understanding of their school and district’s framework, to properly advise staff on technology purchases and integration. This advising sometimes means technology coordinators have to tell their colleagues “no.” It also means they may need to research alternative technologies. “Problem solving, communicating, and making great decisions based on the resources at hand” are important skills for an effective technology coordinator (Frazier & Hearrington, 2017, p.148).

Ultimately, the role of a technology coordinator is “to develop a network plan that will meet current and future curricular and administrative needs” (Frazier & Hearrington, 2017, p. 121). Developing and properly implementing a plan that accounts for future technology use is a critical responsibility of any technology coordinator. “If schools continue to follow an outdated educational model . . . they run the risk of becoming irrelevant to our students and communities” (Sheninger, 2019, p. xvii). According to Mansfield, “it can be hard to know how to equip the next generation with the skills for success” (2018, p. 82). Utilizing an online professional learning community is a great way for technology coordinators to research new technology and innovative ways to integrate that technology. These learning communities provide up-to-date information about new technology and by their very nature, are both collaborative and encouraging. ISTE is a great online resource for technology coordinators and teachers who want to keep up with current trends in technology. ISTE has created a set of standards to guide technology integration and they provide a number of resources including numerous publications. Twitter is also a surprisingly useful platform for learning more about technology integration in education. Check out my Twitter lists to start connecting to some of these online resources.

“Digital leadership emphasizes the need for current leaders to be catalysts to drive sustainable change that will transform school culture” (Sheninger, 2019, p. 32). According to Woo and Law “decisions made beyond the classroom level have important implications for classroom implementation” (2020, p. 424). For this reason, it is important for technology coordinators to purchase technology that will remain relevant for a number of years. Good technology coordinators help create engaging learning environments with technology that remains relevant and prepares students for future careers.

Resources

Frazier, M. & Hearrington, D. (2017). The technology coordinator’s handbook. (3rd edition). International Society for Technology in Education. 

Mansfield, K. (2018). Breaking out of the binary. Marketing (Australia Edition), 82–83.

Sheninger, E. (2019). Digital leadership: Changing paradigms for changing times (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin. 

Woo, D. J., & Law, N. (2020). Information and communication technology coordinators: Their intended roles and architectures for learning. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 36(4), 423–438. https://doi-org.ezproxy.montevallo.edu/10.1111/jcal.12407