Teacher Tech Proficiencies

This week I did some reflecting on the basic proficiencies that I felt the teachers at my school would need to begin the process of technology integration in their classrooms.  After all, teachers need to have a comfort level with the technology that is available  in order to teach students how to use it.  This list is not exhaustive, but it does serve as a good starting point for the teachers at my school. 
 

Top 8 Teacher Technology Proficiencies at STW(according to me!)  

#8  App Aptitude- Teachers need to be able to search for recommended apps or be able to search on their own to find quality apps for student and teacher use that support the curricular goals of our school.  Teachers should know how to obtain approval and have the app downloaded onto the device being used.  Teachers/staff should know how to use the app and be able to teach the students how to use it.
#7  Search Success- Teachers need the ability to use search functions efficiently with various browsers to find quality content to enhance their instructional methods.  Getting "lost" on the internet has happened to the best of us!  To avoid this, teachers need to have the skills to do targeted searchers in order to determine what will be useful and what is not. 
#6  Communicate Clearly- E-mail and/or texting should be a basic proficiency that teachers need.  Communication is so important within a school system and being able to communicate any time at any place is helpful.  At our school we have moved to a "semi-paperless note going home" level.  After finding the free website and app Remind, we now send one-way texts and emails with ease to parents about events, activities and reminders that previously were sent home in bookbags.  So many times these paper notes get lost from bookbag to home (how this happens is a mystery yet to be solved) that we opted to try the communication method of Remind.  I have one set up for the whole school, but teachers can set this up for their individual classes as well.
The link for the Remind website can be found here. 
#5  Microsoft Master or GoogleDoc Guru-  Teachers should know how to create and share documents, spreadsheets, powerpoints, and forms.  Using Google Docs to create a survey is an effective method to get information from people quickly.  Teachers should know how to change fonts, colors, size, add pictures to their documents with ease.  (True story- I had a teacher that I worked with at a previous school that was unable to use the mouse to scroll. What???????) Sometimes we take for granted that everyone has the same skill level as we do when using these programs, which I have learned, is not true. 
#4  Socially Speaking- Using social media as an avenue for professional development has been enlightening for me.  I think every teacher could benefit from developing a PLN.  It can seem somewhat overwhelming at first, however, with support and maybe the tiniest push from school leaders, teachers can open their eyes to all the resources available to them outside of their close network of friends and colleagues.
#3  Connection Concerns-  Teachers need to be able to connect their hardware and devices (computer, ipad, projector, doc camera, Apple TV) to each other and be able to use these devices with ease.  Trouble shooting and problem solving would also be helpful in this area in determining why a device is not working like it should.
#2  Sharing (Sh)student (Sh)work-  (lame, I know!)  I love this tweet from @venspired- "The only way people will know the great things happening in your school is if you share it." We are doing lots of great things at our school that too few people know little about!  Sharing student learning outside of the four walls of our school using technology will keep us connected with stakeholders as well as the global community.  Real world authentic audience for our students serves the purpose of knowing their contribution in this world is needed.  Our students matter!

and #1  Embracing Change-   Teachers need to embrace the fact that we need to do what's best for our students now as they are growing and learning to live in this technology driven world.  Focusing on our goals within our Technology Integration Action Plan and changing instructional methods to meet these goals is vitally important in doing what's best for our children. 

EMBRACE CHANGE!!