Technology Facilitator Standard I

"Technology facilitators and leaders ensure that their colleagues possess the fundamental understanding and skills needed to operate specific technologies and understand the concepts associated with technology use" (Williamson and Redish, 2009). This standard focuses on the very basics of what educators should know to function with the technology in their classroom and stresses the importance of having someone capable to train them if they do not. These skills should be integrated into professional development stressing their importance as a curriculum tool. The diffierence between a facilitator and a leader in this standard is that the facilitator is expected to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of technology concepts, and a leader is expected to merely perform at a more advanced level.
Knowledge of this standard has helped me with several of my internship tasks. I have had the opportunity to assist different educators at my campus with a variety of tools, from the basics of creating a PowerPoint to using the student response systems we now have for each grade level. In many areas, I still feel that I have a way to go before I am confident in calling myself a facilitator of this standard, but I have accepted every challenge in learning this information that has come along and translating it in a manner that the teachers I work with will understand it and be able to apply the knowledge on their own. I am currently working to develop a training on the new web cameras that we have gotten this year so that teachers can use them in the classrooms. When I have not had the ability to help out immediately, I have sought the help of others in my classes online and other technology leaders in the district. Learning is a lifelong purpose for me, as information changes constantly and I want to present the best available to anyone I work with.
As I continue to grow as a leader and hopefully into a facilitator, I know that it is imperative for me to rely on the help of others because not every experience is one that I will have a knowledge about. I have had to train myself to ask for help more regularly so that I am able to better help others.

Reference

Williamson, J. and Redish, T. (2009). ISTE's Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards. Washington, D.C.: ISTE.