Final Reflection

1. How do you currently feel about your ability to work as a technology leader in your profession? In what ways has your ability to work in this capacity changed since the beginning of the semester? I feel that my ability to work as a technology leader has improved by taking this class. I feel a lot more comfortable with using technology and teaching others how to effectively incorporate it into their classrooms. My selfconfidence in teaching teachers truly increased through the help of my field supervisor and teacher feedback. 2. What was your greatest challenge during the practicum? How can we provide future students with information that will help. The greatest challenge during the practicum was developing the staff development. I wanted to make sure that it was interesting and interactive. I have attended some many professional developments in the past that were a waste of my time, therefore, I wanted to make sure that everyone could take something back with them! In the future, students need to know that you should make your field supervisor your best friend. You must be ok with positive criticism and be willing to solicit feedback from your peers. 3. Did your workplace, school administration, or district leadership provide any barriers to your practicum? If so, can you give us suggestions to help future students? No, my school administration was excited about my practicum and provided me with great resources and feedback to improve my staff development.

4. Did you have difficulty finding someone to agree to serve as your field supervisor? Can you provide suggestions for future students? No, I did not have any difficulty finding my field supervisor. She was a true jewel and welcomed my ideas. I suggest that future students start early and ask colleagues for suggested people that may be good to work with. 5. Did you have difficulty locating three technology centers that you could use for the practicum experience? How did you finally find technology coordinators who would let you shadow them? What were barriers that you encountered? I had difficulty only because of my work schedule. I finally found technology coordinators to shadow after being persistent and working around their shadow, rather than mine.

6. Do you feel that you had enough mentoring/field supervision during your practicum course? If not, how could we change practicum to enhance the mentoring or supervision? Yes, I had enough time during my practicum course. My field supervisor and I often worked after normal work hours to prepare [her] for the next school which allowed me to enhance my staff development. I would have personally preferred to do my practicum at my current school. This would have provided me with the opportunity to assist teachers within my school and department.

7. Do you feel that your practicum experience provided you with diverse perspectives and experiences regarding the role of instructional technologist? If not, how could we have helped you achieve a more diverse experience? Yes, my field practicum experience provided me the opportunity to work with multiple grade levels, technology experts, and non-technology users.