Field+based+Report+V


 * Field Based Summary Report Standard V**

Productivity and Professional Practice

Ralph Waldo Emerson believed “An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory” (Emerson, n.d.). After learning the theory involved in productivity and professional practice, I have had a ton of opportunities to apply those standards in action. One of my main activities occurred when I, along with another swim coach, addressed the University Interscholastic League Commission on a technology issue that arose from the past state meet. Our main goal was to show how effectively we could use video technology to backup current electronic timing system technology that sometimes fails. “Technology facilitators and leaders collaborate with other educators in their system to facilitate these positive aspects of professional culture and practice” (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 105). This opportunity really gave me a chance to show my athletic director what I had learned through the course of my masters’ studies. As we drove back fromAustin, we really had a great discussion about how technology has advanced sports and what it has enabled us to teach our kids.

During the 2010-2011 school year, I volunteered to coordinate an employee wellness program for our school. Through the course of this project, I developed an employee survey and subsequently calculated and graphed the results using excel. This information was then embedded into a power point presentation I developed and presented to my principal to relay the survey results along with my plans for the development of the program. This wellness initiative allowed me to work collaboratively with other people using email to design and reflect on a mission statement for the program. It was very easy working with a small group to get quick feedback about the statement. I also used email and a district based wiki site I developed to gather and share information on the program to present at our staff meetings.

For my swimming and diving team, I developed a blog specifically to communicate to parents and students about current events. “Blogging has become an important method of communication within the educational technology community” (Solomon and Schrum, 2009, p. 56). I really think it helps our team out, and actually decreases my workload, because I don’t have to respond to parents about a lack of information about a particular event or meet; they can just follow the blog and get the information at their convenience. Blogging has been a great productivity tool for me and my athletes. I also sent out to parents an electronic team directory, I am currently in the process of linking the directory to my blog site for the upcoming school year. Finally, I set up a new Daktronic’s video display computer that links to our timing system and display board so swimmers and divers can more quickly and easily see their results.

References

Ralph Waldo Emerson. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved July 28, 2011, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: []

Solomon, G. and Schrum, L. (2007). //Web 2.0//.: //New tools, new schools//.Eugene,OR: International Society for Technology in Education.

Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). //ISTE’s technology facilitation and leadership standards:// //What every K-12 leader should know and be able to do//. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.