Technology Facilitation Standard VII. (TF-VII)
Procedures, Policies, Planning, and Budgeting for Technology Environments.

Educational technology facilitators promote the development and implementation of technology infrastructure, procedures, policies, plans, and budgets for P-12 schools. Educational technology facilitators:

TF-VII.A. Use the school technology facilities and resources to implement classroom instruction. Candidates:

  1. Use plans to configure software/computer/technology systems and related peripherals in laboratory, classroom cluster, and other appropriate instructional arrangements.
  2. Use local mass storage devices and media to store and retrieve information and resources.
  3. Discuss issues related to selecting, installing, and maintaining wide area networks (WAN) for school districts.
  4. Model integration of software used in classroom and administrative settings including productivity tools, information access/ telecommunication tools, multimedia/hypermedia tools, school management tools, evaluation/portfolio tools, and computer-based instruction.
  5. Utilize methods of installation, maintenance, inventory, and management of software libraries.
  6. Use and apply strategies for troubleshooting and maintaining various hardware/software configurations found in school settings.
  7. Use network software packages used to operate a computer network system.
  8. Work with technology support personnel to maximize the use of technology resources by administrators, teachers, and students to improve student learning.

TF-VII.B. Follow procedures and guidelines used in planning and purchasing technology resources. Candidates:

  1. Identify instructional software to support and enhance the school curriculum and develop recommendations for purchase.
  2. Discuss and apply guidelines for budget planning and management procedures related to educational computing and technology facilities and resources.
  3. Discuss and apply procedures related to troubleshooting and preventive maintenance on technology infrastructure.
  4. Apply current information involving facilities planning issues and computer related technologies.
  5. Suggest policies and procedures concerning staging, scheduling, and security for managing computers/technology in a variety of school/ laboratory/classroom settings.
  6. Use distance and online learning facilities.
  7. Describe and identify recommended specifications for purchasing technology systems in school settings.

TF-VII.C. Participate in professional development opportunities related to management of school facilities, technology resources, and purchases. Candidates:

  1. Support technology professional development at the building/school level utilizing adult learning theory.

TF VII REFLECTION:

            ISTE Standard VII deals with the components of developing and implementing an infrastructure with procedures, plans, and budgets for technology environments.  The first objectives discuss using technologies in classrooms or centers where they are appropriate.  Technology facilitators should assist in the creation of learning environments for safe and productive work.  They should be promoting the use of available local mass storage devices and media to store and retrieve information and resources and if possible, install a WAN to help store data.
            The other objectives listed target using media tools when necessary for modeling technology and instruction.  I think that PowerPoint presentations are excellent resources that can be used during professional development not only as a teaching tool but also to encourage teachers to integrate more technology into their instructional strategies and additional sessions focusing on file management and maintenance for teachers' equipment would further aid in the infusion of technology.
            The other standards address working with support personnel to encourage the maximum use of technology for improving student learning.  All efforts related to the implementation of technology should be approached collaboratively by the administrative and instructional staff.  Technology facilitators should be kept abreast as well as involved in all of the technology plans in their employing school districts.  They should be empowered to plan for the hardware, software, and peripherals in classrooms and possess the skills to troubleshoot and maintain equipment as well as create and maintain libraries of software for school use.
            This standard further speaks to the responsibility of the technology facilitator to budget and determine which purchases of software and hardware are suitable for the educational settings.  It is the responsibility of everyone involved in the educational process to purchase materials that compliment the resources available in the district to ensure student learning.  In my role as a technology facilitator, I will work to support the use and purchase of first-rate software resources for all students that are reflective best practices.
            Lastly, all technology facilitators should be advocates for and facilitate professional development for their colleagues and themselves.

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