Technology Learning and Change

Webinar - Infrastructure, Financing and Evaluating Results (http://event.on24.com/event/34/29/74/rt/1/documents/slidepdf/presentation1up.pdf)

A variety of articles and webinars exist to research the "Digital Learning Environments" that are being discussed and implemented for transforming the classrooms of yesterday to accommodate the needs for the "21st Century Student Learner".  Many debates have covered the pros and cons for implementing Digital Technology Tools and providing the teachers with resources for effective classroom learning and engagement. I viewed the Webinar "Infrastructure, Financing and Evaluating Results" that brought to light the intricacy of implementing the WEB 2.0 Tools that students will be utilizing.
 The most important topic covered and viewed that was determined by a poll of teachers and administrators is the importance of the Infrastructure. The Infrastructure design supports which product and program goals are determined to ensure the consistency which is the backbone of the technology being implemented. There are decisions involving the pre-planning, assessment, monitoring, and re-evaluation when determining which devices and functionality of the technology you want to implement into the classroom. This process must identify the vision and goals necessary for implementing a successful but complex technology system. Mentioned within the webinar is the fact that schools are in a "technology implementation crisis" when the technology infrastructure does meet the needs and goals of both the students and teachers.
Project Red 2010 discusses the value of how important it is to both the teacher and student the need for implementing online collaboration with the right technology. Online collaboration increases learning productivity and student engagement which is essential to the learning growth required for today's classrooms. When the right technology tools and digital devices are put in the hands of both the teacher and student that addresses the effectiveness and efficiency of the curriculum goals, improvement in collaboration and engagement should be attained. However, without identifying the students needs as well as the teachers with the right technology tools and supporting them with safety and trust, you end up with expensive and heavy paper weights. Curriculum drives technology that must meet the goals established by the school district and properly funded with measurable and attainable results.
Also discussed within the webinar that is just as important is the financing and evaluation of results of the technology implementation for the school districts. I hope that when my time comes to utilizing the WEB 2.0 Tools, which will continually be upgrading, in my classroom all of the financing and evaluation result issues will be resolved and allow me to reap the benefits that the students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community leaders had to endure to get the technology tools in place to have a successful classroom today!