Vision

1.    What is your personal vision for how Google’s web-based tools can help improve collaboration and communication within your particular school community? 

My personal vision for the use of Google's web-based tools is to use them in a manner that makes everyone feel more connected and "in the know". Whether this is by making a personal blog so stakeholders feel as if they know the person who is leading the school, making a calendar and merging this calendar with staff, or using Google forms to poll teachers or parents in order to get information quickly. There are many uses for Google tools in our school.   

Which Google applications are you most likely to implement, and why? 
I plan to implement Google Calendar. I believe it is the most useful for our staff at this time and will make daily functions more efficient. I see teachers using it as a method to collaborate and plan and it will help to inform parents of school events. It is easy to use and to edit. 

What lessons have you learned from reviewing how other administrators and schools are using Google Calendar, Docs, and Blogger? 

I learned from seeing other administrators discuss the use of blogs that it is important not to cross lines of personal and professional opinion. I also learned that using Docs will cut down on a lot of paper shuffling. 
How does your vision align with the “Visionary Leadership” standard as put forth in ISTE’s National Educational Technology Standards for Administrators? 

My vision speaks to efficiency among staff and administrators. This aligns with the "Visionary Leadership" standard. 

Action Plan

What are your goals for integrating Google applications into your school or personal practice? (List at least 2.) 

1. Teachers will collaborate among grade level to plan homework schedules using Google Calendar. Teachers will plan tests/projects based on collaborative planning. 
2. Administrators will plan agendas for faculty meetings and Professional Learning Community meetings using Google Docs. This will be made available for staff use and will be a working document. 

What steps will you need to take to implement your vision? 
        Appropriate professional development will be provided. Our staff is currently technology savvy. We will provide PD for grade chairs and the grade chairs will in turn train grade level teachers. 
What key unanswered questions do you have about using Google applications? 

1. Is there a limit to what can be stored on Google applications? 
2. Will Google applications remain free for public use?

Among school staff, who will be able to help you implement your vision? 
Our school system provides Technology Specialists for every school. At our school, I would work with our TS to develop a team of Google Champs that will be trained in "all things google". These Champs will then take what they learn back to their teams and will then be mentors for their grade level. 

21st Century Administrators

Encouraging a culture of community and growth in a school is a vital component of a "healthy" school. As an administrator, I believe the staff morale and the community outlook of our school is extremely important. By utilizing a blog, I would give my staff and all stakeholders an up close and personal look at the daily happenings in a school. It could be used as a tool to highlight teachers, students and parents and their accomplishments. A blog could also be used as another tool to promote collaboration and to share learning. Teachers could use blogs to communicate with parents about classroom and school events. In my opinion, the more knowledge parents have about classroom happenings, the fewer problems and complaints.

Personally, of the blogs I reviewed for this class, I prefer the Gibson's Elementary School Principal's blog. I enjoyed the variety of the others but the Elementary blog was primarily focused on the school and the principal. I liked how the administrator had pictures of school events but also of the vacations he had taken- even his dog. I prefer the personal nature of the blog. Some of the blogs politicized their jobs and although I think some points they made are important, I would prefer those opinions to be kept separate.