Personal Technology Assessment

The Technology Applications Inventory helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses in educational technology. In the first domain - Foundations - I am proficient in the use of a variety of input devices such as the keyboard, digital camera, scanner, modems, and CD ROMS. I can perform basic software application functions. In the second domain - Information Acquisition - I am able to identify, create and use a variety of text files. I know the difference between a directory and a search engine. My knowledge in the foundation and information acquisition domains allows me to get around my computer. I can understand the basic functions and software needed to complete classwork. In the third domain - Solving the Problems with Technoloogy Tools - I can plan create, and edit documents created with a word processor. In this domain it showed that I am capable of creating a document using desktop publishing techniques including, but not limited to, the creation of multi-section documents with a variety of text wrapped formats. I can also resolve information conflicts and validate information through research and comparison data. The final domain - Communication - I am capable of using multi-media presentations in an effective and meaningful way. The assessment showed that I am able to use technology to communicate effectively.
The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) Teacher Survey was very helpful in determining the use of technology in the classroom. After reviewing the information from this survey I realized that I do not use as much technology as I should in the classroom. As a teacher I try to find as many resources as possible to teach my students. What I should do is allow the students to be more independent and try to find information on their own. One of the problems I face is that I do not have an assigned classroom. I am a roaming teacher at my high school. Due to the number of students in my classes, I get shuffled around to different rooms. One of my classes is in the Special Education Dept. campus office. We do not have access to computers in my classes. Hopefully things will change in the near future. I am really glad I took the following assessments. They showed my strengths and weaknesses in the technology field. It gives me an oppurtunity to grow and become more knowledgable in the technology field.