The Cultural Effect of Technology on a School Campus

The Cultural Effect of Technology on a School Campus
Dana DeVandry
Grand Canyon University: EAD-513 Shaping School Culture
October 16, 2024

Field Experience D

Technology integration plays a critical role in supporting the mission of our school: to provide the best educational experience in a moral and wholesome environment. The vision of “Learn. Lead. Change the World” guides all instructional practices, including the strategic use of technology to promote student achievement, engagement, and collaboration. This report reflects my observations of technology use within multiple classrooms and how it impacts individual class culture and the school community as a whole.

Observation Reflection

During my observations of sixth-grade classrooms, I noted the significant role technology plays in enhancing curriculum delivery and student engagement. The teacher utilized PowerPoint as a medium for students to create presentations on their research regarding daily weather for various states across the world. Students displayed enthusiasm, pride, and ownership of their work while presenting details on the topic and using engaging visuals that maintained the interest of their classmates. They demonstrated respect for their peers by actively listening and providing feedback. This observation highlighted how digital tools support academic instruction while fostering student confidence, collaboration, and creativity. These practices align with the ISTE Standard for Students (Creative Communicator), which encourages students to express their ideas and knowledge creatively using technology (International Society for Technology in Education [ISTE], 2016).

Additionally, technology plays a key role in assessments. We use digital tools for unit tests and progress monitoring to help identify learning gaps. The immediate feedback provided by digital assessments accelerates student growth and familiarizes students with the language and question formats used in state testing. This approach aligns with the ISTE Standard for Educators (Designer), emphasizing the use of technology to design assessments that support personalized learning (ISTE, 2017). Furthermore, test results can be shared with parents through visually friendly charts, enhancing accountability at home.

In grades K-6, I observed various uses of technology, including writing prompts, digital anchor charts, and interactive programs like Lexia, which support reading fluency and phonemic awareness. These tools align with ISTE’s Transformational Learning Principles (Connect Learning to the Learner), as they personalize learning and scaffold student progress (ASCD+ISTE, 2024). Observing teachers use the backend of Lexia’s tools to address student needs further demonstrated how technology personalized instruction, aligning with the ISTE Standard for Educators (Learner), which promotes continuous professional growth (ISTE, 2017).

Reflection with Mentor

In discussions with my mentor, we reflected on the importance of aligning technology use with the school’s mission: to provide the best educational experience in a moral and wholesome environment, and the vision: “Learn. Lead. Change the World.” Technology provides opportunities for students to engage in global learning communities, promoting creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Tools such as 99math promote collaboration within and beyond the classroom, encouraging competition and engagement in academic contexts. This supports the ISTE Standard for Students (Global Collaborator), which fosters students’ ability to work with peers from diverse cultures using digital tools (ISTE, 2016). In addition, our benchmark tests, given three to four times per year, record data and compare our students’ growth with other schools, ensuring that each child masters the grade-level concepts.

We also discussed how professional development should focus on building staff competency in technology integration. For example, I recently led a professional development session on incorporating NoRedInk, a tool that enhances students’ writing abilities through personalized, technology-driven exercises. This program uses a brief questionnaire to collect data on students’ interests, creating engaging writing activities based on those interests. Students enjoy using this writing tool because it provides instant, automated, and teacher feedback that matches required academic standards.

Implications for Future Practice

The integration of technology impacts the culture of individual classrooms and the school as a whole. While technology does not replace traditional teaching methods, it enhances them by creating opportunities for deeper learning, collaboration, and innovation. Moving forward, my goal is to leverage tools like Zearn, Lexia, NoRedInk, and 99math to support small-group interventions and close learning gaps through personalized instruction. Incorporating technology into small-group interventions aligns with ISTE’s Transformational Learning Principle (Spark Curiosity), as these tools engage students and make learning enjoyable (ASCD+ISTE, 2024).

However, technology accessibility remains a challenge. Although students have access to some digital tools, having a computer cart for each grade level would significantly improve integration, allowing students to engage with technology more consistently. Expanding access would ensure that students are better prepared for the technology-driven world, aligning with the ISTE Standard for Educators (Leader), which encourages educators to create a shared vision for technology use (ISTE, 2017). Preparing students to use these tools responsibly will help them embody the school’s vision of “changing the world.”

School leadership plays a critical role in creating a vision and plan for technology integration. Collaborating with grade-level teams during Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings can ensure that technology use is purposeful, measurable, and aligned with academic goals. By creating a technology plan rooted in our school’s mission, leadership can foster academic success and character development in students, aligning with PSEL Standard 1: Mission, Vision, and Core Values (National Policy Board for Educational Administration [NPBEA], 2015). Additionally, adhering to the ISTE Standard for Educators (Facilitator) helps guide students in using technology to achieve academic goals while promoting digital literacy (ISTE, 2017).

Safe Use of Technology for Future Practice

Ensuring the safe use of technology is essential for maintaining a positive and responsible school culture. Faculty and staff must enforce standards outlined in the Parent and Student Handbook, which addresses issues like cyberbullying, online behavior, and accountability. These standards are reinforced through leadership classes, professional development, and classroom lessons. Promoting digital citizenship, aligned with the ISTE Standard for Students (Digital Citizen), ensures that students understand the ethical and safe use of technology. Students are held accountable for their actions and must recognize that everything they type and post online has consequences (ISTE, 2016).

This approach supports ISTE’s Transformational Learning Principle (Cultivate Belonging), which emphasizes creating learning environments where students feel safe, supported, and responsible for their actions (ASCD+ISTE, 2024). Clear guidelines for technology use empower students to become responsible digital citizens, contributing positively to their school and global communities.

 As we move into the second quarter, my personal goal is to use technology to its fullest potential while maintaining accountability and safety. Technology, when used effectively, enhances student learning and creates opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and personal growth. By aligning our technology use with the ISTE Standards and our school’s mission, we can create an environment where students are empowered to “Learn, Lead, and Change the World,” aligning with PSEL Standard 4: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (NPBEA, 2015).

References

ASCD+ISTE. (2024). Transformational learning principles. ASCD+ISTE.

International Society for Technology in Education. (2017). ISTE standards for educators. https://iste.org/

International Society for Technology in Education. (2016). ISTE standards for students. https://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards-for-students

Lexia Learning. (n.d.). Personalized literacy instruction for every student. https://www.lexialearning.com/

National Policy Board for Educational Administration. (2015). Professional standards for educational leaders. http://npbea.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Professional-Standards-for-Educational-Leaders_2015.pdf

Noredink. (n.d.). Writing improvement through personalized learning. https://www.noredink.com/

99math. (n.d.). Fun math facts games for kids. https://www.99math.com/

American Leadership Academy. (n.d.). Mission and vision statements. https://www.alaschools.org/az/west-foothills-k-6