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Clinical Field Experience D: The Cultural Effect of Technology on a School Campus

Marsha Cochrane

Grand Canyon University

EAD-513 Shaping School Culture

Nesa Sasser

August 17, 2022

My mentor principal was kind enough to take me on another tour trough her

classrooms. Earlier in the school year we had taken this same tour, except now the school had

received new equipment and furniture. These were kind donations made possible by the

collaborative efforts of community partners including the Children Services Council of St. Lucie

County. Sure enough, Desk and Laptops computers included in the boxes received. Additionally,

the Principal informed me that she had now formed a merger with another K-8 Private Christian

School. The incoming Principal who will now be taking up the role of Assistant Principal came

over with her fair share of boxes filled with books, desk, laptops, and tablets.
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To say that my mentor Principal was excited would be an understatement. As we

continued our tour and conversation, I reminded her of a previous conversation we had. At the

time she had concerns about her dwindling student population and staffing, The scripture I

provided then and now repeated was Philippians 1:6, NIV: being confident of this, that he who

began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus, (

BibleRef.com,2022). The school I told her was serving as a part of God’s purpose in the

community. God will provide all needs at the right time until the end.

The accessibility of new hardware for the school community now led our conversation

into the vision and plan for software instructional technology. Student achievement is monitored

routinely utilizing Florida Statewide Assessment standards for general education. The Florida

Statewide Alternative Assessment standards are used for special education students.

Kindergarten to 1st grade classrooms were observed and confirmed as employing platforms such

as leapfrog, CPALMS, Studies Weekly for all general education classrooms. Students are being

instructed by way of these platforms in social studies, social and emotional learning, science, and

mathematics. Unique Learning System (N2y) for special education provides the same as just

described. Teach town allows for interactive social skills instructions. Some of these platforms

allows for virtual field trips and case studies standards application. The teams platform is utilized

by faculty and staff for Professional Development, Sharing of information, staff, and faculty

meetings.

As observed, it was evident that the principal and staff subscribed to the idea of

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards - “educators dedicate time to

collaborate with both colleagues and students to improve practice, discover and share resources

and ideas, and solve problems" (International Society for Technology in Education, 2021)
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In my role as a future school Principal promoting and ensuring the need for staff who are trained

and knowledgeable in instructional technology will be paramount. Providing the capability to

allow for effective collaboration and cultivation of culture through technology will be a driving

force for decision making. Additionally, ensuring that I keep abreast with trends on how to

entwine technology and culture. I intend to make ISTE standards to this end what my Bible is to

my spiritual life.

References

BibleRef.com. (2022). What does Philippians 1:6 mean? Retrieved from

https://www.bibleref.com/Philippians/1/Philippians-1-6.html

ISTE Area of Focus. (2021). ISTE STANDARDS: EDUCATION LEADERS. Retrieved from

https://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards-for-education-leaders
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