Comprehensive Examination Part 1

Comprehensive Examination for

Technology Leadership

Christopher T. Rasile

EDLD 5370 Cohort 8

Dr. Kay Abernathy

February 23, 2011

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to cover the information that has been taught within the past eighteen months during the Masters of Education in Technology Leadership program through Lamar University. In addition to the course content that will be reevaluated a description into the future of Mr. Rasile’s professional career will be addressed and covered as well as a look back at some of the most important and relevant information and experiences that have occurred during the and because of the Masters program.

Comprehensive Examination for Technology Leadership

The past eighteen months have been a myriad of information and knowledge that, for the most part, have been new to me and have introduced me to a whole new world within my current job. Although I work in a school district, I am the network administrator and have been very distant from the educational part of the business due to this. The courses that I have taken throughout the educational degree have given me a newfound understanding and respect for the teachers and staff as well as given me a strong drive to help and support these individuals in more than a technological way. This examination is a guidebook to the information that I have gathered over the past eighteen months, the projects that I have completed and my future goals and aspirations within my career path.

Position Goal

As stated earlier I am currently the network administrator for our school district and have held that position for the last seven years. Although I have not been directly involved in the budgeting, planning, and training of the teachers within the district I share an office with the districts technology director. Throughout the years I have been a source of information for the technology director when she is working on items such as E-Rate, yearly budgets, grants, and other district level financial information. Initially these kinds of things were not interesting to me, but the more that I have learned and understand what kind of impact a technology director can make in a school and district, the more interested I have become in holding a district technology directory position. Since the technology director at our school district has no intention of leaving, I intend on perusing that position within another district after finishing this degree. I will use the knowledge that I have gained in this degree program to help the teachers and district create a more interactive and positive learning environment at our school and district. Whether it is from a position of a network administrator or technology director my goal is to help the teachers, district, and students perform to the best of their ability through technology.

Leadership Goal

The reason for completion of this degree program is pretty simple for me, I like to lead rather than follow and I love technology. This degree will give me the education and information that I will need to help educators implement technology within their classroom that will have a positive effect on students that will help guide them into adulthood. My goal as a technology leader is to help pull schools into the twenty-first century and ensure that they are not trying to play catch-up to the “real world” but helping the students prepare for changing technology before they become standard. This includes several areas such as ensuring the correct tools are in place in the classroom, ensuring that the faculty and administration understand how to use the technology, and following up to ensure that the technology is being used. Personally, this degree will lead to a more fulfilling position emotionally and financially.