School administrators have a lot of responsibilities to take care
of, so as to ensure proper functioning of the school. There are many
technological tools available in the marketplace that can help
administratorsin their tasks and help them succeed in their roles.
Such tools make administrators more productive and efficient in
their day-to day tasks. There are many ways in which technology can enhance the
productivity of school administrators. Here are some of the ways how
technology can be used by school administrators to be more productive:
Administrators should
effectively make use of the same technology tools that they want their teachers
to use with the students in the classroom.
They should be consistent in
their decisions and expectations to integrate technology in their school.
They should clearly communicate
with the community of the school about the pace and process of technology
integration.
They should arrange to provide
proper professional development and resources to support the effective
implementation of technology.
They should ensure that student
work is done and stored using technology.
They should be active enough to
support the students, staff and the entire school to help adopt technology.
They should use data gathering
tools to get data timely for decision-making.
They should communicate with
teachers, students, parents and the rest of the school community online.
They should use
Web-based reports of results from assessments on standard-based tests
for school planning and professional development.
They should access real-time
information about students, manage it and track student progress.
They should use electronic
diagnostic tools to save time and measure effectiveness of lessons.
Apart from these tips, there are various widely available technological
tools which can help administrators to be more productive. Here are some of
the commonly used tools:
Google Docs :
Is a free application that allows you to store documents in the cloud. As
documents are stored remotely on the Web, they can be accessed anywhere from
any device with an Internet connection. Documents are secure and a login is
required to access them. Documents on the cloud can be modified by anyone who
is granted access to them. It allows you to collect data from multiple sources
and work in collaboration. Using Google Docs eases tasks for busy
administrators.
Evernote :
Is a free note-making app which has a vast feature set that can help you manage
your school activities. It allows you to create notebooks in which you can
organize your information. Notebooks are shareable which allows you and other
staff members with an account to share information and collaborate on projects.
You can print notes, tag and email notes to those who have an Evernote account.
You can use it to create a comprehensive and searchable contact log, as a
project to-do list, create meeting minutes, absentee tracker, a
verbal to-do list, for data storage, portable note-taking, emergency document
availability, create schedules and for collaboration.
SchoolTool : Is a web-based
student-management system. You can see all of student schedules, teacher
contacts, grades, and assessment results from previous years and more. It can
be used to provide quality and quantity of information to parents which will
expand as teachers and administrators become more familiar with the available
functionality.
Skype : It is an
application that makes video connections over the Internet easy. Free video
conferencing capability extends the reach of administrators, teachers, and
students. Skype is one of the most popular Web tools being requested and used
in schools. Skype can be used by students to offer presentations when they’re
not present in the classroom, to bring guest lecturers and other guests into
the classroom. It’s use can also be considered for online application
interviews, remote advising and counseling. Schools can also use it to
establish a connection between their students and students around the world.
NetSupportSchools : Is used to
provide instructors with extensive control over classroom Internet access and a
wide range of extended functionalities at an affordable price. It is a training
software solution providing teachers with the ability to instruct, monitor and
interact with students individually or in groups. All features are included as
standard including a customized testing suite, dedicated technician console,
digital student revision aids, lesson planning tools and the option for
teachers to reward students for good effort.
Technology can be a time-saver that enhances productivity, and
school administrators should adopt solutions that are tried and tested. I hope
these tips and tools can be of help to the school administrators out there, so
that they can run their schools more efficiently and with ease.
Share more tips and tools with us. The Comment Box awaits you.
