Technology Integration

I orginally posted today's entry as a comment on Jen Wagner's blog about her struggle with integrating technology into the curriculum in her district. I feel bad that my comment was so long and as I wrote it, I realized that I needed to post it on my own blog! I'm so new at this that sometimes I forget it's here and what it's for! Forgive me, Jen, for monopolizing your comment page.

Hi Jen! I just recently started reading your blog. Are you sure you are not my long, lost twin? My B.S. is in ECED and my M.Ed in Instructional Technology. I have spent the past 8 years as a preK-12 technology coordinator and have struggled with the very issues that you describe here! Unfortunately (for both the district staff and I) my position is being eliminated so I will not be employed next year. My good byes tomorrow will be a bit more permanent and there won't be any summer classes being taught this year.
I'm not sure you would be interested in my advice, since apparently, some think I was not very effective in my job, but others (including myself) would disagree. My only advice that I can give is to start with a very small group of core teachers that you know that you can convince to embrace technology in their classrooms. As you work with them and their students, the idea will spread. In some cases, it will be the kids themselves. They'll start asking their more reluctant teachers, "Why don't we use videos to present this project instead of speeches?" or similar questions.
The teachers that are "on the bubble" will also be influenced. They'll see the teachers that are embracing technology and the success they are having with their classes and they too will want to jump on board.
I'm sorry for such a long comment. I think I'll also post this as a blog entry on my fledgling blog. Eventhough my official position is being eliminated, my quest to bring technology into classrooms has not. I just need to find a new way to make that happen - perhaps in a non-traditional role. Thanks for generating my thoughts this morning and best wishes with your stuggle to integrate technology in your district!