What does being a technology facilitator look like? (Blog 2.1)

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What does being a technology facilitator look like?

I suppose a technology facilitator looks like me, or one of my colleagues, or even you. Technology facilitators come in all shapes and sizes (I will not admit to my own shape and size), but I do have some thoughts on what a technology facilitator's actions and behaviors might look like.


George Couros explains what innovation is in his book, The Innovator's Mindset. From what I can tell, innovation looks like a person taking a concept or idea and building on it to make it new and better. This might involve technology, but the actual technology is not the innovation. The innovation is in how the technology is applied. One example from my own job that stands out to me was an Anatomy instructor that was teaching online that wanted to transform a classroom activity into an interactive online activity. We discussed the different tools available in the LMS, and the technology that students would have access to. After a few minutes of throwing around ideas, we concluded that students could use their phones to take photos of household objects that are the same size or shape of different organs in the body. The students could upload their images to a discussion post and write an explanation. We used technology to develop this activity, but the innovation was how that technology was used to enhance learning. 

I think a technology facilitator's main objective is to find the potential uses of old, current and emerging technology to help instructors find ways to make learning better for their students. A technology facilitator should not suggest adding a technological element to a course just to make it more modern or current. The technology should serve a purpose and should align with the learning objectives in the course. 

So what does a technology facilitator really look like? I believe they should be tech-savvy enough to not be scared to play with technology, press buttons, and see how things work. They should be problem solvers and they should be very good at turning things on and off again.
I also think a technology facilitator should be willing to share knowledge and ideas and act as teachers themselves. These are all basic ideas of what I think a technology facilitator should look like, but I do think you can take this one step further.

In an ideal world, a technology facilitator should be forward-thinking...in other words, they should be aware of how technology is changing and how those changes will impact instructors and students. They should prepare for these changes and try to find ways to ease the transition as much as possible. I also believe a technology facilitator should be adaptable. Technology breaks, is sometimes inaccessible to disabled students, or it does not behave the way we want it to. Adaptability allows us to seek alternatives and try different approaches. It is also necessary to be open to new concepts and ideas...and to listen. It is impossible to predict what needs an instructor will have, but listening,asking questions and being willing to try something new and different will benefit everyone. 

Being service-minded and working to build relationships is another crucial aspect of a technology facilitator's role. If you treat one person well, they will likely tell their colleagues and you will expand your network in new and unexpected ways. Each new relationship brings new talents and outlooks that can then be applied in the technology facilitator role.

I saved the most important thought for last. A technology facilitator should always be willing to seek out the potential and possibilities in all things...not just tech. The instructor has potential; the students have potential; every object in your workspace has potential. Seeing the world in this way makes every job easier and more satisfying.

Couros, G. (2015). The innovator's mindset: Empower learning, unleash talent, and lead a 
     culture of creativity. San Diego, CA: Dave Burgess Consulting.

Comments

  1. Olivia RossSeptember 1, 2018 at 6:41 PM

    Hi Cynthia,

    You were very thorough in both your written description and your image, and I appreciate that you were able to so aptly apply Couros' (2015) explanation of innovation to the role of a technology facilitator. One thing I did pick up on from the reading that I think maybe you missed is that innovation doesn't have to just be making something better that already exists. Couros (2015) explains that yes, innovation can be improving upon something that's already been made, but it can also be creating something entirely new. Ultimately, I took this to mean that innovation is about creating and the thought process behind it. It's a very small detail, but I do think that the idea that innovation can be birthed from nothing is a great piece of information to keep in mind when innovating, since it's about the thought process and how that allows us to create.

    Couros, George (2015). The innovator’s mindset: Empower learning, unleash talent, and lead a culture of creativity [Kindle version]. Retrieved from Amazon.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dara September 2, 2018 at 5:47 PM

    Great post! As you mentioned, "being service-minded and working to build relationships is another crucial aspect of a technology facilitator's role..." I couldn't agree more. Technology facilitators should be servant-leaders at their institution. Technology facilitators are the bridge between the complex and ever-changing world of technology and learning. Being service-minded shows we care and put the needs of faculty and students first.

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