This week I will identify and assess another blog post describing how leadership in technology can be conveyed through an educational concept in the content area of English Language Arts (ELA). The resource of interest is the Google extension, Kaizena Shortcut, previously referred to as the Kaizena Mini, which enables educators to offer students efficient and insightful feedback. Read about on an  Integrating Technology and Literacy Edutopia blog post, this extension enables teachers to provide students recorded verbal comments and place writing lesson links within their submitted work. The inserted links may be in the format of a readily available instructional YouTube video or recorded teacher created lesson, saving the instructor’s time of repeating the same corrections throughout the paper and/or among multiple students. According to English teacher Katherine Cozens’ testimony, “It’s reduced my marking time by 40%” (Kaizena, n.d.). As Kaizena's website describes, the shortcut would especially aid the communication necessary between teacher and students during long term project-based assignments by keeping them focused during the extended timeframe (Kaizema, n.d.); the communication works both ways, students can also communicate with their teachers this way. Not only can the Kaizena Shortcut be used for grading ELA assignments, it can help teachers grade other subjects' online assignment submissions, such as science or geography, as well – an “improvement” (Kaizen, n.d.) to the old pen and paper way, indeed.

After discussing the uses of this tool, its reason for integration into classroom instruction should be reviewed. As Ertmer relayed, by introducing ways of utilizing technology which are applicable to lessons right away, teachers can be assisted in using technology (2005). School-wide installation of the Kaizena Shortcut by the administrator is easily possible in under five minutes (Kaizena, n.d.) saving time and making implentation speedy. Another reason for Kaizena's integration could be its non-existent cost. As Johnston stated from her study of school librarians, “The most frequently cited enabler for school librarians’ enacting a leadership role in technology integration was a supportive principal” (2012). What principal is going to argue with a free tool that improves his or her teachers' effectiveness? As Johnston also found, positive relationships between teachers and school librarians promoted the school librarian’s technology leadership position (2012); sharing helpful technology tips, such as the Kaizena Shortcut, with teachers aids in promoting goodwill. Lastly, it is important to remember the importance of providing training in using new technologies. “The value of the equipment lies in the ability of the teacher to use it in a way that enhances instruction, and many teachers won’t be able to do this without adequate support” (Overbay, Mollette, & Vasu, 2011). One may view a shortcut such as Kaizena as simple to use, however, if that is not the case, its benefits could remain untapped.

References

Ertmer, P.A. (2005). Teacher pedagogical beliefs: the final frontier in our quest for technology integration? Educational Technology Research and Development (53)4, 25-39. Retrieved from https://blackboard.sc.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-13049476-dt-content-rid-94287093_2/courses/SLIS761-000-FALL-2019/SLIS761-J30-SPRING-2017_ImportedContent_20170503032859/Making%20the%20Case.pdf

Johnston, M.P. (2012). School librarians as technology integration leaders: Enablers and barriers to leadership enactment. School Library Research, 15. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ978840.pdf

Overbay, A., Mollette, M. & Vasu, E.S. (2011). A technology plan: Administrators should keep five lessons in mind as they implement new technology initiatives. Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development (68)5, 56-59. Retrieved from https://blackboard.sc.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-13049482-dt-content-rid-94287094_2/courses/SLIS761-000-FALL-2019/SLIS761-J30-SPRING-2017_ImportedContent_20170503032859/Overbay_Technology_plan_that_works.pdf

Kaizena (n.d.). Features. Retrieved from https://www.kaizena.com/features/voice-comments

Kaizen (n.d.). In Dictionary.com. Retrieved from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/kaizen