A Day In the Life of a Technology Coordinator

A day in the life of a technology coordinator entails everything from standardizing technology and managing teams of "techies" to being the voice bridging technology and education--it's certainly is never a dull moment. On the surface, the coordinator's day may seem no different from any other educational leader, but look deeper, beneath the surface, and you'll discover that a day in the life of a technology coordinator is one filled with unique challenges. The Technology Coordinator is charged with making sure that the myriad of technology solutions, various educational levels, and support staff work together seamlessly--all while making it seem so "easy." You might wonder why the title of coordinator, but a quick look at the variety of roles/tasks performed helps to make it clear: mentor, fixer, collaborator, leader, troubleshooter, resource locater, problem solver, printer, designer, accountant, and purchaser--the list goes on. In short, the technology coordinator coordinates all aspects having to do with anything digital including phone systems, security systems, sound systems, etc.

A typical the day begins at 5:30 a.m. with a quick check of my Google calendar, and a brief email check to determine if there are any important messages that need my attention before I leave for the office. Most days the calendar is jam-packed and today is no exception. Leaving for the long commute to the office armed with an iPod ensures that there is plenty of opportunity to catch up on news, podcasts, and audio readings.

Morning: First up at the office is another quick check of email, a check on voice mail messages and a trip to the office mailbox. Messages, inquiries, help requests (some reviewed using the online workorder system), and outside contacts take up the first hour of the day. Next up is an informational one-on-one meeting with a director to update the status of a new student information system that is currently under negotiation. Immediately following the director meeting, is a meeting of the school district technology directors within the county. As host of this meeting, I provide facilitation services to the group and assist in providing resources and support to the group. Lunch finds me eating at my desk while reviewing new e-mail and voice mail messages.

The afternoon is devoted to putting the finishing touches on a new workshop/seminar series on MySpace developed for teachers, administrators and parents. A frantic message from a support specialist interrupts the process and alerts me that users at remote locations are experiencing installation problems with a new printer purchased for all remote locations. The afternoon is spent working with the support specialist developing a solution and technical directions for users. Next up, I'm hosting a video conference-streaming media meeting for local district teachers who are sponsoring students in our regional computer competition. Several technical issues are resolved before the meeting commences. The use of virtual meetings tools has encourages more teachers to participate in the competition since it allows them to participate from remote locations. Finally, I meet with support staff to develop and schedule the summer laptop maintenance procedures, maintenance cycles, and summer staffing needs. A final e-mail, voice mail check finds me on the road for the commute home.

After a relaxing dinner with the family, I make preparations for the night's SIGTC "Live" session and facilitate the one-hour event held on Tapped-In. I drop into ISTE Island in Second Life for a campfire discussion on a topic of interest to me, and then day ends with some quiet time with family and a good night's sleep in preparation for another busy day.