The Technology (TECH) competency focuses on the use of digital tools, resources, and technologies for the advancement of student learning, development, and success (ACPA & NASPA, 2015). Included in this area are knowledge, skills, and dispositions that lead to the generation of digital literacy and digital citizenship within communities of students, student affairs professionals, faculty members, and colleges and universities (ACPA & NASPA, 2015).

 

         Professional growth in this competency area is marked by shifts from understanding to application as well as from application to facilitation and leadership. Intermediate and advanced level outcomes also involve a higher degree of innovativeness in the use of technology to engage students and others in learning processes (ACPA & NASPA, 2015).

 

        Growing up and throughout my education, I have constantly used technology. I took a computer class all about Microsoft office programs, completed schoolwork, used many different social media platforms, or just play games on any device. With having a general knowledge of technology and what it entails, I find that I connect more with the foundation level of the TECH competency. I connect with the foundational outcomes that are adaptability in the face of fast-paced technological changes, and both outcomes that incorporate the use of social media and other digital communication and collaboration tools into one’s work (ACPA & NASPA, 2015).

 

        I believe I am at a foundational level for the outcome that relates to adapting to fast-paced technology as I have some basic knowledge and can catch on to new technological changes pretty quickly. Being able to stay up to date with fast-paced technology is not always easy. There are times that I easily adapt and there are times that I struggle because it is a platform I am not well versed in yet. However, I am constantly learning new ways to navigate the technology world, through YouTube videos, asking other people who are more knowledgeable questions, or figuring it out as I go.

 

        Through my assistantship, I am constantly working on the computer or my phone every day. A lot of the work I do through my phone is social media related. I work in the student life office helping plan and run activities on campus and virtually for students. To promote these events, I am making flyers and using our social media platforms to get the word out to students to participate in the event. Our social media platforms are used for promoting events, holding contests, participating in fun polls as well as posting educational components. Our office partakes in celebrations and posts about different ones on social media. For example, Hispanic Heritage Month was in September and we posted about the top influential Latinx people, cultural celebrations, and Hispanic recipes to try at home. Although we are mainly an activities office, we still make sure we are incorporating education components to keep students engaged and learning even when not in class.

 

        Throughout this year I as well as all my students have learned how to adapt to online learning. While students are taking courses online and not able to be physically present on campus our office has offered multiple opportunities for students to stay engaged in school through virtual events. Zoom has been a very common platform that most students have used for online classes, meetings, events, or just a virtual hangout with friends. Throughout my work, at my assistantship, we have incorporated zoom regularly. I constantly take into consideration if someone cannot physically be present are, we able to have them attend via zoom and have them take away as much as they would if they were in person. Another platform we use to engage students in activities is Facebook live, although only one person is shown on Facebook live, we used this platform when hosting trivia nights, cooking videos, or just a virtual hangout option that others can communicate in real-time while watching other students in their activity.

 

        Technology is forever changing and always updating into better formats. I wish I could say one day I will master all of the technology we use but there will always be something to learn as it is always changing. The benefit of technology changing is that I am constantly engaging my mind in learning new techniques and platforms. By doing so I can stay up to date on the latest trends, social media sites and ways of communicating that will continuously engage other students into learning.

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        Although, I do not fully assess myself moving into the intermediate level of the TECH competency I believe I have grown a lot within this area. From the beginning of my time in the HESAA program to now I have utilized more technology than I ever have before in my assistantship. At the start of my assistantship I was introduced to Canva, I made basic flyers and informational documents through the templates on the site. Now I use Canva and develop these from scratch, I use it for PowerPoints, QR code generator, templates for workshops, meeting documents and so much more. I never knew this all existed until I was shown the basics and fully immersed myself into this program. I have also branched out to use more Microsoft Office programs, and have found ways to learn new tips and tricks to make using this technology just a little bit easier. The biggest example I have is using Microsoft Excel to complete Student Government Association Evaluations. I use the different formulas to generate, sum totals, averages, percentages and more. It has been a great experience thus far learning more about these programs throughout my assistantship and I cannot wait to see how much more I can progress as I continue in this field! 

 

References:

American College Personnel Association and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. (2015, August). Professional competency areas for student affairs educators. Retrieved from https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/ACPA_NASPA_Professional_Competencie s_FINAL.pdf