1d

visionary-leadership copy

visionary-leadership 1d

“Most great learning happens in groups. Collaboration is the stuff of growth.”

-Sir Ken Robinson

working-togetherI alone am not able to “implement strategies for initiating and sustaining technology innovations and manage the change process in schools and classrooms,” but along with a team of fellow educators, administrators, and parents we can work together to bring about institutional change (International Society for Technology in Education, 2011). I was invited to serve on my school’s Technology Task Force Team and help to envision and implement transformation. The team’s Technology and Learning plan document outlines the purpose and vision:

The Technology Task Force was originally charged with considering “how can we enhance learning, prepare our students for the future, maintain a competitive edge, and be true to our mission and values […]?” Throughout the data gathering process, the Tech Task Force and faculty members emphasized the importance of integrating the use of technology to support student achievement and engagement, rather than utilizing technology for technology’s sake (Consultant, 2015).

Together, along with an outside consultant, the Technology Task Force created the following goals:

Teacher Professional Development: Create a comprehensive teacher professional development program that supports teachers in integrating ISTE Standards across the curriculum and grade levels to enhance and transform how learning happens.

Curriculum & Instruction: Align curriculum with national ISTE Standards for technology integration, determining granular skills and targets, both horizontally and vertically across the curriculum and grade levels. Fully utilize technology tools and resources by integrating technology in classroom learning that enhances and transforms how learning happens.

Access & Infrastructure: Provide equitable access to digital media and learning tools across Grades K-8, in support of curriculum and instruction goals.

Leadership & Planning: Continue to develop teacher, administrative and community leadership to usher the school’s digital media and learning program.

Parent Education: Engage the parent community as critical partners in the school-wide technology and learning initiatives.

One of my major roles in the Technology Task Force was to gather data about how teachers were using technology for learning. Using a collaborative document, one of my fellow teachers and I “collected examples of technology integrated lessons and units. [We] coded each teacher-submitted learning activity, by identifying which ISTE Standard for Students the technology integration corresponds to, if at all. Each activity was also coded for its placement on the SAMR Model, ranging from enhanced learning to transformative learning” (Consultant, 2015). This data was then used to identify individual teachers who would benefit from technology-focused mentoring. Those relationships were then able to start to “manage the change process” and transform our classrooms and school (International Society for Technology in Education, 2011).


References

Consultant [Name omitted for privacy]. (2015). Technology and learning plan [Handout]. [School name omitted], Seattle, WA.

International Society for Technology in Education. (2011). ISTE standards: coaches. Retrieved June 29, 2011, from http://www.iste.org/standards/ISTE-standards/standards-for-coaches

iste-breadcrumbs_visionary-leadership