It’s the job of the principal to create an environment that is encouraging for faculty to be innovators; to fund technology infrastructure so that there is sufficient bandwidth (100 megs minimum), a stable network, appropriate and enough hardware, and an abundance of software. The principal needs to reward innovation and create a community of support among the faculty.
Zhao et. al. discusses what conditions are necessary within a school to make classroom technology innovations a success. The necessary conditions fell in three realms – the innovator (the teacher), the innovation (the hardware, software), and the context (technological infrastructure, the culture of the school). The principal of the school (or the provost of a college) influences all three realms. The principal hires the teacher, controls the budget, and sets the tone of the culture of the school.
The principal is the most single important factor (precisely because s/he cuts across all three realms) in determining how successful technology integration will be. It is not the case that the principal be able to code a webpage or manage border routing protocol or manage a server or administrate software. The principal must be a sophisticated end user of educational technology and have a passion for its use. The principal must set a culture of innovation and budget for its success. The principal must understand that we are preparing today’s students for an unknown future – but a future that includes the use and leveraging of technology as a fundamental skill.
If the principal doesn’t create an appropriate environment for faculty to be innovators, for faculty to change the paradigm of education so that we are teaching for the next 50 years, not the last 50 years, then, as in McLeod states, schools can become dangerously irrelevant.
References:
McLeod, (2010), Are Schools Dangerously Irrelevant? http://youtu.be/-yA6oTU1emM
Zhao, Y., Pugh, K., Sheldon, S., &Byers, J. (2002). Conditions for classroom technology innovations. Teachers College Record, 104(3), 482-515.
Yes, this is me commenting on my own blog. I heard Mary Sue Coleman, President of University of Michigan and one of the ten most influential college presidents, speak today. University of Michigan is at the forefront in the integrated use of technology in research and education. President Coleman stated that she "knows nothing about technology." But that she knows about organizations, education and research. And that she understands the importance of technology in developing our higher education institutions for the next few decades. Therefore, she continues she is able to move the cause of technology (she was talking to a technology audience at Internet2) forward.
ReplyDeleteThis further shows that a principal or provost or even a college president must be able to create an environment for technological innovation in education, but does not have to be technologically proficient.
So happy you commented on your own blog with that vital piece of info. about Michigan. Another major factor we seem to forget for ourselves is how we are always telling our students to try...don't be afraid to fail...it's okay to make mistakes...we can only learn from our mistakes... She is a brave woman and a great leader to realize she must lead. Great point.
DeleteHi Sheri,
ReplyDeleteI kind of agree with you. The educational leadership isn't all about knowing hardware and software, its much more than that. Its about finding connections, fostering partnerships, and building community linkages. Its about having the right attitude towards technology rather than knowing the bits and pieces. However at the same time, I feel basic knowledge will go a long way in making correct decisions and managing resources efficiently.(which are scarce anyway!)
Cheshta
p.s: It would have been nice if you included the video within the blog. That way you get to practice including all sorts of multimedia within the blog.
Internet 2 is ongoing. The video isnt live yet. I'm very comfortable using multimedia in my blogs, that's actually easy. For me, it was much more important to be truly reflective and pay attention to my readings and what I got from them and how they influenced my thought.
DeleteSheri
Hi Sheri,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your blog I reflected again on how accountable principals are on whether or not their schools incorporate technology in their classrooms. Principals should express enthusiasm about increasing technology use in their schools and lead by example. Also, they should work diligently to form technology committees and begin lobbying for involvement and funds to make their schools 21st century savvy. What a lot of work-but definitely worth the effort!
Have a great night,
Jenny
I certainly dont think that principals, superintendents, provosts and presidents should be luddites. I think that they should be sophisticated and knowledgable end users who spend their time creating an environment for technological innovation, where faculty/teachers are rewarded for this work, and given the funds and tools to succeed. And yes, Jenny, its a lot of work for them, but that's why they get the big bucks (compared to the rest of the folks in the system.) Sheri
DeleteI like how you say that principals should spend their time creating an environment for technological innovation. I didn't even think of that when I wrote my blog. While I still do believe that pricipals should be proficient (not necessarily masters) in technology and web 2.0 tools, the most influence that they can have is creating the enviroment since they are the ones that interact with the school board and get funding and teachers for their schools. So they will be the leaders in that respect-accessiblity, scheduling technology PD and funding.
DeleteSheri, I like the point that you made about principals being the most important factor in the implementation of technology in a school since, as you said, they cut across all three realms of the conditions necessary to effectively implement technology in a school—the innovator, the innovation, and the context. I wonder, though, couldn’t the role of the student be more important? I suppose that’s where the duty as the principal to set the tone of the school atmosphere comes in. The principal must secure the dedication of the student body to the implementation of technology into the curriculum for the integration to be truly successful.
ReplyDelete