Technology Leadership & Management
In this weeks reading, Chapters 7 & 8, from “Technology In Its Place” the writers, John LeBaron and Catherine Collier, really emphasis the need for leadership, not just management. There are a lot of cool technology gadgets out there, but if there are not people who use them than they will never get the justification they deserve. Principal, instruction coordinators, and experienced teachers need to take the lead and show others how technology can help their students exceed in the classroom and the world.
I know the our school as a lot of technology but there are many who still don’t know how to use it or don’t feel comfortable using it. The more time that leaders of the school take in training and demonstrating, the more other teachers will be willing to try it. As a teacher, I believe that I need to take advantage of what is out there as far as technology is concerned and if there is something I don’t know how to use than I need to find out how to use it. If a colleague is struggling with technology than I need to share my knowledge base with them. It’s a two way road with your colleagues are far as information is concerned.
The nine principles relate to the reading this week in every way possible. The writers touch on every principle and make sure the reader knows why it is necessary. The key principle this week, I believe, is vision. If the school doesn’t have a vision for the use of technology than they might as well give the technology to someone who can use it!
February 6th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I found your site on google blog search and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. Just added your RSS feed to my feed reader. Look forward to reading more from you.
- Sue.
February 6th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
I like your statement of how we need to share our experiences with technology to help other colleagues! As you say, if teachers do not have enough training or need assistance when the TRT is unavailable, then the teachers will not use the technology and it goes to waste. Technology can be a great tool to engage students and make lessons more student-centered, but does require training and constant use to effectively incorporate it into lessons.
Katherine
February 9th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I also liked your statement about the importance of sharing information with colleagues. At my school I definitely feel a lack of collaboration from my fellow teachers. I think part of this comes from being pressed for time at school. Even on teacher workdays the teachers usually are kept busy with meetings instead of being able to take the time to learn from each other. I agree that if a teacher has a good knowledge base in technology that he or she has some responsibility to share this information. For example, if another English teacher developed a great Power Point on a piece of literature, I would hope that he or she would share it with me. I think being able to see what other teachers are doing with technology can also inspire teachers who are more hesitant to use technology in their classrooms.
February 11th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I agree we all need to work together. A little training and some leadership helps us go a long way. The constant use is definitely key. You have to practice and delve into more and more.