Technology & Learning - September 2008 - (Page 24)

Strategies for K-12 Technology Leaders Strategies for K-12 Leaders 10essential T&L Blogger Terry Freedman boils good leadership down to a handful of key principles. This is really important, and the starting point for any leader. You may be one of those people (like me, in fact), who hasn’t got the time to mess about in meetings discussing visions. However, you cannot get away from the realization that, if you don’t know where you’re going, you will never know when you get there. Having a vision is essential for everything that you as a leader must do, from pulling your co-workers together so that they work as a team, through getting more money from the powersthat-be, to enjoying the success of your students’ achievements. STRATEGIES For Leading A Technology Department 1 Have a Vision 3 Create a scheme of work 2 Those kind of lessons where you decide to do something off the cuff based on a news bulletin you heard on the drive in to work are great. A good teacher can have the kids on the edge of their seats, virtually begging for more when the bell goes at the end of the lesson. But you can’t expect every teacher to be thus blessed, and in any case there is such a thing as accountability. For example, if someone asks you, “How are you addressing No Child Left Behind through technology?”, I don’t think you really want to be saying “Dunno, We just do whatever lessons take our fancy.” Bottom line: you need a scheme of work that says what the students will be taught, and when, and how that addresses the bigger picture in the forms of the whole school vision, State or national technology standards, and national requirements like NCLB. You can still have the odd inspired and unplanned lesson—but as the exception rather than the rule. Make a Plan point of reference, both internally and externally. For example, a good staff handbook will tell people what the department’s marking policy is, and how it demonstrates its commitment to excellence, gender and racial equality and so on. There is one huge problem with many visionaries: they think that having a vision is enough. Well, that’s merely daydreaming. After all, you may have a vision of becoming the President of the United States. But unless you get off your couch and actually do something about it, the rest of us won’t be holding our breath. What you need to do is have a plan. Say your vision is that every student will have access to technology whenever they need it, and that by the time they leave your school they will be very digitally literate. What sort of timescale are we talking about? Five years? So what are you going to do in each year in order to realise your goals—bearing in mind, too, that you will need to be ready to change your plans as circumstances change? By which I mean, of course, that a team is more than just a collection of people. Regular meetings, delegation of responsibilities as well as tasks, openness to new ideas—all these and more make for a great team. “Ah”, you say. “There’s just me, so I don’t have a team.” Wrong! In that situation, your team is merely less well-defined. You have to make sure other teachers are on your side, and helping you to promote your techrelated goals. How? Well, think about what you could do for them. Courses in how a digicam can enhance any curriculum area, perhaps? An after-school tech “surgery” once a week? Don’t worry, you will think of something! 5 Build a Team 4 Document I’m a great believer in the staff handbook. For one thing, it tells new recruits what they need to know. It also serves as a 24 | School CIO Special Section

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Technology & Learning - September 2008

Technology & Learning 9/08 Contents Editor’s Desk News & Trends Put to the Test Lessons on Leadership What, You Worry? Back Office Business How to Get your MEd Online What’s New Student Response Systems Get Smarter Leader of the Year Profile: She’s Got Game

Technology & Learning - September 2008

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