Technology Leadership

Based on Information from

NEIR*TEC

http://knowledgeloom.org

Areas of Technology Leadership

• Access • Assessment and Evaluation • Community Relationships • Integration • Planning • Professional Development • Support • Vision

Access

• School leaders must ensure equitable access to current hardware, software, andconnectivity that supports instructional goals.

Access Questions• What are effective strategies for addressing equity issues? • What technologies are available for providing support for students

with disabilities?

• What networking options allow for greater connectivity of computers from all points in the school or district?

• What are some lower−cost options to providing technological support besides a desktop computer for every student?

• How does access to technology beyond the confines of school walls and school day affect teaching and learning in your school or district?

Assessment and Evaluation

• School leaders must utilize assessment and evaluationtechniques to inform decision making and ensure continuous improvement in teaching andlearning.

Assessment and Evaluation Questions

• In this time of increased accountability for schools and pressure to perform on standardized tests, what other types of information can give a truer picture of the impact of technology?

• What rubrics, tools, forms, or procedures can be used to gather this data? (Check out what our panel has to say about this specific question.)

• What kinds of data might be useful in interpreting the effect technology has on a learning environment?

• How can technology itself be employed in assessment and evaluation?

• What do I do with the data? How do data drive further decision making and systemic reform?

• How can students be evaluated in distance−based or distributed education

settings? ·

Community Relationships

• School leaders must develop strategic community relationshipsthat foster collaboration in planning, implementing, and assessing the use of technology inschools.

Community Relations Questions• What kinds of people do you want to engage from your community to help in

planning and supporting technology initiatives? Who would you include and how do you get them?

• What types of support can be provided by the community or businesses?

• Are school goals aligned with your community's goals for economic development? ·

• What information does your community need to sustain or increase support for your initiatives? How do you prove they'll work?

• Will facilities and equipment be available for community use outside of school time? ·

• How will teaching strategies and activities address the needs of adult learners? ·

Ethical and Legal Issues

• Ethical and Legal Issues − School leaders must model and promote an understanding ofethical and legal issues related to the use of technology.

Ethical and Legal Questions• What guidelines should teachers and students have regarding copyright and

plagiarism?

• What kinds of documentation should be kept to verify rights?

• What is an acceptable use policy? What should it address?

• What is "fair use" and where can I find more information about it?

• What implications does recent legislation, such as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, have for my school? What additional legal concerns are being discussed that may impact

• school?

• Who owns multimedia course content developed by teachers? How can it be used? ·

Integration

• School leaders must model the purposeful use of technology and ensure thatteachers and students integrate technology into daily classroom practice.

Integration Questions• How do you support and help teachers grow in their integration of

technology? What specific strategies can help school leaders determine the technology proficiency level of their teachers and the appropriateness of technology−based activities?

• What are some ways school leaders can use technology in their

daily activities? • How often do you use technology and how do you use it? Are you

comfortable talking about it? If your fellow teachers have questions about technology in their classrooms, can they come to you for answers?

• Is technology used across the curricula to support learning goals?

Planning

• School leaders must play a central role in the cyclical development, assessment,implementation, and revision of school technology plans.

Planning Questions• How can you leverage your technology funds to find ways to cover more

than initial hardware and software costs? • How do school leaders determine the effectiveness of their technology

plans?

• What are the key components of a technology plan?

• How do school leaders identify priorities that must be addressed in a technology plan?

• Where can you find support in understanding complex issues related to technology purchasing and funding? Whom can you ask?

• How do you sustain a technology initiative as well as necessary funding?

Professional Development

• School leaders must provide relevant, meaningful, and ongoingprofessional development for all staff.

Profession Development Questions

• What professional development activities or models are most productive for improving basic technology skills? for increasing technology integration?

• How can technology itself support professional development activities to reduce costs and improve return on investment −− in both dollars and student achievement?

• What training opportunities related to technology have you participated in this past year?

• How much of your technology budget is designated to professional development?

Support

• School leaders must ensure that a technical and pedagogical support system existsthat facilitates the use and maintenance of technology in their schools.

Support Questions

• How can school leaders ensure proper maintenance of equipment?

• Schools often lack adequate technical support. What

strategies might be used to address the Issue?

• To what extent should teachers be expected to maintain the equipment in their classrooms?

• What do teachers need to learn to be able to select appropriate software? ·

Vision

• School leaders must articulate a shared vision of how technology will be effectivelyused to support teaching, learning, and school management.

Vision Questions• How do you convince stakeholders that technology expenditures are

a good investment with big returns on that investment?

• What information regarding curriculum, instruction, school management, and learning technologies will lead to increased buy−in?

• What steps should you take in your school or district to address new information literacy skills necessary for today's workforce?

• How will innovations in educational technology impact pedagogy, curriculum, and assessment? How will these innovations impact the basic organization of schools, such as building use, scheduling, and the division of the school day?