Tech Leadership

Values

How can we help our students to own the learning as Alan November describes?


I Am Second is a powerful website on faith, servant leadership and is visually compelling.

Relationships

What is a PLN (Professional Learning Network) and why does every teacher need one?

Grab a cup of coffee and listen to this eloquent lady talk to us about why we MUST help our students balance technology....

Why is Ed Tech Leadership Important?

"Technology should be like oxygen: invisible, ubiquitous, necessary."
Chris Betcher 
GAFE Summit, Palo Alto
Summer 2015

Education Technology Leadership Philosophy

Suzanne Awtrey

I am in love with the students I teach and I believe in their human potential to grow.  I have witnessed the fact that all students have the ability to learn new knowledge and grow socially and emotionally.  This passion began as a spark when I began teaching elementary children 23 years ago and has caught fire as I have continued to learn and practice the art and science of investing in students.  I have become convinced that my responsibility as an educator is to ignite that learning.  Recently, I have discovered that technology is just the tool to enable the fire to burn with radiance never before experienced.

            In all my years of educating children in grades K-3, I have never been bored, not for a second.  Children are our most precious resource and our hope for tomorrow.  They are interesting, diverse, beautiful, trusting and complicated, but never dull.  Each day I embrace the excitement of encouraging each student to her fullest potential, helping each child grow from where he is to the next level.  The great challenge comes from the many different levels and languages in the large classes that I serve.  I must know where each child is both academically and socially, understand what motivates him and provide that child with the appropriate medium necessary to for growth.  Technology is the perfect tool to facilitate that growth which will empower each child.  It allows me to make the learning individual and personal.  Children can be given a variety of choices that they have never had access to before.  They can connect and communicate with an audience next door or around the world, which makes learning purposeful.

            This is the heart of why technology leadership is critical.  As an effective technology leader, I model the way for others by clarifying and living an example of my own core values. I inspire a shared vision by reminding teachers that our purpose is igniting student learning regardless of our individual comfort level.  I challenge the process by being transparent about changes I am making in my classroom, including my successes and failures.   Additionally, I enable others to act when I collaborate with other staff members, build relationships and create a cohesive environment through positive feedback and support.  Lastly, I encourage the heart of those I lead by creating community and celebrating the way students and teachers are using technology to communicate, collaborate, be creative and think critically.  By being an effective educational technology leader, I influence many others outside of my classroom walls to change in a powerful way.

            It is imperative that schools change the way we educate our children.  Too many students are bored and unmotivated because they do not see the purpose in what they are learning.  Using the SAMR model of technology integration, we can take the steps necessary to redefine the way we teach and transform schools to a place of inspiration, student-centered learning, choice and creative thinking. 

So how do we help teachers grow in their craft?

Infographic by easel.ly

Effective professional development must begin with a student-centered purpose and vision.  Teachers must be given examples of how technology can be integrated to make it easier to allow children to create, collaborate, think creatively and critically. The infographic compares what is effective to what is not effective when training teachers on how to integrate technology into their curriculum in order to empower students.  Training must be collaborative, supportive and contain follow-up sessions which allow for reflection.  Teachers must be trained at differentiated levels which consider their current pedagogical understandings along with their skill levels.  Choice is critical when considering motivation for learning new skills and strategies.  PD must be engaging, inspiring and it is critical to give teachers TIME to create and collaborate about the implementation of their new knowledge.

Who are Important Ed Tech Leaders?