Principal Tested, Student Approved :)
Principals are the head figures in our school systems. They are the men and women who are seen by the students and staff, who communicate directly with parents and guardians, and provide support for his or her individual schools. Regardless of a principals background knowledge of technology usage, it is a duty, an outright obligation for them to take ownership of the knowledge that is out there and can benefit their students. As the voice and face of an individual school, technology is running rampant, and these academic leaders are at the forefront of this new age.
The generational gap that exists makes it a little difficult for some because exposure to digital materials may not be second nature as it is for today's students. That is more of a reason to take the reigns! I love the way Gosmire and Grady present the roles of principals. The fear is obvious and something I think many current and upcoming teachers have really debated over. As the authors of "A Bumpy Road" put it:
"There are stories of these devices being used by students to cheat on tests, disrupt classes, and even cause potential harm to one another, and after hearing such stories,
most principals want to ban such devices, but that reaction may damage the school’s
relationship with parents and students" (P. 17).
This is a perfect example of why principals should at least be proficient in the areas of technology that are involved in the classroom. General knowledge so that they can adequately manage the school environment and allow students to take charge of their learning.
It is the principal’s role to establish a vision for the school. "Principals must establish a context for technology in the school
and understand how the technology can be used to restructure
learning, empower teachers, and help students become more
technology literate (Brockmeier, Sermon, & Hope, 2005)" (p. 18). So the context in which different means of technological tools is going to be used is absolutely necessary, but mastery not necessarily.
I remember my middle school had a portal that the parents only had access to that posted the grades of students and homework/paper/test dates that were impending. During parent teacher conferences my cooperating teacher pulled up each students page with the parent and asked them if they knew about the technology (if they didn't he would guide them in how to get access). Surprisingly a lot of parents were very well informed and loved the portal. This is just a small example of how a little piece of technology can enhance the communication between parents and their children, parents and teachers, as well as between the teachers and the students.
Here is a really nice example I saw in a school using technology and music I thought you'd like to see!
I think for some principals they might need to see it in action. So regardless of whether or not they are tech savvy, principals need to have a positive attitude and to be open to teachers implementing technology within their own classroom settings. I think if they witnessed it within their own schools, they would have no choice but to investigate further and expand on their prior knowledge. With that said teachers need to also be leaders of technology in the class and be part of building that community of technology with the principal.
There's so much push for teachers to take workshops and keep up on technology, but they alone will not improve the state of technology in education. Like only increasing CPU speed, or your wireless card, or just the router speed, no improvement can actually be done until all aspects are improved. You’re right that principals should definitely be more informed and immersed in technology. I feel as though many of them are, but still I do see the ones that cling to "the old ways". I really like the point you made that students and even parents already want technology in the classroom, and so the best way to improve the community rapport is to seek out ways to embrace technology and find ways to safely and effectively integrate it into classrooms.
ReplyDeleteGreat video, thanks for sharing!
Hi yasmin,
ReplyDeleteThe way you sum up the discussion " So regardless of whether or not they are tech savvy, principals need to have a positive attitude and to be open to teachers implementing technology within their own classroom settings" really resonates with me. I think positive attitude towards change is one of the key elements of a good leader.
Thanks for your post!
Cheshta
Your comment that “teachers need to also be leaders” made me think back to other discussions we have had for this class. If you end up in a school with a principal who does not think technology application is important or should be a focus in their school, does this let you off the hook? Certainly not. This brings me back to the discussions on Professional Development; teachers need to be responsible for themselves. While it can be difficult to get the tools and support you need in a school where you do not have a technologically minded administrator, that is no excuse to fall behind yourself. Therefore, while it is important to have an administrator who is a leader in implementing technology, it should not be the be all, end all.
ReplyDeleteOn a further note, I love the fact that you try to make your blog multimodal. I liked how you connected "yoda" to the topic.
ReplyDeleteCheshta
Principals definately have the responsibility to be on the forefront of technology integration in classrooms. But like you stated, it's almost happening the other way around. Teachers are implementing the technology, leading the way and THEN the principals follow through. This may be that adminstrators don't have the time to fiddle around and experiment with what technology works and what doesn't. (I'm not saying that teachers have the time too. But it's the teachers that are in the classroom not the principal). I'm sure some principals are supportive and they are on board but in my school, I'm on my own unfortunately.
DeleteYasmin, your suggestion of principals taking the reins of integrating technology into the school curriculum truly changed my entire view. You are correct; it is the principal's job, as the head of the school, to take this initiative. Also, the role that students play in this integration process could be substantially critical to its success. Do you think a technology integration project that promotes students as the teachers and teachers as the students could be effective? The way I see it, as the newest generation has the most viable access to and knowledge of technology, they should be the resources to the integration of technology into the curriculum. The principal and his/her team of technology implementation coordinators could come up with a plan for the types of technology they wish to integrate, the purposes and goals of the implementation, and a list of deadlines. When the team has come to an agreement of these terms, the teams should present them to the student body. Select students can be appointed with the responsibility of collecting these technologies that fulfill the academic goals of the integration project as stated by the team. When the students have identified the most appropriate technologies, they may present the technologies, and how they work, to the team. Through this model, students, educators, and principals can come together for a greater purpose.
ReplyDelete