21st Century School Leaders

"Technology does not improve student achievement. Technology supports the

instructional processes that improve student achievement."

David Jakes

“Reading, math and science are the foundations of student achievement. But to compete and win in the global economy, today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders need another set of knowledge and skills. These 21st century skills include the development of global awareness and the ability to collaborate and communicate and analyze and address problems. And they need to rely on critical thinking and problem solving to create innovative solutions to the issues facing our world. Every child should have the opportunity to acquire and master these skills and our schools play a vital role in making this happen.”

MICHAEL DELL, CEO, Dell, Inc

Adopting ICT in Schools

As education experiences reform and change, good communication from school leaders is more important than ever. All of media is frequently discussing educational trends. Add to that, the ever evolving changes in the world of technology.  It is more important than ever for school leaders to have clear communication strategies. A clear message from school leadership around educational programs supported by technology is necessary to provide quality programs that make a difference for the students we serve. These strategies explain the school’s vision for change and encourage collaboration and participation within the school community. 

21st Century School Leaders Must Be Good Communicators

Share the vision for 21st Century change and improvement at your school and explain technology’s role in supporting this.

Explain how specific school  programs and initiatives relate to that vision.

Invite members of the school community to be a part of, create and periodically evaluate the school’s technology plans.

Explain Vygotsky’s theories which propound collaborative learning using technology. It enables learners to develop their capacity for critical thought precisely because it is collaborative in nature.

Visionary Leadership – Inspire and Lead for development of a shared vision for technology integration

Highlight technology trends and their impact on the school, teachers and students.

Point out emerging trends and encourage discussion on how they may be incorporated in to the school program as needed.

Pilot new technologies and share the results with your school community.

Celebrate examples of enriched student learning supported by new technologies.

Routinely encourage students and teachers to use collaborative and creative tools.

Discuss the Zone of Proximal Development or ZDP which represents the gap between the tools they have on hand to solve problems independently and the potential they have to solve problems with the aid of an adult.

Digital Age Culture – Create, Promote and Sustain a dynamic, digital age learning culture

Reach a marriage between Technology and pedagogy

Communicate clearly professional development goals and offerings .

Motivate teachers to know how to access best resources for technology enriched lesson planning and learning.

Encourage the use of social media, Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, Google +, to communicate and disseminate information .

Encourage teachers to use social media to learn and expand professional practice. Is this also taught to and expected of teachers? Do they know how to create a their own learning network?

Motivate teachers to take advantage of video chat such as skype or online webcasts when needed.

Excellence in Professional Practice – Lead by example. Promote an environment of professional learning and innovation

Share goals and give project updates on technology related projects.

Incase of share goals and give project updates on technology related projects.

In case of problems have planned solutions explained so that staff feels supported.

Give teachers and students clear instructions for how to get tech support and technology applications support.

Improve infrastructure and related goals regularly to support digital age learning.

To develop, nurture, and flourish the whole child in the context of a high-stakes testing policy and to identify strategies that would make it possible for teachers to pursue a more balanced approach to whole child concept. 

Improvement – Provide digital age leadership and management

Evidence indicates that when used effectively, "technology applications can support higher-order thinking by engaging students in authentic, complex tasks within collaborative learning contexts".

Use accumulating knowledge regarding the circumstances under which technology supports the broad definition of student achievement that best meet the particular needs of your school.

Ensure that teachers, parents, students, and community members understand what role technology is playing in the school and how its impact is being evaluated. 

Conclusion- IT to enhance Student Achievement

 How can the school leader ensure that the promise that technology holds for student achievement is realized?

What factors need to be in place to support and sustain the effective use of technology?

What other resources can the school leader use to help plan for technology that will have a positive impact on student achievement.

 Keep posted on ongoing studies about how this model of integrated technology-supported learning emphasizes the ability to access, interpret, and synthesize information instead of rote memorization and the acquisition of isolated skills.

Future Thoughts

Administrators must acknowledge and recognize incremental improvements in student outcomes as well as changes in teachers' curricula and practices.

Gradual progress, rather than sudden transformation, is more likely to result in long-term change.

Technology can facilitate deep exploration and integration of information, high-level thinking, and profound engagement by allowing students to design, explore, experiment, access information, and model complex phenomena.

These new circumstances and opportunities--not the technology on its own--can have a direct and meaningful impact on student achievement.

Thank you