Leading Schools in a Web 2.0 WorldMike Thun

Office of School LeadershipSouth Carolina Department of Education

Leinda PetermanProject Director, EDC

• Background– Office of School Leadership, SCDE

• 8 Leadership programs for Teacher Leaders through District Superintendents

• Principal Induction (first year principals) Program required by SC law

• Approximately 700 participants per year• 100% of content delivered face-to-face, seminar-

style until 2006

• Background– 2006-07: Online Campus Leadership Program

created• Started August 2006• CD-ROM/Internet gateway leadership modules (six

sessions each)• Internet Academies (Educational Impact)• Variety of online assessments

– MBTI, LPI, DSP, etc.

• Background– 2007-08: Online Campus Leadership Program

• In-house Blackboard/computer training for entire staff

• Program Director facilitator and course design training w/EDC/ETLO

• Upgrade classroom with wireless laptop/projection/print/scan capability

• Integration of existing ETLO workshops• Integration of advanced Blackboard functions

• The Parameters– Progress still not meeting the “need”

• Reluctant adopters• Administrator schedules• State and local accountability requirements• Focus on instruction vs. technology

• The Need– A method of engaging administrators in a

technology “vision” dialogue

Discussion Board quoteWOW! is all I can say.  Information overload, yet exciting to think of the potential of the Web 2.0 tools.  The article, The Next Wave Now: Web 2.0, challenged me to step up my use of blogging, podcasts and to introduce wikis to my staff. The article, The Day in the Life of Web 2.0, shows just how much our classes and instruction will change as teachers in my school become users of wikis, blogs and podcasts.  The alphabet teachers have set the bar high and I want it done at my school-yesterday. 

After viewing Will Richardson's youtube presentation, I calmed down and heard him tell me 3-5 years.  I feel like we don't have 3-5 years.  It also makes me wonder why districts start in high school with technology.  We need to start in elementary school.

There is power in Web 2.0 if you know how to use it. I am inspired to improve my use of my blog and podcasts.  I hope you all will hold me accountable by going to my school's website periodically to see how my blog and podcasts are coming along.

I have to admit I was not looking forward to this course. Now that I have made time for myself to read the material and explore the links, I am fired up.

• Web 2.0 Development – Key development questions

• What do administrators need to know about Web 2.0 tools?

• Which tools will be most helpful to administrators in their daily work?

• What tools help administrators build collaboration with and among staff?

• What policy issues do administrators need to address?

• Web 2.0 Development– Development Process

• Gathering a team • Brainstorming key topics and confirming with state

partner• Determining structure (number of sessions,

organization readings, activities, discussion)• Researching – locating resources (also occurs

during other phases) • Identifying needed permissions and making requests

• Web 2.0 Development– Development Process

• Identifying key Web 2.0 tools– In this workshop: Bookmarking, Google tools,

blogs and podcasts– Rationale for selecting these tools: easily

learned, effective tools for communication and collaboration

• Web 2.0 Development – Process continued

• Planning activities and discussion questions to focus on key concepts

– Identify hands-on tasks to practice skills or extend learning, for example, setting up a Diigo bookmarking account, creating a blog or podcast

– Create provocative questions that engage learners in deep thinking about the topic

• Web 2.0 Development – Process continued

• Planning the final project• Checking each section for instructional flow • Reviewing and revising based on partner and

collaborator feedback• Engaging the technical team

– Developing graphics and workshop banner– Formatting and uploading content to the course

management system– Final reviewing and editing

Discussion Board quoteEver read the Left Behind series?  Okay, after that article, I feel a little left behind.  It is amazing to think that classrooms, schools and districts can operate in such a fashion.  As educators, we are always talking about working smarter and not harder.  These scenarios certainly seem to fit the bill.  

We received fifteen new promethean boards this school year.  This interactive piece of equipment has had a tremendous impact on the way teachers teach and the way students learn.  I can only imagine what can be accomplished with the Web 2.0!  I have watched the teachers embrace the technology and training that comes along with it, and I have watched the most "traditional" teacher flourish. 

It is imperative that we embrace this new technology and find as many was as possible to utilize it within our school communities!  I remember only needing an overhead projector as a classroom teacher - given that, I could teach the pants off of anyone.  I look forward to learning more about Web 2.0 and where I and my school will fit into all of it.  As a community of professional leaders and learners, we will want to make certain we are not left behind!

• Employment– School Leaders Executive Institute

• Experienced (3-5 years) principals• 32 participants/Two cohorts/Two facilitators• Mixture of E/M/HS principals• Varied demographics

– Will complete on December 18,2008

Discussion Board quote

I am so far behind!  I taught technology classes ten years ago with Teach to the Future, but I have not kept up after becoming an administrator. As a district, we have put up the walls in our "castle" due to the fear of our board and parents (myself included) that the risk were not worth it.  Last night, as  I read my assignments and watched Podcasts, I realized that if we do not embrace all of these tools and learn to utilize the tools available, we will be ignored as our kids continue to learn.  We are becoming barriers not facilitators to learning by being unwilling to learn along with our students.  I don't want that for myself or my children. 

We have worked with Schlechty over the past 7 years to learn how to design work for students.  We have heard Phil say over and over that there are companies and private educators out there that have it right and can do away with public education as we know it.  Today I get what he is saying.

If we learn with our kids, we can transform education.  If we don't, we need to get out of this business so learning can continue.

Participant Podcasts

Mary Ellen Parks

Principal, Shell Point Elementary

maryellen.parks@beaufort.k12.sc.ushttp://web.beaufort.k12.sc.us/education/components/docmgr/default.php?sectiondetailid=43638

Roderic F. Taylor

Principal, Dutch Fork Middle School

rftaylor@lex5.k12.sc.us

http://www.gcast.com/u/rftaylor/main

• Lessons Learned– Administrators require a different “online

instruction” model– Administrators struggle with time

management• Personal choice and family• Professional duties

– Administrator focus• Daily operations, instruction and accountability• Little time for reflection or “lifting the fog”

• Lessons Learned– Administrators tend to have email and “Blackberry”

skills but reluctant adopters of education technologies• Want only the “silver bullets”

– Online instruction hampered by local technology and personal proficiencies

– District technology staff/policies interfere with effective use of Web 2.0 tools

– However, course success is greatly enhanced by a F2F orientation and/or integrated online work

Leading Schools in a Web 2.0 World

Mike ThunProgram Director, Leadership Online Campus

803-734-8357mthun@leaders.ed.sc.gov

Leinda PetermanProject Director, EDC

601-442-7115lpeterman@edc.org