The Digital Looking Glass:A Glance at the Impact of

Innovative Leadership An Approach to Empowering the

Massesby

Dr. Frank RomanoAssistant to the Superintendent for Curriculum,

Instruction, Assessment and TechnologyTenafly Public Schools

Tenafly, NJ

http://www.teachnologist.comfromano@tenafly.k12.nj.us

The Whole Deal

Empower Educators

Introduce ResourcesRaise Awareness

Change/Innovation

What are the salient factors that inform, drive, and summarize effective

technology integration and sustainability in schools?

Framing the Approach

Framing the Approach

National EducationTechnology Plan, 2004

A Nation atRisk, 1983

Framing the Approach

“Over the next decade, the United States will face ever increasing competition in the global economy” (U.S. Department of Education,

2004). “We live among determined, well-educated, and strongly motivated competitors” and “Our once unchallenged preeminence in commerce, industry, science, and technological innovation is being overtaken by competitors throughout the world” (National Commission on Excellence in Education, 1983).

Framing the Approach

“Good is the enemy of great. We don’t have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don’t have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life. The vast majority of companies never become great, precisely because the vast majority become quite good—and that is their main problem.” (Collins, 2001)

The Teachnologist

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Who Are Those Leaders?

• Andy Hargreaves?• Chris Dede?• Alan November?Maybe, but perhaps they are

also…• Marco Torres• You

Making Sense of It All

“Psychologically our thought—apart from its expression in words—is only a shapeless and indistinct mass. Philosophers and linguists have always agreed in recognizing that without the help of signs we would be unable to make a clear-cut, consistent distinction between two ideas. Without language, thought is a vague, uncharted nebula. There are no pre-existing ideas, and nothing is distinct before the appearance of language....”

(de Saussure, 1966)

Question

What are the salient factors that are found in contemporary educational technology literature and research that inform, drive, and summarize effective technology integration and sustainability in schools?

Synthesis: 10 salient factors that led to effective technology integration and sustainability in schools

The 10 Sustainability Factors

“…synthesizing research to aggregate and substantiate knowledge has

become one of the important challenges of the information age...”

(Cooper as cited in Patton, 2002)

Synthesis Cuban (2001) closely examined funding and edtech use; Dickard (2003) investigated critical actions that sustain

school technology infrastructures and continued progress; Pflaum (2004) investigated optimal computer use and made

recommendations for continued, effective use; Schacter (1999) analyzed the five largest scale studies of

educational technology to date and two slightly smaller studies on the impact of technology on student achievement;

Thompson et al. (1996) overviewed the theories and research that support the use of technology in education; and

Sivin-Kachala and Bialo (2000) used methods of meta-analysis and comparison on 311 studies to make well informed assertions about the following: edtech instruction and learning, software selection, professional development and support, hardware and technology infrastructure, overall implementation, and edtech planning

67 Studies (1994-2004) Journal of Research on Technology in Education

The Educational Technology Plan

• Goal 1: Students will attain the educational technology and information literacy skills that will assist them in achieving the Core Curriculum Content Standards and to succeed in the workplace of the 21st century.

• Goal 2: Educators will attain the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively use educational technology to assist students to achieve the Core Curriculum Content Standards.

• Goal 3: Students, teachers and administrators will have access to educational technology in all learning environments, including classrooms, media centers, schools, and other educational settings, such as community centers.

• Goal 4: New Jersey school districts will establish and maintain the technology infrastructure necessary for students and educators to access electronic information and to communicate freely via technology.” (2003)

The Educational Technology Plan

• Goal 1: Students will attain the educational technology and information literacy skills that will assist them in achieving the Core Curriculum Content Standards and to succeed in the workplace of the 21st century.

• Goal 2: Educators will attain the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively use educational technology to assist students to achieve the Core Curriculum Content Standards.

• Goal 3: Students, teachers and administrators will have access to educational technology in all learning environments, including classrooms, media centers, schools, and other educational settings, such as community centers.

• Goal 4: New Jersey school districts will establish and maintain the technology infrastructure necessary for students and educators to access electronic information and to communicate freely via technology.” (2003)

The Educational Technology Plan

• Goal 1: Students will attain the educational technology and information literacy skills that will assist them in achieving the Core Curriculum Content Standards and to succeed in the workplace of the 21st century.

• Goal 2: Educators will attain the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively use educational technology to assist students to achieve the Core Curriculum Content Standards.

• Goal 3: Students, teachers and administrators will have access to educational technology in all learning environments, including classrooms, media centers, schools, and other educational settings, such as community centers.

• Goal 4: New Jersey school districts will establish and maintain the technology infrastructure necessary for students and educators to access electronic information and to communicate freely via technology.” (2003)

Vision andMissionthrough

Leadership

Vision andMissionthrough

Leadership

ConnectivityConnectivity

SharingEdTech

Practices

SharingEdTech

Practices

Agent Accessto TechnologyAgent Accessto Technology

Digital ContentDigital Content

TechnicalSupport

TechnicalSupport

AuthenticEdTech

Assessment

AuthenticEdTech

Assessment

TechnologyIntegration

throughLiteracy

TechnologyIntegration

throughLiteracy

ProfessionalDevelopmentProfessionalDevelopment

CreativeEdTechFunding

CreativeEdTechFunding

TenSustainability

Factors

TenSustainability

Factors

Vision and Mission through Leadership• The innovations and/or general

changes to the organization that have been initiated by direction toward technology integration

• The degree to which the integration of technology into teaching, learning, and administrative activity has created cultural shifts

Creative EdTech Funding

• The district and/or building process for ensuring technology integration, support, and replacement requirements

• The district and/or building technology funding allocation and the rationale behind it

Professional Development

• The technology professional development provided to administration and staff in terms of level

• The technology professional development provided to administration and staff in terms of impact

• The technology professional development provided to administration and staff in terms of focus

Technical Support

• The status, stability, and efficiency of the technical support services that exist at the building level

• The status, stability, and efficiency of the technical support services that exist at the district level

Authentic EdTech Assessment• The practices and method(s) of

assessment that are performed at the building, district and/or state level

• The practices and method(s) of assessment and their connection to specific technology and education goals

Technology Integration through Literacy

• The skills and content knowledge that are tied to technology integration through the curriculum for the purpose of producing technology literate students

• The degree to which teachers and students use technology to both automate and informate the teaching and learning process

Digital Content

• The digital content (e.g., online resources, software, video, etc.) to which the school subscribes

• The digital content and its place in student learning

Agent Access to Technology

• The mechanisms and/or programs for ensuring equal access to technology for all students at both home and school

• The access for all agents in the immediate educational community to technology for administrative and instructional purposes

Sharing EdTech Practices

• The collaborative partnerships and/or sharing of information/findings that exists among the immediate educational community and the greater educational community

• Reports of unanticipated changes that resulted from technology integration

Connectivity

• The presence of networked technology systems and centralized, standardized distribution systems

• The degree to which those systems provide safe, efficient, and effective communications

A picture is worth a thousand words.

…but a thousand words can capture the entire picture.

Vision andMissionthrough

Leadership

Vision andMissionthrough

Leadership

ConnectivityConnectivity

SharingEdTech

Practices

SharingEdTech

Practices

Agent Accessto TechnologyAgent Accessto Technology

Digital ContentDigital Content

TechnicalSupport

TechnicalSupport

AuthenticEdTech

Assessment

AuthenticEdTech

Assessment

TechnologyIntegration

throughLiteracy

TechnologyIntegration

throughLiteracy

ProfessionalDevelopmentProfessionalDevelopment

CreativeEdTechFunding

CreativeEdTechFunding

TenSustainability

Factors

TenSustainability

Factors

…not mutually exclusive

Vision andMission through

Leadership CreativeEdTechFunding

ProfessionalDevelopment

TechnologyIntegration

throughLiteracy

AuthenticEdTech

AssessmentTechnicalSupport

Digital Content

Agent Accessto Technology

SharingEdTech

Practices

Connectivity

TenSustainability

Factors

Vision andMission through

Leadership CreativeEdTechFunding

ProfessionalDevelopment

TechnologyIntegration

throughLiteracy

AuthenticEdTech

AssessmentTechnicalSupport

Digital Content

Agent Accessto Technology

SharingEdTech

Practices

Connectivity

Ten Sustainability Factors

One rose to the top.

ConnectivityConnectivity

SharingEdTech

Practices

SharingEdTech

Practices

Agent Accessto TechnologyAgent Accessto Technology

Digital ContentDigital Content TechnicalSupport

TechnicalSupport

AuthenticEdTech

Assessment

AuthenticEdTech

Assessment

TechnologyIntegration

throughLiteracy

TechnologyIntegration

throughLiteracy

ProfessionalDevelopmentProfessionalDevelopment

CreativeEdTechFunding

CreativeEdTechFunding

Vision andMissionthrough

Leadership

Vision andMissionthrough

Leadership

Ten Sustainability Factors

…not mutually exclusive

CreativeEdTechFunding

ProfessionalDevelopment

TechnologyIntegration

throughLiteracy

AuthenticEdTech

Assessment

TechnicalSupport

Digital Content

Agent Accessto Technology

SharingEdTech

Practices

Connectivity

Vision and Missionthrough Leadership

Ten Sustainability Factors

The Pioneer at WorkVision & Mission through

Leadership

The evidence suggests that leadership is the core factor, not mutually exclusive of any other

factor.

Sample FindingsIn the Absence of Leadership…

• Higher Level Technical Support - NO• Evaluation of Curriculum Integration -

NO• Use Relevant Research - NO• Technology is used infrequently - YES• Connectivity for Instructional Purposes Is

Low - YES

The Architect at Work

Creative EdTech Funding

TimeSpace

FundingPopulation

PhilosophyPedagogyDemands

Needs

The Hybrid Classroom

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

Class A Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Tuesday, Thursday, etc.

Class B Tuesday, Thursday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, etc.

Pay vs. Open Source Apps

Blackboardvs.

Moodlemoodle.tenafly.k12.nj.us

moodle.org

The Nurturer at Work

Professional Development

PROJECT INFUSION

CHART

INSTRUCTIONALFull Day Sessions

LEADERSHIPHalf Day Sessions

FUNCTIONALHalf Day Sessions

Instructional Instructional

Teaching w/ Technology

Reading wRiting and aRithmetic

(K-5)

Using Multimedia Projects to

Engage Students

Designing a Classroom

Website w/ FP 2003

Designing a Classroom

Website w/ FP 2003 Part II

Designing a Web-Based

Inquiry Oriented Activity

Reading wRiting and Inspiration

(6-12)

Moodle School: 21st Century

Online Learning (5-12)

Data Management

District Communications

SASIxp Input & Query

SASIxp Export & the

Merge

Outlook

Magic Help Desk

Dynamic Presentation

Managing a Safe and

Supportive Environment

Encouraging Effective

Implementation

Observation

Planning

Software

Hardware

Strategies

The AUP

Modeling

Sharing Ideas and Resources

Groups Drive

The Building Website

Websites: District,

Building and Staff

Resource Awareness

SASIxp Planning and

Administration

Disk Management

Specialization

M3

Health Office

Visual Thinking: Problems,

Processes, and Products w/ Kidspiration

Techno-Therapy for Terrified

Teachers

Every Picture Tells a Story: A Visual Literacy

Journey

The ABCs of PBLs w/

Technology

The Orchestrator at Work Technical Support Identify strengths and

weaknesses Surround one’s self with

talented and capable people

The Appraiser at Work

Authentic EdTech Assessment

Sustainability Factor Description

Factor Item

NJ SurveyItem(s)

Vision and Mission through Leadership 1 2,3,8,9,10,11d,18,29

Creative EdTech Funding 2 26

Professional Development 3 1,4

Technical Support 4 6,7

Authentic EdTech Assessment 5 5,8

Technology Integration through Literacy 6

9,10,11d,11g,11h,11i,11m,14,20,21,22

Digital Content 7 11j,11l

Agent Access to Technology 811c,11e,11f,23,

24,27,28

Sharing EdTech Practices 9 -

Connectivity 10 11a,11b,11k,11l,11m,12,13,15,16,17,

19,23,24,25

Sustainability Factor Description

Factor Item

NJ SurveyItem(s)

Vision and Mission through Leadership 1 2,3,8,9,10,11d,18,29

Creative EdTech Funding 2 26

Professional Development 3 1,4

Technical Support 4 6,7

Authentic EdTech Assessment 5 5,8

Technology Integration through Literacy 6

9,10,11d,11g,11h,11i,11m,14,20,21,22

Digital Content 7 11j,11l

Agent Access to Technology 811c,11e,11f,23,

24,27,28

Sharing EdTech Practices 9 -

Connectivity 10 11a,11b,11k,11l,11m,12,13,15,16,17,

19,23,24,25

Sustainability Factor Description

Factor Item

NJ SurveyItem(s)

Vision and Mission through Leadership 1 2,3,8,9,10,11d,18,29

Creative EdTech Funding 2 26

Professional Development 3 1,4

Technical Support 4 6,7

Authentic EdTech Assessment 5 5,8

Technology Integration through Literacy 6

9,10,11d,11g,11h,11i,11m,14,20,21,22

Digital Content 7 11j,11l

Agent Access to Technology 811c,11e,11f,23,

24,27,28

Sharing EdTech Practices 9 -

Connectivity 10 11a,11b,11k,11l,11m,12,13,15,16,17,

19,23,24,25

Sustainability Factor Description

Factor Item

NJ SurveyItem(s)

Vision and Mission through Leadership 1 2,3,8,9,10,11d,18,29

Creative EdTech Funding 2 26

Professional Development 3 1,4

Technical Support 4 6,7

Authentic EdTech Assessment 5 5,8

Technology Integration through Literacy 6

9,10,11d,11g,11h,11i,11m,14,20,21,22

Digital Content 7 11j,11l

Agent Access to Technology 811c,11e,11f,23,

24,27,28

Sharing EdTech Practices 9 -

Connectivity 10 11a,11b,11k,11l,11m,12,13,15,16,17,

19,23,24,25

The Synthesizer at Work

Integration through Literacy

The Researcher at Work

Digital Content

The Capacitator at Work

Agent Access to Technology

The Ambassador at Work

Sharing EdTech Practices

The Builder at WorkConnectivity

CreativeEdTechFunding

ProfessionalDevelopment

TechnologyIntegration

throughLiteracy

AuthenticEdTech

Assessment

TechnicalSupport

Digital Content

Agent Accessto Technology

SharingEdTech

Practices

Connectivity

Vision and Missionthrough Leadership

Ten Sustainability Factors

Sustainability lies not in the technology

but in the human infrastructure.