When I read Scott McLeod's call for a Leadership Day, asking bloggers to reflect on and advocate for preparing our students with 21st century skills and improving student outcomes, I was very excited. What a great idea to have everyone reflect on the same topic in their blogs. We were guaranteed to get many different perspectives because everyone comes from a different situation and/or different role in education.
I decided to review the newly released NETS for Administrators and choose some areas that I felt were important to my school and my district. I found these areas to be relevant to my role as a lab teacher and as a teacher in an inner city school:
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2. Digital Age Learning Culture
Educational Administrators create, promote, and sustain a dynamic, digital-age learning culture that provides rigorous, relevant, and engaging education for all students. Educational Administrators:
b. model and promote the frequent and effective use of technology for learning.
c. provide learner-centered environments equipped with technology and learning resources to meet the individual, diverse needs of all learners.
4. Systemic Improvement
Educational Administrators provide digital-age leadership and management to continuously improve the organization through the effective use of information and technology resources. Educational Administrators:
c. recruit and retain highly competent personnel who use technology creatively and proficiently to advance academic and operational goals.
As adults, the children in our care are our responsibility. It is the job of administrators to lead effective schools and progressive districts. Our children are aware when they are under-served and they know when their teachers are not effective. And someday, these children will be the leaders, so let's prepare them for that role.
More on Leadership Day 2009
2. Digital Age Learning Culture
Educational Administrators create, promote, and sustain a dynamic, digital-age learning culture that provides rigorous, relevant, and engaging education for all students. Educational Administrators:
b. model and promote the frequent and effective use of technology for learning.
c. provide learner-centered environments equipped with technology and learning resources to meet the individual, diverse needs of all learners.
4. Systemic Improvement
Educational Administrators provide digital-age leadership and management to continuously improve the organization through the effective use of information and technology resources. Educational Administrators:
c. recruit and retain highly competent personnel who use technology creatively and proficiently to advance academic and operational goals.
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When thinking of the best way to convince administrators of the importance of ed tech, all I could think of was how it would mean the most coming from those it would affect the most: the students. In a large city like Philadelphia, we need good leadership to make sure that our students do not fall behind their suburban peers or leave school without the skills required for the job market.
When thinking of the best way to convince administrators of the importance of ed tech, all I could think of was how it would mean the most coming from those it would affect the most: the students. In a large city like Philadelphia, we need good leadership to make sure that our students do not fall behind their suburban peers or leave school without the skills required for the job market.
I interviewed 4 of my campers this summer, all of whom attend different schools throughout Philadelphia. They were excited by the idea of incorporating iPods and cell phones into the classroom, though some had reservations. Many of them described the lack of resources in their schools, or the ineffective use of resources such as computers and whiteboards. The discussion was refreshing and hopeful. Many of these students attend schools with limited resources. They know what they are missing out on!
This video is their testimony.
As adults, the children in our care are our responsibility. It is the job of administrators to lead effective schools and progressive districts. Our children are aware when they are under-served and they know when their teachers are not effective. And someday, these children will be the leaders, so let's prepare them for that role.
More on Leadership Day 2009
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Gosh -- going to the computer lab to work on games ... not my idea of technology integration. Thanks for sharing these voices with us.
For my Leadership Post, I wrote a song about listening to the kids.
http://dogtrax.edublogs.org/2009/07/11/leadership-day-2009/
Kevin
Thank you for taking the time to listen to the kids! This video makes a great case for the importance of technology.
Seems like you and I had similar ideas, Kevin. For some reason adults think they know what kids need without ever asking them. Your song is great!
Thank you Jennifer for your kind words, and let's hope all of this blogging and discussion becomes action!
Mary Beth