Technology+Leadership++Summary

TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP SUMMARY

There are a number of standards concerning Technology Leadership. Today’s students are so technologically adept, that states have elevated their standards. Educational leaders are held accountable in their decision making concerning technology usage and providing that information to students. Keeping students safe and secure while using internet technology is a legal and ethical obligation.

Students today are entering a world in which 60 percent of the jobs will require technological skills in order to be successful. We must enable them to become technologically competent; we must take advantage of the capacity of technology to enhance our traditional classroom presentation and to engage our students in active learning. Those classrooms should be utilizing the latest technology and providing opportunities for students to do the same (Johnson, 2001).

As educators, we want students to understand how to integrate technology into the core classroom curriculum such as math and science, and understand how technology can enhance learning and create different types of learning opportunities; we want teachers to understand how to address the needs of diverse learners through technology (Kundu and Bain, 2006).

Due to the fact students have a need to learn about technology, state standards have been raised so that classroom curriculum meets the demanding needs of students. Today, many states require teachers to be certified and keep up with standards by content area. The current emphasis is on ensuring that technology is used effectively in all content areas to promote student achievement and success as well as providing new learning.

When evaluating how well technology is utilized in the classroom, teachers should be examining student achievement in areas such as better retention of content and test scores, and observing students’ attitudes, enthusiasm and involvement in the learning process. In the President’s plan for education, “No child Left Behind”, the administration believes schools should use technology as a tool to improve academic achievement (Johnson, 2001).

Educational leaders must be responsible in all decision making concerning the use of technology. In the article “Who’s in Control of the Technology-Integrated School?” it would seem the teachers and the techies, but the Principal will need to enforce the rules carefully and consistently (Price, 2005). The Principal must increasingly foster a community spirit by which teachers and the techies work together to create an affordable and functional learning environment (Price, 2005).

Teachers need the flexibility to place computers in configurations that complement their teaching strategies. This could mean that computers are strung throughout the classroom or placed in active work areas where students have enough room to use companion textbook, data-collection resources, and science and art equipment (Price, 2005). The placement of the computers may cause conflicts between teachers and technology staff members, especially when each content area requires a unique configuration to match the activities with the learning. This will not be seen as cost effective or serviceable by the techies. These issues need to be discussed as a group, and Principals will have to mediate, moderate, and make decisions, about how to resolve these conflicts (Price, 2005).

Keeping students and their data safe and secure is a legal and ethical obligation. Many schools and districts have established internet policies that protect students from sexual predators, online bullying, and harassment. (Price, 2005) Parents should review these policies and be made aware of the dangers of the internet and some of the common errors students make when using the internet, including giving out such significant data as social security numbers, phone numbers, age, and other

In conclusion, Technology Leadership consists of many factors: the fact that students are more technology savvy, states have to enforce the NCLB laws in school districts, and the responsibility of the Principal to see that teachers and the technology staff work together to enforce integrity concerning student data. The goal of Technology Leadership is to ensure that students learn and become technologically savvy to enable them to be successful in today’s computer driven workforce.

Works Cited Kundu, Rina and Christina Bain. “Webquests: Utilizing Technology in a Constructivist Manner to Facilitate Meaningful Preservice Learning.” Art Education. March 2006, Vol 59, Is 2 pp.6-11. Research Library Price, Betsy. “Who’s in Control of the Technology Integrated School?” Principal Leadership. Sep 2005, Vol 6, Is 1; pp.51-56. Research Library



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