What do you want leaders to do with technology?
George Couros wrote a blog on this question a couple years ago and now I've been asked through the principal's course that I'm taking to share my thoughts on the matter. Here goes...
Some of you might remember Apple's "There's an app for that" commercial, which highlighted the many apps available for the iPhone 3. At the time, I wondered what this technology would mean for education, especially for student learning -- the possibilities seemed endless. Almost 10 years later, however, I wonder if technology like apps and iPhones are actually detrimental to learning. At the very least, it would seem that "smartphones [are] making young people more lonely and depressed."
Today, I think most teachers understand that technology is a tool, which is meant to enhance good teaching. Moreover, we need to teach students how to use technology responsibly and help them understand the importance of positive digital citizenship. I believe that school leaders should be a role model in this regard; they should have an online presence in which they share ideas and demonstrate leadership.
Because of technology, however, our education system has become inundated by online communication (e.g. email, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and data, so much so that our school leaders are shackled to their laptops and smartphones. I understand that, at times, it might be necessary to shut the office door and finish a report or presentation, but I'm not sure that leaders can lead from their office regardless of the technology at their fingertips.
What do I want leaders to do with technology? I want leaders to use technology to help improve student learning, but during school hours I'd like to see leaders working with students and staff face-to-face, learning together, developing positive relationships. If technology can help do this, great; otherwise, I'd rather see school leaders use technology when students are not around.
As a former colleague of mine used to say, "The students are the curriculum." Before we open-up the curriculum documents or sift through the data, we need to know our students. I'm pretty sure that there isn't an app for that.
Some of you might remember Apple's "There's an app for that" commercial, which highlighted the many apps available for the iPhone 3. At the time, I wondered what this technology would mean for education, especially for student learning -- the possibilities seemed endless. Almost 10 years later, however, I wonder if technology like apps and iPhones are actually detrimental to learning. At the very least, it would seem that "smartphones [are] making young people more lonely and depressed."
Today, I think most teachers understand that technology is a tool, which is meant to enhance good teaching. Moreover, we need to teach students how to use technology responsibly and help them understand the importance of positive digital citizenship. I believe that school leaders should be a role model in this regard; they should have an online presence in which they share ideas and demonstrate leadership.
Because of technology, however, our education system has become inundated by online communication (e.g. email, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and data, so much so that our school leaders are shackled to their laptops and smartphones. I understand that, at times, it might be necessary to shut the office door and finish a report or presentation, but I'm not sure that leaders can lead from their office regardless of the technology at their fingertips.
What do I want leaders to do with technology? I want leaders to use technology to help improve student learning, but during school hours I'd like to see leaders working with students and staff face-to-face, learning together, developing positive relationships. If technology can help do this, great; otherwise, I'd rather see school leaders use technology when students are not around.
As a former colleague of mine used to say, "The students are the curriculum." Before we open-up the curriculum documents or sift through the data, we need to know our students. I'm pretty sure that there isn't an app for that.
Comments
Post a Comment