- What is your general definition of teacher leadership?
- What examples of teacher leadership have you observed or experienced?
- How is leadership for meaningful technology integration different from other kinds of leadership?
- From your perspective, what are the benefits and the challenges of teacher leadership for technology (for teachers, for students, for schools, for the profession)?
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Defining Teacher Leadership (Mod 1)
The major concepts of this course are concepts I grapple with every day in my work as a professor teaching in an online environment, as a member of the team coordinating the accreditation process for our teacher education programs (framed by both the WVPTS and NETS-T), and as a point person for the development of the School of Education's online assessment system (in TaskStream). When I began teaching in higher education, none of these responsibilities existed because the digital media we now use to accomplish this work didn't exist and the expectations about technology integration were vastly different. I've seen tremendous benefits and challenges as a result of these new expectations; for me as a professional, for my students and colleagues, and for teaching and learning. Thinking about your experiences, consider these guiding questions:
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ReplyDeleteDefining Teacher Leadership (Mod 1) Lisa Parton
ReplyDelete1. What is your general definition of teacher leadership?
Teacher leadership is showing others, colleagues and students, how to be successful and improve their life through knowledge and experience.
2. What examples of teacher leadership have you observed or experienced?
I worked with a 6th grade math teacher who showed excellent teacher leadership. He uses guided learning in his classroom, where his students have a great deal of control over their learning. His students respect and love his class. The students under his guidance work together to improve their understanding of mathematical concepts. I noticed some older teachers, who subbed for his class, see his class as a disorganized shamble of a classroom. One woman even described the collaboration as a way for students to “cheat” on their class work. However, I saw his class as an exciting venture where students work collaboratively to solve problems and find ways to work together to find solutions they otherwise would never accomplish.
3. How is leadership for meaningful technology integration different from other kinds of leadership?
Many types of leaderships are about helping others to change and adapt to new ways and ideas. It could be changes in relationships, strategies, participation, cultures, planning, management and many other areas. These changes may be put into place and not changed again for a year or more. Technology integration is forever changing and growing and needs to be integrated in to all areas of learning. This area takes continued training and ongoing assessment for improvement. Technology needs systematic implementation and not used as an add-on for instruction.
4. From your perspective, what are the benefits and the challenges of teacher leadership for technology (for teachers, for students, for schools, for the profession)?
I know in our school system, the use of technology is not implemented to its fullest. Veteran teachers who have only recently began to use computer and other forms of technology seem very reluctant to join in on a system wide integration. Students are far more advanced in the knowledge of all forms of technology compared to most teachers. Not to mention the funding problems to update tools and keep current computers and equipment working. I believe technology integration should be priority in any school. Teachers need more training and tools. Our school seems to spend more on sports equipment than it does on Technology. A technology leader will have to overcome many obstacles and convince everyone in their school the importance of the use of technology for the next generation of students. This may become easier as older teachers retire and a younger generation takes their place.
Module 1- Defining Teacher Leadership
ReplyDeleteBy Macy Jackson
Teacher leadership means being a driving force in continual improvement in education. Knowledge, confidence, team work skills and work ethic is necessary to be a teacher leader. Being a leader also has the drawback of being responsible for leading others and your organization into new territories they may not be familiar with. In order to implement new ways to improve education, teacher leaders must have the trust of their colleagues, administrators and the community.
Two teachers I have had the pleasure to work with stand out has having great teacher leadership qualities. Both are eager to incorporate and take advantage of technology in their classrooms and as club advisors in business education. They have proven over and over again to their administrators and colleagues they know how to be successful in new endeavors especially regarding technology. They have a strong passion for their subject, school and students. Not only are they hard workers and knowledgeable, they are also approachable and helpful.
Demonstrating leadership as a teacher trying to integrate meaningful technology can differ from other kinds of leadership because there is often initially more additional costs in supplies and training to implement meaningful changes. Administration may also have minimal background knowledge on the technology and the likelihood of the desired result making them especially apprehensive to new technology integration.
The benefits of teacher leadership in technology are making your organization/school/department/classroom more efficient by utilizing time and money saving technology. Students can learn and interact in new and exciting ways for all involved. The challenges are knowing what technology will work best. Like in many instances, there are less expensive options that may work great or they may cost you, your colleagues or your students productivity. Again, when teachers are trying to lead their school in integrating new technology, they need the support of their administration which can also be a challenge.