Schrum, L. & Levin, B. B.
(2011). Strategic leadership: Encouraging and assessing technology integration.
In Schrum, L. (Ed.), The best of Corwin: Educational technology for school leaders (41-58). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Summary
In education, change is often the
only constant. In addition to the
changing faces of students within classrooms, new ideas, standards, and
requirements are often being foisted onto teachers. To avoid making technology a burden,
administrators should understand levels of willingness to adopt innovation and
the stages of concern teachers may have.
By forming professional learning groups and supporting innovators and
early adopters in teacher leadership, administrators can appoint technology
coordinators and form technology planning committees all in an effort to create
technology-rich lessons that enrich student learning.
Reflection
My experiences in science outreach
have taught me that the best leaders of teachers are teachers. From outside of education, solutions to problems
seem ever so simple. However, the old
adage to “walk a mile in my shoes” certainly applies for teachers. Partnering with teachers and learning about
the challenges they face within their schools and classrooms began to open my
eyes.
When I completed my master’s degree,
I was uncertain whether I should pursue a PhD in science or science
education. The message I heard from many
professors was to go for science because picking up teaching ideas and language
would be easy. That route was not the
right one for me, and fortunately I landed in science education despite the
original detour. Here, I am learning
that teaching is not as easy as everyone thinks. It is a science unto itself.
Once again I feel like I face a
crossroads. Soon I hope to apply for an
education director job with a STEM outreach program. At the same time, I am aware that several
science teacher positions are opening in local high schools soon. I have been encouraged to apply for both
positions. Considering that the best
leaders of teachers are teachers, will I be better prepared to work with K-12 teachers
after having been one? Or, have I been teaching
and leading all along?
Just as a personal opinion, take it for what it is... I say apply for both just for the oppurtunity to interview and see what you are offered. In your interviews ask their opinions of your situation. They may have a situation at there school where they need a teacher leader who can help direct teachers to a change in curriculum and you can have the best of both worlds. Or maybe in the interview process you realize one of the two avenues is not the correct one for you. You never know until you start testing the waters. And since you have had a lot of time volunteering in both aspects you have seen the good and bad of both sides.
ReplyDeleteI think the beings a teacher of teachers is less stressful since you will not have student education tied to your name...but at the same time it may be met with a lot of resistance from certain groups...
Good luck!
Thank you for your encouragement! I think you give very sage advice. After listening to Dr. Michael Fuller speak today, I am realizing just how important it is to either be or help create teacher leaders.
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