LeadershipActionPlan EdTechEndorsement ProfessionalGrowthandLeadership:ETE107 JesseHennefer

EffectiveLeadership(Section1) Technologyishere.Alloftheinformationyoucouldpossiblywantorimagineisavailablein seconds.Itisintegratedinalmosteverypartofourdailylives.Wewelcomeitintoalmosteveryfacetof ourday.Everyfacetexcepttheclassroom.Inmanyclassroomstheuseoftechnologyisstill monopolizedbytheteacherasapresentationtool,notasaninteractiveexplorationtoolforlearning usedbythestudents.Ineducationthedecisionshouldntbe,Arewegoingtoallowtechnology?,we arewaybeyondthat.Thedecisionnowshouldbe,HowcanIputthelearninginthehandsofmy studentsandsupporttheminexploring,creatingandconnecting? Ittakesleaderstoencouragecolleaguestoembracetechnologyandbecreativeintheuseofthe technologyintheclassroom.Leadersmusthaveavisionofwhattheywanttoseeinthefuture.Leaders promotingtechnologyintegrationneedtohaveavisionofwhattheuseoftechnologywilllooklikein theirschoolineachclassroom,bytheteachers,bythestudents,bytheendoftheyear,infiveyears.I wanttoseeeverystudentcollectingdata,producingart,creatingpresentations,buildingwebsitesand sharingtheirlearningwithotherstudents,otherschools,parents,localcommunitiesandglobal communities. Oneofthemostbeneficialpartsofourgrowinguseoftechnologyistheabilitytocollaborate. Collaborationleadstonewideas,sharedknowledgeandcontinuedlearning.Forourstudentsthis

meanssharingtheirideasandcreationswithstudentsthatcouldbeinanothercountryandinturn learningfromtheideasofothers.Forthetechnologyleadersinourschoolitmeansthesamething. Sharingtheirideasandknowledgeabouttechnologywithotherteachers,showingthemtheeasein whichtheycanincorporatehardwareandappsintotheclassroomtohelpincreasestudentlearning.It alsomeansthatourtechnologyleaderscanlearnfromothertechnologyleadersinotherschools, companiesandorganizationsandbringthatnewknowledgebacktotheteachersandstudentsinthe buildingtheyworkin. Beingopentonewideasfromanyoneandeveryoneisaneededskillinordertocontinuethe growthandlearningoftechnologyinourschools.Themarkofagreatleaderisnottoalwayscomeup withgoodideas.Whatmakesagreatleaderistheabilityrecognizeausefulideaandfigureouthowto usetheideaintheirsetting,theclassroomforexample.Ideascancomefromonlineblogs,other colleagues,technologyprofessionals,parentsandstudents.Yes,students.Ourstudentsusetechnology constantly,theyhavetheirownYoutube,Instagram,Facebook,Snapchataccountsandmore.Theytry appsthatyouorIhaveprobablyneverheardof,theyexperimentwithapps,dumptheonesthatdont workforthemandusetheonesthatdo.OurarecreatingsongsonGarageband,draftingplansfor spaceshipsonSketchupandfollowingthenewsabouttheirfavoriteathleteonTwitter.Ourtechnology leadersneedtotapintothisresourcefindwaystoguidethisinnatetechnologycuriositytowardusingit tolearninthesubjectsthatthestudentsneedinthefuture. Atechnologyleadermustbeaconnectedlearneraswell.Howcanyouteachothersabout technologyifyouarenotusingthesethings.Leadingbyexampleisnotacliche,itishowyougetothers tojoinyourcause.Principalsusingappsorprogramsinfacultymeetingsandcollaborationmeetings demonstratehowaprogramcanbeused.Teacherswalkingnextdoortoshowtheircolleague,this

coolnewapp,arebuildingexcitementabouttechnology.IfayouriPaddoesntgotoeverymeeting withyoubutyourspiralboundnotebookdoes,youreprobablynotatechnologyleaderinyourschool butthatdoesntmeanyoucantbe.PickupthatiPad,starttypingtheNotesapporbetteryet downloadEvernoteandstartplayingaround,experimentandshowyournextdoorteacherwhatyouve justfiguredout.

ProfessionalDevelopment(Section2) Professionaldevelopmenthaschangedovertheyears.Professionaldevelopmentinthepast meantgoingtoaconferenceandtakingstudiousnotesonanewideaandthentakingtheideabackto theclassroomandhopefullyimplementingpartsofit.Whatwasimplementedintheclassroom,if implemented,wasusuallyabastardizedversionofthefullideaorskill,withelementschosenthatwould fitintothestyletheteacherwasalreadyaccustomedto.Itwasaoneshotdealwithlittlefollowthrough andverylittlesustainability.Professionaldevelopmentshouldbeanactive,ongoingpracticeinorderto ensurethefidelityoftheideaorskillthatisbeingimplementedandtofortifythesustainabilityoftheskill. Professionaldevelopmentshouldbecollaborative.Teachersshouldlearnanewideaasa group,discusstheideaingroupsandthenplanlessonsasagroupwiththenewideaincorporatedinto thatlesson.Bycollaboratinganddiscussingthesameideathentheteachershaveotherstheyare learningwithandcanaskforassistanceiftheyneedhelpbecauseeveryoneinthegrouphasthesame foundationandbackgroundknowledgeinrespecttothelearnedidea.Ipicturethethiscollaboration happeningintheInstructionalProblemSolvingTeams(IPST)inmyschool. DuringFridaycollaborationtimeshort,explicitprofessionaldevelopmentcanbegiventothe groupsandtheycanthenusetherestofthetimetocollaborateandincorporatethenewideaintotheir

collaborativelydesignedlessons.ThefollowingFridaytheIPSTwouldcomebackandreportonhow theimplementationofthenewideaworkedandgetfeedbackfromtheteam.Aftertheinitial implementation,teammemberswoulddopeerobservationsfocusedonthenewidea/skill,allfeedback wouldbeabouttheidea/skillandhowtheteacheruseditintheclassroom.Wasiteffective?What couldtheteacherdotomakeitmoreeffective?Didtheteacherusetheidea/skillinainnovativeway thatenhancedstudentlearning? AlthoughIamverycomfortableleadinglargeandsmallgroupprofessionaldevelopment,Iam notalwaystheexpertinallareasandIrecognizethis.Itisimportanttohavethemostqualifiedperson leadingtheinitialprofessionaldevelopment.Thismaybetheachievementcoach,edtech,administrator orateacherleader.Relyingonthestrengthandexpertisethatisfoundinthefacultyandstaffatmy schoolwillresultinamuchstrongerprofessionaldevelopmentandbeamoreeffectiveuseofthelimited timethereisforprofessionaldevelopment. Ibelievethatteachersaremostlikelytoimplementprofessionaldevelopmentandmostlikelyto understandthenewidea/skillifitispresentedwithexamplesandmodelsfromthecurriculumthatthey teach.Whethertheprofessionaldevelopmentisfocusedonatechnologyapporaninstructionalskill teachersaremoreopentoitifittheycanseehowitcanbeusedintheirparticularcurriculum.Thisis whysmallerprofessionaldevelopmentsessionsdirectlyalignedwithadepartmentcouldbebeneficialin myschool. Ialsobelievethatprofessionaldevelopmentshouldbetiered.Especiallywhentheprofessional developmentfocusedontheuseoftechnology.Justlikewithourstudentstherearebeginnersand advancedlearnersinourteachers.Makinganentirefacultysitthroughabasictrainingonanappis probablynotthemosteffectiveuseoftime.However,ifabasictrainingsessionisofferedandan

advancedusersessionisofferedthenwearecateringtothelevelsoflearnersthatarefoundinthe faculty. Tyingprofessionaldevelopmenttothevisionoftheschoolisimportant.Itisimportantforallthe participantstounderstandwhytheyarelearningthisnewidea/skillandhowitistiedtothelargerplan fortheschool.Ifprofessionaldevelopmentseemsrandomandindependentofthelargervisionofthe schoolthenfortheteachersthereisnoreasontoimplementitandmakeitapartoftheirclassroomand theschool.Professionaldevelopmentshouldbethevehicleforthevisionoftheschool.

Contributions(Section3) Themostimportantthingthatonecandoisgivebacktothecommunityatlarge,thisiswhy eachofisintheprofessionofteaching.Whatmakesacommunitystrongisthateachmemberhas strengthsthatothersdonotandbysharingthesestrengthsthecommunityisstrongerthaneachofits individualmembers. EachpersonintheEducationalTechnologyEndorsementhasastrengthintechnologyora desireforit.Publicschoolandpublicschoolteachersareinconstantneedtocontinuetheirowngrowth inordertosupportallofourstudentinbecomingreadyjobsandskillstheywillneedinthis21st century.Technologyisatthetopofthoseskills.Togivebacktothecommunityandhelpitscontinued growthistheourresponsibility. Therearesomanywaysinwhichateachercangivetotheeducationalcommunity.Thefirstis bysharingtheirknowledgewithothers.Byleadingprofessionaldevelopmentintheschooland introducingmanyteacherstoaneffectiveuseoftechnologybringsthelevelofeachteacherinthe buildingup,raisingthefoundationofteachingtoahigherlevel.Thiscanbemygreatestwaytogive

back.AsanadministratorIhavetheopportunitytosharewithalargenumberofteacherswhatIhave learnedandhowitcanbeusedineachoftheirclasses.Icanalsoprovidethetimeandopportunityto haveotherssharetheirstrengthsandknowledge. Moneymovesschoolsalong,sadbuttrue.Wedonthavethemoneyweneed,weveknown thisforalongtime,reminiscingonthisfactdoesusnogood.Buteachteacherandadministratorcando somethingaboutthis,applyforgrants.Bringingadditionalmoneyintomyschoolcanletmeprovide thingsforstudentsthatwouldotherwisenotbepossiblewiththemeagerstateandfederalfundingthat wetrytosustainon.Mygoalfortheendofthisyearandthebeginningofnextistowritegrants,find grantsforteacherstowriteandhelpsupportthoseteachersthatarewritinggrants. Teachingisanexcitingcareerandnowistheperfecttimetobeateacher.Thenumberof amazingthingsthatareavailablethatcanpushourstudentstothenextlevelareeverywhere.The learningopportunitiesthatwecanprovidethemusingtechnologyandbythemusingandcreating technologyareexciting.Thiscouldbeaneweraineducation,wejustneedtospreadtheexcitement thatmanyofusalreadyfeel. ResearchandInnovation(Section4) Thethingaboutinnovationisthatitisongoing.Whatisinnovativetodayiscommonplace tomorrow.Innovationalsodoesntalwaysmeaneffective.Thereisafinelinethathastobewalked whenusinginnovativetechnologiesineducation.Wemustrecognizeinnovativetechnologiesandhow theywillimprovethelearningofourstudentsandnotjustuseinnovativetechnologybecauseitis innovative.Thethingaboutinnovationistheearlyadoptersarethetesters,theyaretheonesproviding thedataforlateradopterstomakedatabaseddecisions.Ineducationweareinaconstantfluxbetween remaininginnovativetohelpourstudentsandusingresearchbasedmethodsthatareproveneffective.

Thekeyistostaycurrentwithourownlearningandeducationaboutthethingsthatwillaffect ourstudentsandtheirlearning.Technology,researchbasedteachingmethods,opportunitiestotie learningtothecommunityanduniversitypartners.Asteachersandadministratorsoneoftheeasiest waystoremaincurrentistobepartofalargeProfessionalLearningNetwork(PLN).AspartofPLN anindividualteacherdoesnothavetoseekoutthenewestideasortechnology,thisinformationcometo them.Itscrowdsourcingforideas.ThrowingaquestionoutonTwittertoyoureducationalPLNwill resultinabrainstormofideas,trustedcolleagueseachwithexpertiseindifferentareasprovidingideas thatateachercanthenchoosefrom,moldintosomethingthatfitstheirsituationintheirclassroomor school.Stayingcurrentalsomeansseekingoutlearningopportunitiessuchasendorsementprograms, TEDTalks,coursesavailableoniTunesUandotherMassiveOpenOnlineCourses(MOOC). Althoughlearningmanagementsystems(LMS)arenotnewtheyarethenewestthingin secondarypublicschools.Iamexcitedabouttheuseoftheseinourclassroomsandhavealreadyseen thembeingusedingreatwaysbymanyteachersevenin6thgrade.LMSscomeindifferentformsbut theysharethesamebasics,LMSsareawaytoorganizethematerialinaclassfordeliverytostudents andprovidestudentsawaytointeractandcommunicatewithpeersandteachersontheirowntime. WhetheranelementaryteacherisusingEdmodoorasecondaryteacherisusingCANVAS,the organizationandinteractionarethecornerstonesofusingthesesystemsintheclassroom.LMSsare twosidedforteachers.Ontheonehandthesesystemssupportteacherbeingabletoorganizeallof theirmaterialsinoneplaceprovidingaonestopshopfortheteacher,parentsandstudents.Videos, podcasts,assessments,practiceworksheets,notesandlinkstooutsidewebsitesandarticlescanallbe organizedontheLMS.Thisisattractivetomanyteacherswhoareconstantlytryingtofindwaysto organizeandstreamlinetheplethoraoftasksthattheyneedtoaccomplishinaday.However,theseare

thesamereasonsthatLMSscanbeoverwhelmingtosometeachers.Theteacherhastolearnan entirelynewsystemfromtheonetheyhavebeenusingforyears,insomecases.Changeishardfor some. Promotingtechnologiesisofteneasybutmaintainingtheiruseisdifficult.Manyteacherstrynew thingsinclass,whetheritsusingiPadsandappssuchasSocrativeorusingAppleTVsasawayto haveaninteractiveboard,howeverwhentheyarepressedtopreparealessoneachday,manyfallback tooldhabitsandcomfortablemethodswhenpressedfortime.Somaintainingtheuseofthemost effectivetechnologyiskeytokeepingitgoingintheclassroom. Innovationcanbeoverwhelmingbutjustaswehavelearnedinthisendorsementclass,one innovationeffectivelyimplementedinaclassroomismuchmorebeneficialthanmanyinnovations ineffectivelyimplemented.Thisshouldbethegoalofeachteacher,implementsomethingwellthenadd tothatwhenyouarecomfortable.