Transcript Leading Schools in a Web 2.0 World

Leading Schools in a Web 2.0
World
Mike Thun
Office of School Leadership
South Carolina Department of Education
Leinda Peterman
Project Director, EDC
• Background
– Office of School Leadership, SCDE
• 8 Leadership programs for Teacher Leaders
through District Superintendents
• Principal Induction (first year principals) Program
required by SC law
• Approximately 700 participants per year
• 100% of content delivered face-to-face, seminarstyle until 2006
• Background
– 2006-07: Online Campus Leadership Program
created
• Started August 2006
• CD-ROM/Internet gateway leadership modules (six
sessions each)
• Internet Academies (Educational Impact)
• Variety of online assessments
– MBTI, LPI, DSP, etc.
• Background
– 2007-08: Online Campus Leadership Program
• In-house Blackboard/computer training for entire
staff
• Program Director facilitator and course design
training w/EDC/ETLO
• Upgrade classroom with wireless
laptop/projection/print/scan capability
• Integration of existing ETLO workshops
• Integration of advanced Blackboard functions
• The Parameters
– Progress still not meeting the “need”
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Reluctant adopters
Administrator schedules
State and local accountability requirements
Focus on instruction vs. technology
• The Need
– A method of engaging administrators in a
technology “vision” dialogue
Discussion Board quote
WOW! is all I can say. Information overload, yet exciting to think of the
potential of the Web 2.0 tools. The article, The Next Wave Now: Web 2.0,
challenged me to step up my use of blogging, podcasts and to introduce wikis
to my staff. The article, The Day in the Life of Web 2.0, shows just how much
our classes and instruction will change as teachers in my school become users
of wikis, blogs and podcasts. The alphabet teachers have set the bar high and
I want it done at my school-yesterday.
After viewing Will Richardson's youtube presentation, I calmed down and heard
him tell me 3-5 years. I feel like we don't have 3-5 years. It also makes me
wonder why districts start in high school with technology. We need to start in
elementary school.
There is power in Web 2.0 if you know how to use it. I am inspired to improve
my use of my blog and podcasts. I hope you all will hold me accountable by
going to my school's website periodically to see how my blog and podcasts are
coming along.
I have to admit I was not looking forward to this course. Now that I have made
time for myself to read the material and explore the links, I am fired up.
• Web 2.0 Development
– Key development questions
• What do administrators need to know about Web
2.0 tools?
• Which tools will be most helpful to administrators in
their daily work?
• What tools help administrators build collaboration
with and among staff?
• What policy issues do administrators need to
address?
• Web 2.0 Development
– Development Process
• Gathering a team
• Brainstorming key topics and confirming with state
partner
• Determining structure (number of sessions,
organization readings, activities, discussion)
• Researching – locating resources (also occurs
during other phases)
• Identifying needed permissions and making
requests
• Web 2.0 Development
– Development Process
• Identifying key Web 2.0 tools
– In this workshop: Bookmarking, Google tools,
blogs and podcasts
– Rationale for selecting these tools: easily
learned, effective tools for communication and
collaboration
• Web 2.0 Development
– Process continued
• Planning activities and discussion questions to
focus on key concepts
– Identify hands-on tasks to practice skills or
extend learning, for example, setting up a Diigo
bookmarking account, creating a blog or
podcast
– Create provocative questions that engage
learners in deep thinking about the topic
• Web 2.0 Development
– Process continued
• Planning the final project
• Checking each section for instructional flow
• Reviewing and revising based on partner and
collaborator feedback
• Engaging the technical team
– Developing graphics and workshop banner
– Formatting and uploading content to the course
management system
– Final reviewing and editing
Discussion Board quote
Ever read the Left Behind series? Okay, after that article, I feel a little left
behind. It is amazing to think that classrooms, schools and districts can
operate in such a fashion. As educators, we are always talking about working
smarter and not harder. These scenarios certainly seem to fit the bill.
We received fifteen new promethean boards this school year. This interactive
piece of equipment has had a tremendous impact on the way teachers teach
and the way students learn. I can only imagine what can be accomplished with
the Web 2.0! I have watched the teachers embrace the technology and training
that comes along with it, and I have watched the most "traditional" teacher
flourish.
It is imperative that we embrace this new technology and find as many was as
possible to utilize it within our school communities! I remember only needing
an overhead projector as a classroom teacher - given that, I could teach the
pants off of anyone. I look forward to learning more about Web 2.0 and where I
and my school will fit into all of it. As a community of professional leaders and
learners, we will want to make certain we are not left behind!
• Employment
– School Leaders Executive Institute
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Experienced (3-5 years) principals
32 participants/Two cohorts/Two facilitators
Mixture of E/M/HS principals
Varied demographics
– Will complete on December 18,2008
Discussion Board quote
I am so far behind! I taught technology classes ten years ago with Teach to the
Future, but I have not kept up after becoming an administrator. As a district, we
have put up the walls in our "castle" due to the fear of our board and parents
(myself included) that the risk were not worth it. Last night, as I read my
assignments and watched Podcasts, I realized that if we do not embrace all of
these tools and learn to utilize the tools available, we will be ignored as our kids
continue to learn. We are becoming barriers not facilitators to learning by being
unwilling to learn along with our students. I don't want that for myself or my
children.
We have worked with Schlechty over the past 7 years to learn how to design
work for students. We have heard Phil say over and over that there are
companies and private educators out there that have it right and can do away
with public education as we know it. Today I get what he is saying.
If we learn with our kids, we can transform education. If we don't, we need to
get out of this business so learning can continue.
Participant Podcasts
Mary Ellen Parks
Principal, Shell Point Elementary
[email protected]
http://web.beaufort.k12.sc.us/education/components/docmgr/default.php?sectiondetailid=43638
Roderic F. Taylor
Principal, Dutch Fork Middle School
[email protected]
http://www.gcast.com/u/rftaylor/main
• Lessons Learned
– Administrators require a different “online
instruction” model
– Administrators struggle with time
management
• Personal choice and family
• Professional duties
– Administrator focus
• Daily operations, instruction and accountability
• Little time for reflection or “lifting the fog”
• Lessons Learned
– Administrators tend to have email and “Blackberry”
skills but reluctant adopters of education technologies
• Want only the “silver bullets”
– Online instruction hampered by local technology and
personal proficiencies
– District technology staff/policies interfere with
effective use of Web 2.0 tools
– However, course success is greatly enhanced by a
F2F orientation and/or integrated online work
Leading Schools in a Web 2.0
World
Mike Thun
Program Director, Leadership Online Campus
803-734-8357
[email protected]
Leinda Peterman
Project Director, EDC
601-442-7115
[email protected]