Leading in the Digital Age

John Doherty, Ed.D.

School Improvement Conference Monroe, LA.

Contact Information John F. Doherty, Ed.D.

Acting Superintendent, Reading Public Schools 82 Oakland Road Reading, MA 01867 Phone: 781-944-5800 Email: [email protected]

Presentation Link: http://expandingtheboundaries.wikispaces.com/Louisiana+Presentation

Focus For Today Why Change?

What are 21 st Century Learners?

How will this get done?

Leadership is the Key An example of how it is being done Examples of what it could look like Closure and Questions

Why Change?

Did You Know?

Howie DiBlasi

Three Fundamental Changes The rapid evolution of the new global knowledge economy with profound effects on the world of work-all work The sudden and dramatic shift from information that is limited in terms of amount and availability to information characterized by flux and glut The increasing impact of media and technology on how young people learn and relate to the world and to each other

The World Is Truly Flat When I was growing up, my parents told me, “Finish your dinner, People in India and China are starving.” I tell my daughters, “Finish your homework. People in India and China are starving for your job.”

Thomas Friedman The World is Flat

Learning How to Learn is Key

“You actually want to become really adaptable. You want constantly to acquire new skills, knowledge, and expertise that enable you constantly to be able to create value….Being adaptable in a flat world, knowing how to “learn how to learn,” will be one of the most important assets any worker can have, because job churn will come faster, because innovation will happen faster.” Thomas Friedman The World is Flat

“The fact is, our young people are woefully under prepared for the demands of today’s workplace” Ken Kay, President of the Partnership for 21 st Century Skills

We need to become more right brained to compete and survive

“The future belongs to a very different kind of mind ─ creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers, and meaning makers. These people ─ artists, inventors, designers, storytellers, caregivers, consolers, big picture thinkers ─ will now reap society’s richest rewards and share its greatest joys.” Daniel Pink A Whole New Mind-Why Right-Brainers will Rule the Future

The Equalizer “We should use technology funding to bolster new learning models and innovations, such as online learning environments, to level the playing field and allow students from all walks of life-from small rural communities to budget strapped urban schools-to access the rich variety that is now available only to children of wealthy suburban districts.”

Clayton Christensen Disrupting Class

What Are 21 st Century Learning or Transferable Skills?

Skills for success

http://www.graduateopportunities.com/career_advice/graduate_skills

What skills do employers seek?

Skills for Success-TOP 3

Creative problem-solving Critical and analytical thinking Information gathering, evaluation and synthesis

Team work Adaptability Literacy and numeracy Time management and organization Oral and written communication Initiative and enterprise Ability to apply discipline knowledge and concepts Emotional intelligence; interpersonal skills Balanced lifestyle and capacity to manage stress levels Community involvement Personal attributes such as ambition, self awareness and an inquiring mind.

1. Deal with massive amounts of

information

2. Become

self-directed

3. Create

global communications

and connections 4. Create

life-long learning

5. Collect and/or retrieve, organize and manage information 6. Interpret and

present

skills information 7.

Evaluate

the quality, relevance, and usefulness of information 8. Generate accurate information through the use of existing resources 9. Information and

effective communications

skills 10.

Thinking, problem-solving

& interpersonal skills 11. Self-directional skills 12. Use digital technology

tools

13. Teach and learn in a

21st century context

.

14. Understand

Digital Age Literacy

15. Understand

Inventive Thinking

16.

Produce

High Productivity content

Seven Survival Skills

The Global Achievement Gap (Wagner, 2008)

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Collaboration Across Networks and Leading by Influence Agility and Adaptability Initiative and Entrepreneurialism Effective Oral and Written Communication Accessing and Analyzing Information Curiosity and Imagination

Kids have almost no choices at all about how they are educated -- they are, for the most part, just herded into classrooms and told what to do and when to do it.

All of Our Schools Are Obsolete “In today’s highly competitive global knowledge economy, all students need new skills for college, careers, and citizenship. The failure to give all students these new skills leaves today’s youth and our country, at an alarming competitive disadvantage. Schools haven’t changed; the world has. And so our schools are not failing. Rather, they are obsolete-even the ones that score the best on standardized tests.” Tony Wagner

The Global Achievement Gap

Here are the questions… What changes must be made within the education system to prepare our nation’s students for both analytic and creative thinking?

What must teachers do differently to stimulate student’s imaginations? What kinds of tests must be given to students to show whether we are making progress toward these ambitious goals?

Tony Wagner (2008)

Here is what is at stake… The future of our economy The strength of our democracy The health of the planet’s ecosystem Our current and future generations of students

It’s Time

The bottom line… Our classrooms of today are still using methods that we used over 30 years ago..

How will this get done?

The Key is LEADERSHIP Which type is more effective?

Is it Transactional Leadership?

Organization is a coalition of political interests Everyone has an agenda and a set of needs and is engaged in a variety of transactions where resources are exchanged Power belongs to the person with the most effective transactions Hierarchy is important People are responsive to authority figures

Transactional Leadership When conflict arises, compromise is used by authority figures Planning processes are rational and strategic Communication is strategic

Transactional Leadership Will Not Change Your Schools and District

Or Is it Transformational Leadership?

Realize the vision at all costs The vision is far more important than individuals Organization is viewed as a moral system Values and principles outweigh political interests Transformational leaders will develop a plan of action, mobilize the workforce, and unleash power by vocalizing the core values of the system

Transformational Leadership Leader must walk the walk and talk the talk Every action is consistent with the vision People watch the leader’s actions towards the vision and respond Risk taking is encouraged and welcome Symbolic communication is important Leader’s actions are beyond normal expectations and outside the rules of self interest

Transformational Leadership Transformational leadership requires looking at educational change systemically instead of a narrow focus. Transformational leadership aims to foster capacity development and higher levels of personal commitment to organizational goals, mission, and vision.

Nine Specific Practices of Transformational Leadership

Leithwood, 2007

Setting Directions

 Building school vision  Developing specific goals and practices  Holding high performance expectations

Nine Specific Practices of Transformational Leadership

Leithwood, 2007

Developing People

 Providing intellectual stimulation  Offering individualized support  Modeling desirable professional practices and values

Nine Specific Practices of Transformational Leadership

Leithwood, 2007

Redesigning the Organization

 Developing a collaborative school culture  Creating structures to foster participation in school decisions  Creating productive community relationships

4 Roles Which roles do you currently practice?

Vision setter-I attend to the future, remain up to date with emerging trends, focus on purpose and direction, and communicate a sense of where the organization will be over the long term.

Motivator-I attend to commitment, emphasize district values, challenge people with new goals and aspiration, and create a sense of excitement.

Analyzer-I attend to the efficiency of operations, evaluate proposed projects, and integrate conflicting perspectives and needs.

Taskmaster-I attend to performance, focus on results, solve problems, and influence lower-level decisions.

How can you transform schools and districts?

On or off the bus???

“Good to Great: (Collins, 2001)

How to change and transform a good school/district into a great school or district.

1. Get the right people on the bus.

2. Get them in the right seats- Put the right people in the right place in the bus 3. Get the wrong people off the bus.

One way to find out who the wrong people are: If you have to actively manage the people they are the wrong people.

How we are transforming our district

Five Years Ago… 8 Schools Going in 8 Different Directions No District Improvement Plan or Vision No Wide Area Network No Wireless Internet Access Student to Computer Ratio High No laptops Minimal SMART Boards in District Inadequate Technology Staffing Direct Instruction was the Norm Minimal Project Based Learning

Today Schools Moving Forward Together Toward a Common Vision while Keeping Their Own Identity District Improvement Plan based on Research Based Standards A vision developed by the stakeholders Adequate Technology Staff 90% of Classrooms Have SMART Boards Job Embedded Professional Development in Technology Mobile Computer Carts 60% of the District is Wireless WAN Student to Computer Ratio in District 3:1 Hands on, Project Based Learning Sharing of lessons on WAN

The Key is Changing the Culture

It is not going to happen overnight

Here is one way to do it…

Some steps can happen simultaneously

Step 1 Work with Community to Develop a (or Change Your Current) Mission and Vision

Develop the Process Use a school wide assessment (i.e. Blueprint for Success) Work with stakeholders to develop mission and vision for school and district Develop a district improvement plan and school improvement plans

Mission of the Reading Public Schools The Reading Public Schools strives to ensure that all students will have common challenging meaningful learning experiences in the academics, health and wellness, the arts, community service, co-curricular activities and athletics. We will lead and manage our school community to reflect the values and culture of the Reading Community, and guide and support our students to develop the appropriate skills, strategies, creativity and knowledge necessary to be productive informed independent citizens in a global society.

Overall Plan for Continuous Improvement

Step 2 Develop the Infrastructure Hire outstanding network managers and other technical staff Determine Equipment Needs and Purchase  Servers  Wireless Access  Internet Connectivity in every classroom  Wide Area Network/Local Area Network  Phone Systems (VOIP)

Step 3 Identify Tech Gurus in Your District Create a visionary group that can give you input on a plan Develop a realistic technology plan that is a working document Get input on the plan from all stakeholders

Step 4 Identify Resources to Upgrade and Maintain Federal and State Grant Funding Businesses Parents and Alumni Fundraisers Local Budget Building Projects Educational Foundations and Grants

Step 5 Put the technology tools in the hands of the right people Identify who has the willingness and capacity to use the technology effectively Let them go… Eventually, it will get contagious

Step 6 Provide Access Outside of School Time For Community For Teachers For Students

Step 7 Superintendents Model Start a Blog the Use of Technology Have a twitter, google and facebook account Subscribe to blogs and podcasts using google reader or rss Develop a Ning Community Identify Someone to Design and Maintain the District Web Page Make a Video Podcast Use technology (i.e. Google Docs , Skype) in your administrative meetings Start a Discussion about 1:1 Computing in Your District Start a Weekly Audio Podcast Encourage teachers to engage students in learning Go see how other school districts are using technology Use Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence and ISTE Standards

Step 8 Get Your Administrators on Board Give them laptops and wireless access Use applications at administrator meetings Have them attend professional development workshops with their staff Run workshops for administrators only Develop an administrator evaluation tool that has standards that include leading and modeling technology use Run an Administrative Book Group   

World is Flat (Friedman, 2006) A Whole New Mind-Why Right Brainers Rule the World (Pink, 2007) The Global Achievement Gap (Wagner, 2008)

Have them visit schools and districts that use technology effectively

I.S.T.E.

National Education Technology Standards for Administrators :

Superintendent take a 50-hour technology literacy course along with other administrators Progressive superintendents and executive leaders can — and should — lead the way.

I.S.T.E…NETS for administrators 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Visionary Leadership Digital Age Learning Culture Excellence in Professional Practice Systemic Improvement Digital Citizenship

Do You and Your Administrators Know and Use These Tools?

Wikispaces Blogs Google Gcast Jing iShowU Camtasia Skype Zamzar You Tube Internet Grammar Ustream Facebook RSS Twitter Wikipedia Del.icio.us

Google Maps Audacity Mousepose ProfCast Voice Thread Photo Story And more…

4 Main Points from I.S.T.E.

Educational leaders inspire a shared vision for comprehensive integration of technology and foster a culture conducive to the realization of that vision. Educational leaders ensure that curricular design, instructional strategies and learning environments integrate appropriate technologies to maximize learning and teaching .

Educational leaders ensure the integration of technology to support productive systems for learning and administration.

Educational leaders use technology implement comprehensive systems of effective assessment and evaluation.

to plan and

Educational leaders apply technology to enhance their professional practice and to increase their own productivity and that of others. Educational leaders …

model

the routine, intentional, and

effective use of technology.

employ technology for

communication and collaboration

among colleagues, staff, parents, students, and the larger community.

create and

participate in learning communities

stimulate, nurture, and support faculty and staff in using technology for improved productivity.

that engage in sustained,

job-related professional learning

using technology resources.

maintain awareness of

emerging technologies

their potential uses in education.

and

Web 2.0 For School Administrators

Step 9 Create Job Embedded Professional Development

What is 21

st

century professional development?

Professional Development: 21st Century Models

How to

retain

good teachers: Effective professional development Workshops That Focus on Real

Needs

...

Face-to-face presentations

Don't Forget the

Administrators Well-trained leaders are key to the success

Topics

for staff development Center on academic goals School administrators are being targeted in technology based professional development initiatives School principals celebrate completing a

"Laptops for Leaders"

course

Professional development for Superintendent is a step they never leave out

Examples of Job Embedded Professional Development Train the Trainers Model (SMART Trainers) Become a SMART Showcase District Sharing Workshops Staff Meetings Expanding the Boundaries of Teaching and Learning Graduate Level Course using Cohort Model Instructional Technology Specialists Workshops and Courses National Blue Ribbon School Institute Regional Workshops Align goals with teacher evaluation Book Groups Professional Learning Communities

What is a learning community?

Works together to share and build an enriching environment.

A safe place to try, fail, and try again. A learning community takes risks together.

An environment that fosters innovation and creativity.

A way to discuss "Big Ideas." An atmosphere of respect where people are comfortable sharing their ideas.

A place where we can learn from our own and each others’ mistakes and feel comfortable doing so.

A place where everyone is interested in learning.

A place to share.

Exchanging ideas.

Collaboration cross-curricular/division

Integrate “Proof of Concept” into ALL Staff Development

Proof of Concept Consider a tool you want to explore Select a partner to create a "mock up" of something you might use in your role as an educator —or that students might create themselves.

Consider collaborating with others who teach different grades or different subjects Remember you need to have a product in 30 minutes, so don't let little details bog you down.

Create a proof-of-concept that meets the following criteria:  Utilizes at least one Web 2.0 tool  Is tailored for a specific educational purpose  Illustrates how you or students would use the tool  Demonstrates the concept sufficiently that other educators might implement it

Step 10 Identify Tools that They Need to or Want to Use Outlook Test Wiz Discovery Education Administrator’s Plus Google Tools Skype Wikispaces Blogger

Step 11 Encourage Risk Taking and Experimentation Break the rules Minimize your filters Develop an AUP that encourages the use of Web 2.0 Tools Support the teachers who want to change Run Pilot Projects, Collect Data and Assess Results Start a Discussion about 1:1 Computing in Your District  1:1 Computers    Netbooks versus laptops Tablets Mobile Phones Have a tool that allows teachers to have their own web pages ( Edline ) Add Virtual Learning ( Virtual High School ) and Distance Learning Opportunities Subscribe to Digital Textbooks and Discovery Education Have students create own textbooks on a Wiki

100 Web tools for Every Kind of Learner

Step 12 Ask the Question… What should learning look like?

Change the classroom Alan November

Team of students

1.

Research team – Google – AltaVista Search 2.

Tutorial Team – Jing (Create Screencasts) 3.

Curriculum Team –Podcasts (Recordings) 4.

Scribes Team – Google Docs (take class notes) 5.

Global team – e-pals – IVC- Skype 6.

Contributions To Society - Kiva Need 5 students each day then rotate-every student participates in a team

Screencasting Using Jing

Record Lectures Record Lectures Using Audacity Save to Gcast Embed in Web Page Upload to Webpage

Develop Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Skills

A well cultivated critical thinker:

raises

vital

questions assesses

relevant

information comes to well-reasoned

solutions

thinks

open-mindedly

thinks about the

implications

thinks about practical consequences communicates effectively with others

Collaborating documents with Google Docs

Provide “Project Based Learning” Experiences

Students prefer dealing with questions rather than answers, sharing their opinions, participating in group projects, working with real world issues and people, and having teachers who talk to them as equals rather than as inferiors.

Project Based Learning

Develop Information Processing Skills

Evaluating Web Pages:

Reading Web Addresses Quick Tips for Boolean Searches DETERMINING PAGE AUTHORSHIP CHECKING THE VITAL INFORMATION CHECKING THE CONTENT

Searching the NET- The Good-Bad-Ugly Think about your search Checking the source Reading Web addresses Determine the page authorship Check vital information Check the content Assessing the Web page stability Is the information current?

Are links made from the site relevant?

Who links to the site, and why?

What organization/person is behind site?

Give Kids A Global Voice and Globalize the Curriculum

e Pals…16 million users

Discover RSS and subscribe to a Podcast or Blog

Teach Our Students to Be Self-Directed

Create – Collaborate Communicate

Discover Delicious……. Social Bookmarking

IVC – Interactive Video Conferencing

SKYPE

WEB Cameras - $19.95 - $89.95

$49.99 camera + Skype=IVC WebCast

Make a connection and contribution to society ..what can I do to change the world ?

25 Days to Make A Difference

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp dyn/content/article/2009/07/11/AR2009071102667.html

Zach started his own nonprofit organization four years ago after a hurricane hit Florida. He asked his mother if they could donate their water bottles, and he gathered more from neighbors, an earnest little redheaded boy pulling his red wagon behind him. By the end, they had 27 truckloads of aid.

Step 13 Give them time Eliminate other mandates Make this a priority Do not make it the “flavor of the month”

Step 14 Remember Why we Are Doing This

Closure

For every nine people who denounce innovation, only one will encourage it. For every nine people who do things the way they have always been done, only one will ever wonder if there is a better way. For every nine people who stand in line in front of a locked building, only one will ever come around and check the back door. Our progress as a species rests squarely on the shoulders of that tenth person. The nine are satisfied with things they are told are valuable. Person 10 determines for himself what has value.

Will you be the 10th person?

Think Different

Thank You

Contact Information John F. Doherty, Ed.D.

Acting Superintendent, Reading Public Schools 82 Oakland Road Reading, MA 01867 Phone: 781-944-5800 Email: [email protected]

Presentation Link: http://expandingtheboundaries.wikispaces.com/Louisiana+Presentation