Leadership for a Successful Technology Initiative

Personal Author:
Lile, Sarah
Journal Name:
Principal Leadership (Middle School Ed.)
Source:
Principal Leadership (Middle School Ed.) v. 9 no. 3 (November 2008)

http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.libproxy.chapman.edu:2048/hww/results/getResults.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.21

This paper is concerned about the successful of the technology initiative and the role of the effective leadership in sustaining a technology program. Schools and districts must ensure all parties involved take an active role in implementing and sustaining a technology program in order to develop a technology initiative, State leaders ,district leaders must collaborate to help schools with technology initiatives; and also teachers well trained in using technology which is considered an important aspect of the leadership and required team work to exchange experience with different software, programs, and projects to determine what improves instruction in their classrooms; and students must be empowered to be leaders in a technology initiative using a balanced approach.


The writer indicated four levels of leadership for a Successful Technology in schools.

· High-Profile Leadership

Technology dictions are made in state level with guidance from school leaders, state leaders-- including the governor, the chief state school officer, legislators, educators, business leaders, and influential citizens--must collaborate to help schools with technology initiatives

· County or District Leadership
County leadership teams need to use a technology integration progression chart as a guide to create school improvement. Leadership for a technology program is also a part of the professional development.

· School Leadership

Technology can also be a part of teacher leadership when teachers work together in technology study groups that experiment with different software, programs, and projects to determine what improves instruction in their classrooms.

· Student Leadership

Students sometimes bring new technologies to the attention of their teachers and administrators, helping amplify the use of technology in the classroom. A student-staffed help desk can also keep school staff members from getting bogged down with minor technical issues, making students an integral part of the technology program.

I think with the collaboration between the four levels will result on achieving excellent technology program, the communication between these levels, and taking on consideration the role of teachers ,as main medium ,who carry out the responsibilities .