If one does not embrace their situation--the battle begins--a leader needs to be reflective and understand the limitations if there is to be improvement.
I recently visited Eric Sheninger (http://esheninger.blogspot.com and @NMHS_Principal) to see technology in action and was pleased to see our philosophy implemented successfully.
Below is my guest blog on Eric's site--and my first venture into promoting what I see as strong leadership necessary for success in an era of exponential technological growth and constant change--
In Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District we are moving forward with a BYOD initiative beginning with revising policies and regulations. As we move forward our Technology Team and administration are making informed decisions and learning from districts that currently allow students to use devices in their school. I am confident that we will be beta testing the use of devices in our High School this Spring.
Moving schools forward with BYOD~
I visited Eric’s High School on February 24th to
observe BYOD and his implementation of a contemporary learning environment. I was impressed. I was most impressed at Eric’s reflection
that he was once part of the problem, banning devices from his school rather
then embracing the use of the technology.
That has changed and Eric trusts his students to interact responsibly
with media and communication tools.
These expectations are being met by staff and students.
I visited New Milford High School with Media Specialist Zach
Gross (from Matawan Regional High School) and was immediately brought to a math
classroom hearing the teacher say “OK everyone, bring out your phones.” Students brought out a variety of devices
including Blackberrys, iPhones, and Smartphones to answer multiple choice
questions. These multiple choice questions were accessed
through the website Polleverywhere.com to assess student understanding via an
instant audience feedback system. The
activity went seamlessly and the students were engaged.
We then went to the cafeteria where students were allowed to
use devices during their lunch period and to our surprise, most students were
eating, chatting (face-to-face), and just hanging out. The stereotype of the teenager texting
impulsively, ignoring the physical presence of people around them, was
shattered. Some students were using laptops
and devices for class assignments or to text, but most were sitting at tables
together, talking.
Students described their use of devices for educational
activities and took personal responsibility for using the devices
appropriately. I attribute this to Eric’s
leadership and the team’s foresight, for embracing the learning environment and
adapting their understanding of the tools used by the millennial
generation. This structure allows the
staff and administration to enhance learning activities and school climate
through trust and responsibility, rather than banning new technologies for fear
of what the students could do with them.
After my visit to New Milford I met with the Superintendent
of Randolph
Township Schools Dr.
David Browne (a friend and former colleague), and his Assistant
Superintendent Jennifer
Fano to discuss their implementation of technology to create a rigorous and
relevant learning environment. Both of
these educational leaders follow Eric’s blog and tweets. They described
“meeting” a 1st grade class via Facetime using an iPad and Apple TV. The administrative team promotes creative
uses of VLOGS, numerous apps and many other technologies to improve
learning. Innovation is a common practice
in Randolph Township Schools and is led by the district administration.
It is evident that creating a contemporary learning
environment begins with educational leaders embracing new opportunities for
using technology rather then relying on what has worked in the past. Technology needs to facilitate student
collaboration, problem solving, and communication to enhance learning, rather
then a “smoke and mirrors” approach like providing electronic worksheets.
Administrators in 2012 must understand how to implement new technologies, not
just “infuse” technology the easy way. Equipped
with a critical eye for evaluation, administrators, as evidenced at NMHS and
RTS, can improve the delivery and impact of instruction.
The administrators in New Milford and Randolph Township
get it, and understand that to be successful, they must be life-long learners.
