Leadership Presentation

Technology Trends &Leadership

Building Momentum

EARCOS

November, 2008

Jon P. Zurfluh

Agenda

Introduction/Overview – 5 minutes ODQ & Discussion – 15 minutes Focus Group Discussion – 10

minutes Affinity Work – 20 minutes Reflection – 15 minutes

The World is different…

• Work is different ...• Tools are different ...• Communication is different ...• Information is different ...• Kids are different ...• Learning is different …

And Leading Is Different!

TraditionalTraditional Incorporating Incorporating New Environments New Environments ( (New Strategies)New Strategies)

Teacher-centered instruction Learner-centered environments

Single sense stimulation Multisensory stimulation

Single path progression Multipath progression

Single media Multimedia

Isolated work Collaborative work

Information delivery Information exchange

Passive learning Active/exploratory/inquiry-based learning

Factual/literal thinking Critical thinking, informed decision-making

Reactive response Proactive/planned action

Isolated, artificial context Authentic, real world context

Establishing NewLearning Environments

Integrating Technology toCreate Different Schools ..

• Hardware ...• Infrastructure ...• Content ...• Technical Support ...• Professional Staff ...• Leadership …

What is your “hedgehog?”

Pros/Cons of the Hedgehog… Education has to be about passion and this

aspect of the hedgehog is consistent in all domains.

Best in the world is common phrasing for mission statements, but ultimately this is not about competition, but about identifying your core “business”

Economic engine is about profit and does not easily fit into education, thus, it may be better termed as “reward” in a more general sense. What empowers us?

Technology Accelerators

Good to great schools…. …think differently about technology and

technological change …avoid fads and bandwagons, but become

pioneers in carefully selected technologies …use technology to accelerate momentum,

not create it …respond to technological change with

thoughtfulness and creativity, driven by a compulsion to achieve results.

Transformation Leadership

Organizational Description QuestionnaireBernard M. Bass and Bruce J. Avolio, 1992

First,

…the questionnaire…

ODQ – Organizational Description Questionnaire

www.mindgarden.com

Scoring

In both cases,

add for “T”

subtract “F”

Transactional Culture Score – Odd Items

Transformational Culture Score – Even Items

Where is your organization?Transactional

Tra

nsfo

rma

tion

al

Tra

nsfo

rma

tion

al

Predominantly Four I’s

Moderately

Four I’sHigh Contrast

0Loosely

GuidedCoasting

Moderately

Bureaucratic

or Internally

Competitive

Garbage Can PedestrianPredominantly Bureaucratic or

Internally Competitive

0

Transactional

+14

-14+14-14 -6 +6

-6

+6

Where is your organization?Transactional

Tra

nsfo

rma

tion

al

Tra

nsfo

rma

tion

al

Predominantly Four I’s

Moderately

Four I’sHigh Contrast

0Loosely

GuidedCoasting

Moderately

Bureaucratic

or Internally

Competitive

Garbage Can PedestrianPredominantly Bureaucratic or

Internally Competitive

0

Transactional

+14

-14+14-14 -6 +6

-6

+6

The Four I’s

Bottom Line

Transactional Items (odd) “should” be false

Transformational items (even) “should” be true

Soooo….Identify items that you think need to

be changed? Just pick one! Two or three strategies.

Key Questions…

What assumptions about the organization need to be considered and changed?

What values need to be strengthened?

What new values need to be introduced?

How will the change be institutionalized and measured?

What events need to take place?

What previous events need to be “honored?”

How will internal and external factors have an impact on your strategy for organizational and cultural change?

Transformational Strategy

Assumptions:

1. Technology integration is best applied in a transformational approach where there is mutual support and high degrees of collaboration.

2. Technology is not about the hardware. It’s about instructional practices and intentional change in how we teach and learn.

Affinity Process

Note: Example Focus on Process, not product We will not do all the steps ourselves,

but we will discuss the efficacy at each step.

Step One: Round Robin

Ground Rules

Groups of 4 You will speak to one question during the Round

Robin portion. Each of you will have one shot – uninterrupted – at this question.

When each of you has had 1 minute (or less) to say what you want about the first question, we'll move on to our next strategy.

Facilitator’s Role

As facilitator, I am going to stay neutral. I may ask questions that will stimulate the

discussion and bring out concerns or views that need to be considered.

Please know I am not trying to put you on the spot. My questions are just trying to get as much information from you as I can.

Any Questions?

Let’s BeginChoose someone to go first?

Assume that you are convinced that change is needed and teaching with technology and emphasizing 21st Century skills is a better way to engage students with the content and provide a deeper learning experience than traditional methods-

What barriers or constraints are keeping this from happening in your school or in your classroom?

Step Two: Brainstorming

Affinity Process, cont’d

Now that we have discussed the challenges that have or could possibly prevent us from achieving the goal, let’s start to brainstorm some possible solutions to over coming these challenges.

Think in terms of: “What’s working now?” “What actions can be put into place?” “What can we put on our “Not to do” list? “What can individuals do?” “What other innovative ideas can you suggest?”


Using the Post Itsput one idea per sticky for potential

solutions to the problems we have discussed, or innovations/ideas you have that could help you utilize technology in your instruction.

5 minutes

Step Three: Grouping/Sorting


Stop writing Get into pairs Look at your combined Post It notes Categorize the ideas into chunks under 5-

6 overarching topics. As the categories emerge, call them out

You have 10 minutes


Look around the room at the charts that are created. If you do not see a heading you have created while organizing your ideas please call it out.

Put your Post It notes under the right topic heading. Some will have the same categories– this is intended.

The work you have done is amazing! Your ideas are incredible! We have 2-3 minutes to get your Post Its organized on the big charts.

Step Four: Recommendations

Get into groups of 4-6 (mix up?). Take one chart per table. (Group chooses

based on passion for the topic) As a group look at the ideas represented

on the chart and craft a bulleted plan or individual recommendations for implementing 21st Century change in your classroom/schools.

About 20-25 minutes.


Optional – prioritization process – dots on charts

But, not necessarily – the next steps depend on general urgency and a variety of other factors


Why is this transformational?

Look back at the ODQ Which items does this process value?

E.g. - #26 - “We share the common goal of working towards the organization’s success.”

Why is thisTechnology (New Learning) Oriented?

Teacher-centered instruction Learner-centered environments

Single sense stimulation Multisensory stimulation

Single path progression Multipath progression

Single media Multimedia

Isolated work Collaborative work

Information delivery Information exchange

Passive learning Active/exploratory/inquiry-based learning

Factual/literal thinking Critical thinking, informed decision-making

Reactive response Proactive/planned action

Isolated, artificial context Authentic, real world context

Professional Learning Communities

"Principals [leaders] must live with paradox:

They must have a sense of urgency about improving their schools, balanced by the patience to sustain them for the long haul. (Passionate)

They must focus on the future, but remain grounded in today. (Purposeful)

They must see the big picture, while maintaining a close focus on details. (Disciplined)

They must be strong leaders who give away power to others. (Transformational)"

Richard DuFour, "Help Wanted: Principals who can Lead Professional Learning Communities." NASSP Bulletin (1999).