Leadership Day 2008 – Summary

As you can see below, there were a number of great Leadership Day 2008 posts. If I missed someone, my apologies in advance. Please add your link in the comments section (I recommend using tinyurl.com) so that we all can find your contribution.

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Happy reading!

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• Tracy Rosen noted that reflective school leaders need to start digging deeper for essential questions around student learning in relation to the use of technology.

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• If administrators haven’t become at least somewhat savvy about digital technologies, Jeanette Johnson can just about guarantee that they are neither leading nor functioning as effectively as possible.

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• Edwin Wargo said that technology leadership is like connecting the dots but with murky starting and ending points.

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• As I read Sheila Teri’s reflection on the progress that her school has made, I also enjoyed listening to her ‘mix tape’ about change. That rocked (literally)!

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• Rob Jacobs asked if schools prepare students to be creators or just inactives and spectators. He also asked In what way is your leadership preparing your school and your students for the literacy of technology?

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• The Science Goddess asked leaders how they justify to parents the inequity of access to 21st century skills that they are providing. She also said it is not okay for one of her building principals to refer to those who use social networking as ‘freaky!’

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• Beth Ritter-Guth blogged about leadership in virtual worlds. Very cool.

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• Sylvia Martinez said ‘Just Do It,’ reminding administrators that it’s their responsibility to lead with positive energy, not fear.

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• Kevin Hodgson told school leaders to break down the walls, let teachers play, ask the students, and don’t block the world. Nice use of ToonDoo, Kevin!

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• Lisa Sjogren apparently has the good fortune to work with someone known as the Chief Learner. Lisa noted that either you get it or you don’t.

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• Jon Becker posted some reflections on whether a progressive pedagogy for 21st century schools is possible in high-risk communities.

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• Because of a high rate of administrator turnover, Paul Cancellieri and other teachers have banded together to move their school forward.

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• After noting that educators literally groan when given the opportunity to learn, Bill Ferriter discussed how digital tools can be of assistance.

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• Louise Maine offered a Top Ten list of tips for her administrators. My favorite may have been her admonition that we are not going to please everyone (so please quit trying and lead instead!).

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• Carolyn Foote wants leaders to bring teachers together into democratic communities and set them free. Sounds good to me, Carolyn!

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• Vicki Davis used her Leadership Day post to reflect on NECC and remind us that in the 1990s content was king, now contact is king.

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• On July 4, Hugh O’Donnell declared his digital independenceto blog without regard to local social pressures while simultaneously reaffirming [his] intention to remain ethical, truthful, and transparent.

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• Frank Buck affrimed that a great way to hook administrators is to help them see how digital technologies can make their jobs easier.

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• Stephanie Sandifer said that leaders need to transform their schools into places where 1) teachers see themselves first as learners who are invested in improving their instructional practice through reflection and inquiry, and 2) students are more globally connected in a way that enhances and supports their individual learning.

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• As a professor, of course I was extremely interested in Justin Bathon’s thoughts about how university educational leadership programs could better utilize digital technologies in their preparation of school administrators.

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• Like Justin, I also noted that we have neglected our leaders’ learning needs when it comes to digital technologies.

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The Faculty Room blog asked its panel of contributors to blog about effective technology leadership. Nine of them took up the challenge (awesome!):

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• Gerry Kosater noted that effective technology integration occurs when there is strong administrative support and when leaders create learning communities that empower teachers to collaborate and learn together.

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• Joe Scotese reminded us to put on our skeptic’s hat because computers often are used inappropriately and their mere use is heralded as an educational experience in and of itself.

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• Michelle Crisafulli generated a lot of comments when she suggested that we should simply put the monkeys in charge of the zoo.

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• Dana Huff said that unfortunately administrators often get in the way of teachers with good ideas.

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• Ellen Stubblefield interviewed her director of elementary curriculum, teaching, and technology to try and determine whether administrators have to be technology-savvy themselves in order to be effective technology leaders.

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• Cindi Rigsbee pondered the dual issues of feeling behind and being concerned that her use of technology often seems forced instead of stress-free and seamless.

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• Greg Farr mused on the power of being surrounded by technology, even while on vacation in a 40-year-old cabin in the mountains of New Mexico.

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• Michael Ashton creatively blogged about effechnology leaderschoolship (you’ll have to read his post to understand). I’m with you, Michael!

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• Chris Lehmann said that we need to do some things in our classrooms better than ever before: research, collaborate, create, present and network.

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Finally, in case you missed them, here are all of the links from 2007:

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• Leadership Day 2007 – Summary

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A HUGE thanks to everyone who participated in Leadership Day 2008. See you next year on July 4!

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