Week+4+Assignment+Part+4.6.+Reading+Reflection+on+ISTE+Chapter+8

The final standard is about leadership and vision. There is a fundamental difference between leading and management. Management is effectively using the resources to accomplish a task. For educational technology this may look like maintaining the computer lab or training teachers in incorporating National Educational Technology Standards, NETS (International Society for Technology in Education, 2010). Managing technology deals with the here and now.

Leadership and vision on the other hand, are focused on the future. A leader understands where people are at and where they need to be next (Casey, 2005). Leadership in technology is especially important given how schools are notoriously resistant to change. Add in budget cycles, school boards, politicians, teachers unions, etc and it is a real challenge. A good leader can build consensus and find the resources to implement the technological vision. According to the book "... technologies having the greatest potential to enhance education today were not available when many educators, parents, and policy makers were elementary and secondary students themselves" (Williamson & Redish, 2009,p.179). This means that the leaders vision of technology may be beyond the experience and even understanding of the very stakeholders who need to implement it. A skilled leader will give them the experiences and information they need to catch the vision.


 * Self-Assessment**

When I think about all the skill and work necessary to be a technology leader, it gives me some comfort to know I am a technology facilitator, not a leader. But I think the book has it exactly right, strong leadership is an absolute necessity for a comprehensive, long range technology plan.While I understand this, I know that technology is just one of the many issues and problems that educators face every day. It is perfectly understandable how technology can become a side issue. As a facilitator, I want to help move the school in the direction of an exemplary implementation of technology.


 * Learn as a Learner**

I have never been in the position to be a technology leader. When I was an Instructional Coach, my focus was on instruction. Now as a classroom teacher, I have limited time and resources to champion technology. As the one and only techie on campus I have the opportunity to move the school in the right direction. Unfortunately, much of my time is spent in support and maintenance. My interactions with other teachers is critical to my being a technology facilitator. I have decided to work with those teachers who want to do more, rather than trying to convince the skeptical.


 * Lifelong Learning Skills**

This chapter was helpful in how it laid out the details and parts of successful leadership in an educational setting. What I do in the classroom is a subset of that big picture. I want to creatively find ways to incorporate facilitating technology in my working with my colleagues and as I troubleshoot equipment. I will continue to subscribe to publications like Digital Directions by Education Week (Digital Directions, 2010) to stay abreast of what is available and how other school are implementing it.


 * Resources:**

Casey, J.M. (2005). Practitioners guide to creating a shared vision. //Leadership, 35//(1), 26-29 Digital Directions. (2010). //Trends and advice for K-12 technology leaders//. Retrieved from: http://www.edweek.org/dd International Society for Technology in Education. (2010). Standards for global learning in the digital age. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards.aspx