Now that we have talked about all kinds of technology issues and you are working on your data projects-let's talk about what you think are the basic technology skills that all administrator's should have in their toolboxes. After my wife and I bought our first house, my co-workers gave me an empty toolbox to start filling up with the basic tools I would need to manage the "to-do" list for a house. I was already broke from buying the house so I had to be careful about which tools I bought since funds were tight. Not that it mattered as I was not handy and broke more things than I fixed.
Starting the principalship or any leadership position is similar. What should principals be able to do with technology as they enter the role and do you have a "must-have" application/hardware that should be in their toolboxes? I would offer that all principals should be able to use Excel for charts, analysis and reporting (must have tool) and that the biggest skill would be the ability to integrate all kinds of technology in their daily practice with ease in order to model what we should see in classes (e.g., calendar, email, smartphone, NCWise, blogs, podcasts, video streaming, notification systems, presentation software, online tools/cloud computing, etc.).
28 comments:
I believe administrators should be VERY knowledgeable in all areas of technology. Interpreting, analyzing, and presenting data in an effective manner. Also, I have to say if I don't know, I ask. Some feel inferior (because they won't ask)!! If more administrators, would file suit (ask) then everyone's "must have list" would be good to go. I can only tell you that I seek information and in an administrator's role- better ways to present it. When relaying data we should be "user-friendly", such as by my teachers: The easier to read, the better. Most important- email and the ability to set aside time to answer questions and address staff with answers, if the need be. I feel that the more technological savvy the administrator, the more tech savvy the teachers, depending on what is available!
Dr. Mills, you have pretty much hit the hot tool box items that will be needed to enter a leadership position. Integrating technology into daily life is not only a good way to start, it is essential. Technology is our world.
We all know that, in the educational world, staying up to date on technology can be somewhat challenging. School technology departments are overworked and simply can’t meet all the needs of the system. However, communicating on a regular basis with the technology department is a must. Simple conversations can keep you abreast of current trends. It can also keep your school in the loop of what is going on in the system.
The more technology a school leader can integrate in his position the more technologically literate the atmosphere will become. E-mail, calendars, blogs, smartphones, etc. are all great examples that should be a basis. Remember the staff will only be as good as the leader.
The tools that Dr. Mills has mentioned are invaluable. I would like to offer a few suggestions; some are wishes, some are already out there, and some have already been mentioned, but need to be emphasized.
I think presentation tools like PowerPoint, Excel, and Publisher are invaluable to relay information in a clear manner. Excel for data, PowerPoint for simple presentations, and Publisher for calendars and newsletters. These are also tools to encourage your staff to use regularly.
Also, I think all principals should be linked to the internet at all times for ease in answering questions, finding information and instant communication. Smartphones may be the best method for this.
I know NCwise is a reality in NC schools, and it should be used to its capability, so intense training should be a priority for administrators and teachers. I am not sure if NCwise has a parent-access feature, but I have used an online gradebook called teacherease that allows parents 24-7 access to student grades. This has proven to be an invaluable communication tool and problem-preventer. This will be a priority at my school.
Also, the AlertNow calling system for important messages to the school family has proven to be a must have. As long as it is not over-used, it can be very effective.
I also believe that teacher evaluations should be done electronically. If there is not a system for this, there should be. It would be so efficient to do an observation, share it with the teacher electronically, and store for future reference. Trees would be saved, also!
I have learned a lot by blogging this semester and can’t help but tie this to school use. Principals could open a line of communication with staff and even parents that can allow free expression of topics that could save so much time on phone calls and faculty meeting gripe sessions. It can also be a great way to introduce educational topics and new findings to staff to read and comment on, receiving viewpoints to follow up with or just make others aware of.
I need to stop learning this stuff before I become overwhelmed with ideas and tools to try! Seriously though, that brings to light the importance of balance and knowing what to use to be effective and not overdoing it. I guess that’s why we’re having this discussion.
I view technology as a way to make work and communication more efficient. Therefore, as a leader, the tools in my toolbox must be items that make the work take less time. The Excel pivot table has been a great addition tool box. I cannot argue the point that the leader must lead by example and employ the latest technological tools throughout the day. However, our technological world changes so quickly that staying up to date on all of the available tools can be impossible, especially, when it a principal is adding that layer to the many others s/he is wearing on a daily basis.
Thus, I conclude that the most essential tool to have in a principal’s tech toolbox is a really, really good tech person. Principals need information and they need it quickly. As a principal, I want a tech person not to do for me but to be able to teach me quickly so I can do for myself. I want them to keep me up to date on communication advancements. We have so much available, but I want to be effective, not just busy.
Administrators need to be knowledgeable and comfortable with current and evolving technology. There are so many areas of technology that are designed to improve schools and make teachers and administrators more efficient and effective. Some of these in which any principal should feel comfortable in utilizing are the usage and utilization of email, excel,word,NC wise,and other programs. The principal should be able to intergrate all of this technology into effective leadership strategies for the school. In addition the principal needs to have a proactive metality as it relates to the incorperation of new technology into the school. Continuing staff development encourages intergration of this new technology into the classroom and it is the principal who should faciltate this. It is impossible for the principal to know everything but I feel they should be open to change and embrace new tecnology and take the approach of being a lifelong learner.
Well like all great technology, I've just lost my last post. After hitting submit, my computer decided that we would lock up and lose it all...so now I will try and try again.
I want to echo what most of you have said. Every school administrator will have to build his "data tool box" continuously through out his/her career. It should grow with each year of experience. An administrator must also know when it is time to retire some of his older tools, and replace them in his data tool box with something new. This will always be a cycle.
In my current tool box as an administrator I would have many of the tools we have already discussed. First, the use of any tool that will help analyze, plot, and show data must be placed in the tool box. Excel and our pivot tables are an excellent example of a tool that all administrators should have. I have learned more about excel and looking at data in the last week working on my project than in my previous five years of teaching. It has been a struggle at times, but I am able to show in a graph data that should spark many conversations amongst my staff. These conversations are the start of collaboration and they will hopefully lead to true PLC's in my school.
NCWISE has so much potential for an administrator. It gives them critical data at a press of a button. They can see attendance, previous records, and current information about their students. An administrator can also get a glimpse into their teachers classrooms by seeing the types of assignments they are assigning, and how often they are grading their students. Any information an administrator can have about what is going on in their classrooms will help them make instructional decisions.
ClassScape is also a tool that I would want in my tool box as an administrator. This testing program creates data almost instantly. It allows a teacher or administrator to see breakdowns of student achievement by class, by student, and even by individual objectives which are aligned to the NC course of study. This type of data can be useful for teachers to change their instruction midyear, instead of waiting on testing data at years end. It will also allow administrators to implement interim assessments and compare and contrast teacher and student performance class to class.
Email will always be an essential tool of an administrator. Like AL said earlier, smart phones are one way to go. An administrator that always has access to their email can solve many issues before they ever reach the level of a problem. Being prompt with responses is sometimes the best medicine for an angered parent, teacher, counselor, etc.
Technology will change and so will our tool boxes. We just have to make sure we don't leave those rusty tools in their too long.
Betsy, I agree with you on the importance of having a good tech person on staff. It would be impossible to be familiar with all of the current technology being used in schools.A good tech person can make life alot easier for the principal and allow him/her to focus on leading the school and in addition, keep the staff and adminstration informed of current tech trends in education.
Thomas you are right. Technology is ever changing. We can't fill our toolbox and then sit back and say we have all we need to be successful. Of course we will always use e-mail and a few other staples. But they upgrade too. Like you said, our tools cannot get too rusty.
Al, I'm with you. The more stuff you learn, the more you realize how little you know. Oh well we better keep learning. We don't want our toolboxes to be empty.
Betsy I love your comment and I would totally agree. I think the number one thing that you should do is identify those individuals who excel in the area of technology. If I have learned anything in the last month and a half it is that there is a massive amount of technology out there for schools and it is impossible for one individual to have mastery of it all. Melissa you made me laugh because you are right on with the email. It always amazes me the amount of staff members who do not have a grasp of email. In fact, I can name you several who just started using it in the last two years. Any ways, I would agree mastery of email and electronic calenders are a must. Besides knowing your personnel and how to email I would say that the principal should have total of any instructional instrument being used in their building. For example, I was recently hired as a assistant principal at Rock Ridge Elementary. While this is an exciting time it is also a scary one. This is because I was asked if I could use Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math. Since I taught Geography one can assume that I have no experience with these programs. Needless to say I will be spending the month of July gaining knowledge of these programs. Perhaps this is the greatest tool. The ability to learn. Technology will always be evolving and the principal should evolve with it.
Amen Lane reguarding the new house and being broke...story of my life!
As far as starting out, I believe that administrators should be able to use things like Microsoft office, NC Wise, Groupwise, SMARTboard Notebook, and now I feel like everyone should know how to use pivot tables! But, basically I think administrators have to be a leader in technology and if they don't know something that is used within the school, they should find the "expert" teacher and learn quickly!
I agree with you Melissa, the more technological savvy the administrator, the more tech savvy the teachers.
Oh, and I think all administrators should know how to use Slydial :) for sure!!
Whoa! I didn’t even think of putting people in my toolbox! Betsy, great idea with the tech person. I know most schools do not have a person on-site dedicated for technology, but many teachers are very tech-savvy. Principals should not be hesitant to ask teachers to help with learning new technology. Also, district level tech persons may not be around much, but a good relationship can get them to come around more often.
I read an article recently about an elementary school in Raleigh that requires all classes to meet with the school’s media specialist at least once per week. He/she is in charge of enhancing the curriculum through technology. Their test scores have grown since this has been required. Media Specialist – what a great resource that is often over-looked or under-utilized. Put that person in your toolbox, too!
Well, Betsy, I thought I had an ingenious idea with the tech guy and/or a tech savvy staff member - for sure something nobody else would come up with - and BAM - you had already gone there. Oh well, I agree with you on that one. If you don't know exactly how to do it yourself, you had certainly better find somebody who can and keep yourself off their black list.
Also, in the toolbox you need the programs that your school and district are using daily. You should be able to at minimum maneuver around the programs and have an understanding of the data that can be gleaned from the programs (NCWise, Excel, etc.) Another tool that we've all learned about for middle/uppergrades is EVAAS. Until last semester I'd never even heard of it. For schools like ours with only 1 tested grade, it doesn't help much, but for higher grades, it should be a tool that adminstrators understand and encourage their teachers to frequent.
Overall, I feel that the most important tools are those that relate to being able to manipulate your data to see where you need to go, communication with others around you, and people that can make your life a thousand times easier. There's nothing wrong with a little brown-nosing and just flat out appreciation for the things that people do for us!
I agree with all of you. Technology is changing rapidly. For me, once I get the hang of doing something there is always a replacement. As an administrator it’s important to be aware of the constant advances in technology. Most importantly all administrators should be able to check and respond to email using a smart phone, nc wise, blogs, excel (pivot charts) and the basic technology needs of the school.
Technology is constantly changing and as administrators we have to be aware and adjust to the changes as they evolve. Most importantly we have to be able to reach the individuals in which we serve through the use of technology.
Thomas, I totally agree with you. Each administrator will always build/rebuild their tool box throughout their career. As administrators it’s important to realize when to retire some of those skills. Also, as administrators it’s important to be aware to reach your staff members. An administrator should be able to alert staff members when its time to retire and reboot technology within the classroom.
According to our previous discussions we are moving into the 21st Century and it’s important to reach our students in the classroom with the advances in technology. We have to ensure we are always getting rid of the rusty tools.
The absolute first thing, in my opinion, that an administrator should have in his/her technology toolbox is a VERY GOOD friend who is a tech whiz! I really feel like this after an extremely difficult day dealing with my own personal technology issues!
Seriously, there is a need at both the school level and the district level for every principal to have someone to call on who really knows what they are doing where technology is concerned.
Melissa, I agree with your comment about the more technologically savvy the principal is, the more likely the teachers in the building will be. In our case, our principal is not a technology expert (to put it mildly) therefore there is not a push in our school to get things done concerning technology. It's sad.
Al's comments about the use of I tools like PowerPoint, Excel, Publisher, Excel for data, PowerPoint for simple presentations, and Publisher for calendars and newsletters are also good. And, again like Al said, the use of blogging as a tool for staff communication would be a great thing for principal's to include in their toolboxes.
Al,
Me too! I have come to appreciate the power of the blog this semester. My mind has been swirling with all the different ways it can be used in the world of education. I like the idea about using it to introduce and discuss educational topics to the staff. I also see the value of blogging in the classroom. I am willing to bet that students would be more willing to participate in blogging assignments rather than the traditional writing prompts.
Betsy,
Great idea! Have students blog rather than traditional writing!
I have to agree with all of you. All of the programs, hardware, persons...so on should be in our toolbox. If we do, then we should be successful. I even need more training on NCWise and with our data managers moving to a central location, I need to be able to get rosters, ID #s, etc. when I need them.
Connie- love the blogging idea.
Juliana - You make me laugh. I am glad we are on the same page.
I love how you all are thinking of ways to use blogs. What about PLCs or grade levels as a way to share information? Have the grade level chairs be the main blogger and post minutes from meetings etc. Then others can share comments or stories about what worked or didn't work that week in the classroom. I think teachers may be more willing to participate because they could post from their home and not have to stay after school.
Courtney,
That is a solid idea. Blogging is an excellent tool that we could use within PLC's. It would allow us to connect and discuss items even when away from school.
As an administrator blog sites would be really helpful for ideas and collaborative thinking. When we did our blog review I came across dozens of articles on the site I reviewed which as an Administrator I would have enjoyed reading and looking in to.
Betsy,
I'm with Al on saying that having a person in the tool box is a great idea, just let them out every now and then.... There are always people out there who know more and can come up with a better way to do something. It is important as administrators that we call on these people as much as possible, without over using them and making them dread our call.
I feel that administrators should have a grasp of Excel, Publisher, presetation software, emil, smart phones, blogs, and NC Wise (this list could go on for quite some time). I love the idea of including people as part of this tool box. IF you aren't comfortable with some of the technological tools out there, you need people on your staff that can teach you and other staff members. As an administrator, you need to set an example. I don't feel that means you need to know everything about every technological tool. I really feel that you need to demonstrate an openess and willingness to learn. This will inspire your staff to remain open to new things.
Randy,
I like what you said about the ability to learn being perhaps the greatest tool. The technology is constantly changing. We have to be willing to learn and change with it. I know that this is much easier said than done for some. It is easy to get comfortable with something and the thought of change can cause a lot of stress. I feel that having the ability to embrace change should also be an essential tool for administrators to have in their toolbox when it comes to technology.
Al, a company called Rubrix makes a teacher evaluation tool that is electronic. It can even be used with a Blackberry phone.
Dr. Mills - I believe you mentioned a lot of great "must-haves". My biggest concern with administrators is that they are pushing tech use in the classrooms, and they don't even use their blackberrys to the max.
2 years ago, my administrator came and observed me using the mimio with my students. We played games, watched videos, completed work on the board, and watched a screencast. She said "Wow - I didn't know you could do all of that stuff with that thingy." REALLY? was all I could think. You purchased this technology for your teachers and if you had to use it, you would be lost. WHat's the point? If administrators are not current on the software, latest trends, etc., then how can they hold their teahers to the same standard?
Must-haves: smartphones, screencasts, online surveys, excel sheets, blackboard (virtual classrooms), and blogs. I think administrators should also make an effort to learn what's new and learn how to USE it! I would love to be the administrator who uses blogs with my teachers as a communication tool that engages the teachers and enhances their technology use.
Connie - I never thought about having a tech whiz as a friend? Speaking of - Dr. Mills, will you be my friend? lol
I agree with this whole-heartedly. Not only do we need to have those people, we need to genuinely attempt to tap into their mental resource! They can be a great help in learning new technologies to make our jobs easier.
Thomas,
Excellent point! Be mindful not to "wear out" the people you need most.
Post a Comment