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@mguhlin | TechNotes
@mguhlin | TechNotes
Participants will develop a vision for instructional technology use based on 21st century skills from Tony Wagner. The emphasis will be on ensuring that their vision is based on student learning and not on “stuff.”
Participants will develop a vision for instructional technology use based on 21st century skills from Tony Wagner. The emphasis will be on ensuring that their vision is based on student learning and not on “stuff.”
Let's Get Started!
Let's Get Started!
Topics
Topics
"The formulation of the problem is often more essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill."
"The formulation of the problem is often more essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill."
― Albert Einstein
Common Element: Define the Problem
Common Element: Define the Problem
What do the following processes have in common?
Read Defining Problems: The Most Important Skill You Were Never Taught
"E‐Rate no longer requires a technology plan as part of the filing process, there is no more NCLB, and the Texas ePlan is not required by the State of Texas.
"E‐Rate no longer requires a technology plan as part of the filing process, there is no more NCLB, and the Texas ePlan is not required by the State of Texas.
The companion tool, STAAR Chart, is an outdated tool that no longer offers relevant data needed to make meaningful decisions and is consequently used sparingly by school districts.
The companion tool, STAAR Chart, is an outdated tool that no longer offers relevant data needed to make meaningful decisions and is consequently used sparingly by school districts.
Consider Bill Lewis' perspective below about the need to move from compliance documents to strategic planning.
Consider Bill Lewis' perspective below about the need to move from compliance documents to strategic planning.
"...in a highly digitized economic climate in which our educational organizations exist, antiquated and independent operations of a technology department can not operate outside of the goals, culture, and pedagogical vision of the instructional side of the organization and the belief that a mission of success is possible.
"...in a highly digitized economic climate in which our educational organizations exist, antiquated and independent operations of a technology department can not operate outside of the goals, culture, and pedagogical vision of the instructional side of the organization and the belief that a mission of success is possible.
Equally, in a highly technical world with the expectation that students should be empowered digital citizens, the instructional goals must incorporate effective, meaningful digital tools"
Equally, in a highly technical world with the expectation that students should be empowered digital citizens, the instructional goals must incorporate effective, meaningful digital tools"
If Not Tech Planning, What?
If Not Tech Planning, What?
Let's ask Bill Lewis and see what he thinks...he suggests the following steps:
Create a year-round collaborative environment that fosters relationships between instruction and technology.
Keep board and district goals aligned.
Create a process where the instructional needs drive all decisions.
Be intentional with the integration of technology and instruction.
Address the infrastructure needs of technology to support student and staff needs.
What do you notice about the bold-faced steps?
What do you notice about the bold-faced steps?
Seven Survival Skills - Why?
Seven Survival Skills - Why?
The Seven Survival skills provide a critical framework that young students of today need to acquire and master.
The Seven Survival skills provide a critical framework that young students of today need to acquire and master.
With the advance of artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, automation, and globalization, the pace of change within human society within the next 30 years, will outpace the change of the last 5000 years.
With the advance of artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, automation, and globalization, the pace of change within human society within the next 30 years, will outpace the change of the last 5000 years.
With this transferable skill set, the Seven Survival Skills, young students of today will be empowered to harness these changes for their future success.
With this transferable skill set, the Seven Survival Skills, young students of today will be empowered to harness these changes for their future success.
The ISTE Standards for Leaders guide administrators in supporting digital age learning, creating technology-rich learning environments and leading the transformation of the educational landscape.
Explore the standards. What kind of leadership style will you need to adopt to achieve each standard?
How could you shift the conversation in your District to be MORE than just readin', 'riting, and 'rithmetic?
How could you shift the conversation in your District to be MORE than just readin', 'riting, and 'rithmetic?
Tips for Practical Technology Planning
Tips for Practical Technology Planning
When you go in for a job interview for a technology director, people often ask, "What would you do first?" Here are some tips that will assist you in hitting the ground running.
When you go in for a job interview for a technology director, people often ask, "What would you do first?" Here are some tips that will assist you in hitting the ground running.
Tip #1: Create a knowledge management site.
Tip #1: Create a knowledge management site.
This allows you to house all the exciting content you will be creating.
This allows you to house all the exciting content you will be creating.
Tip #2: Conduct an assessment.
Tip #2: Conduct an assessment.
Try two stars and a wish. What are TWO things technology is doing right? What is ONE thing you wish we could improve? Visit every campus, each department in the district and get their response. Prioritize the wishes, celebrate the stars. Get it done within your first three months on the job.
Try two stars and a wish. What are TWO things technology is doing right? What is ONE thing you wish we could improve? Visit every campus, each department in the district and get their response. Prioritize the wishes, celebrate the stars. Get it done within your first three months on the job.
Tip #3: "What do you REALLY do?"
Tip #3: "What do you REALLY do?"
Ask the technology team, "What is it you really do in your job?" Get them to write it down. This data can assist you in seeing who does what, who says they do more than they do. You will also be able to plan ahead for growth in resources and staff.
Ask the technology team, "What is it you really do in your job?" Get them to write it down. This data can assist you in seeing who does what, who says they do more than they do. You will also be able to plan ahead for growth in resources and staff.
Tip #4: Establish benchmarks.
Tip #4: Establish benchmarks.
Conduct a needs assessment, whether instructional, infrastructure, or both. It's hard to show progress when there hasn't been a standard set or a benchmark assessment done. Use them to set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the future.
Conduct a needs assessment, whether instructional, infrastructure, or both. It's hard to show progress when there hasn't been a standard set or a benchmark assessment done. Use them to set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the future.
Tip #5: Make a Top 10 List of Organizational Needs
Tip #5: Make a Top 10 List of Organizational Needs
It's easy to get lost in the weeds. Take your assessment data and come up with a Top Ten list of priorities. Use this at every opportunity to assist stakeholders in understanding what the District's needs are.
It's easy to get lost in the weeds. Take your assessment data and come up with a Top Ten list of priorities. Use this at every opportunity to assist stakeholders in understanding what the District's needs are.
Activity: It's Your Turn
Activity: It's Your Turn
The Hot Seat
The Hot Seat
Congratulations! You've been called in for a second interview with the Superintendent, her cabinet, which include stakeholders from Curriculum & Instruction, Business Operations, and other key district areas.
Congratulations! You've been called in for a second interview with the Superintendent, her cabinet, which include stakeholders from Curriculum & Instruction, Business Operations, and other key district areas.
Note: You can be a Technology Director, CTO, Digital Innovation Director, Instructional Technology Director/Coordinator. Whatever title engages you.
The team of five is waiting to hear what you're vision and plan for technology will be. You have FIVE minutes. What will you say?
The team of five is waiting to hear what you're vision and plan for technology will be. You have FIVE minutes. What will you say?
Password for the Flipgrid: tcea
More Boring Stuff To Read
More Boring Stuff To Read
CTO's Role - Solving Problems Together - What process do you go through to solve a problem? If it's just you solving the problems, then you're doing something wrong.
"It's the Leadership, Stupid!" - When technology fails in a school district, it's not the technology often that was the problem, but rather, the leadership. This blog entry explores the gap between technology implementation and leadership.
Certifiable - The Uncertain Path to Technology Director - As a tech director wanna-be what advice are you willing to share on what had helped you be successful in your current role?
7 Tips for Doing First Things First - Over the years, I've had the chance to chat with many Chief Technology Officers--and/or Directors of Technology--about starting out in a new place of employment. This list of 7 tips for "new" CTOs on what to do first is based on those conversations.
Top 5 Tips for Overcoming Network Challenges - A few months ago, I asked colleagues in Texas what their top 5 network challenges might be. Invariably, the responses came back containing one word--bandwidth. Given that BYOD, iOS devices are flooding school systems, it's only natural that bandwidth be a top concern. What challenges would you add, or what would you elaborate on below?
Advice for Newbie CTOs - Some time ago, I asked a Technology Director in Texas the following: If you had to give advice to a novice technology director, what advice would that be? This blog entry contains her awesome answer.
Building a Technology-Supported Learning Ecology - A list of questions trying to get a handle on all the possible jobs that Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) end up having to do or manage in small, medium and large school districts.
Relationships...Matter! - It's a truism - Relationships matter, especially, How to build relationships when change is critical. After all, human beings are social animals, pack animals, members of a herd, a family of individuals bound together for survival. Yet, for all its truth, getting along long enough to bring about fundamental change can be the hardest act human relationships have to endure.
Opening Gambit- Creating, not Criticizing Together - About 12 years ago, I found myself facing a tough audience. The Chief Technology Officer for the District had invited me in as a consultant to introduce the design of a web-based system. At the time, he and I both knew that I didn't have the design skills for what he imagined, however, I did have enough to create a mock-up. The mock-up would be an opening gambit in a conversation he wanted to have but held a lot of potential for negativity. . .relationships matter.
Slash-n-Burn: Leadership in the Field - Instead of resulting in high-performing people, slash-n-burn leadership degenerates an organization filled with people doing what they need to survive, the bare minimum to earn a paycheck. We can be so much more.
What CTOs SHOULD Get Fired For - Although technology directors, or CTOs, seldom get fired--usually, they are encouraged to leave due to personality conflicts with the Superintendent (yes, I've actually heard that!) or something like that--what would the list of "What You Should Get Fired For" look like for school CTOs? For fun, let's explore that.
Short-Handed and Resource-Rich - In every organization I've been in, I've always been short-handed. You know, so much so that I wonder if it wasn't perfect training for the kind of world many of us have found ourselves living in as budgets are slashed and we're left trying to figure out how to implement.
Fit In - The Kundalini Equation - Why doesn't technology fit in better with curriculum and instruction? It's a question that I've pondered often over the last 20 years, often wondering if it shouldn't be the other way around. Why doesn't curriculum and instruction fit in more with technology? But, then, I remember my experience driving the highway one day and ask, Is fitting in the right way to look at it? Or, do we need to focus on dynamic tension, the synergy between the 3?
Providing Quality Service with Technology - A friend who works in that school district shared a new initiative implemented in her district--walkie-talkie phones with GPS for staff. The problem, she pointed out, was that several technology specialists were checking in every morning, then disappearing for the day. How would you solve this problem?
Team Building - How do you build an awesome team?
Involve Stakeholders - When one builds relationships with stakeholders, one increases organizational confidence to get what appeared insurmountable alone, done.
Just Jump In - What process can we follow that will provide us with that level of assurance for accepting and supporting change in a technology-rich ecology?
Don't Be the Fun Police - Tidbits from a whitepaper on content filtering solutions.
You may also want to read this series of posts on Technology Management....
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