Instructional Leadership Reflections

Originally when saw the course title Instructional Leadership, I thought the class would provide insight into leading the school or being in charge an instructional team. When I the class was downloaded and I learned the class would focus on the technology aspect of instructional leadership, I was excited to start the class. I have learned so much from my previous classes, that I knew I would leave this class well informed and with a new perspective. I thought this glass would explain how technology is chosen my administration and all that goes into the decision making. The course took a different approach than what I expected, but I was not disappointed with the content and what I learned. I was hoping to leave with an understanding of the state’s view point of technology and how it should be used in the classroom. I did achieve this outcome and I was impressed with how the course relayed this information.
Understanding how the state views technology use is very important to me. I am glad to know the about the long-range plan the state has set in place. As educator in the classroom it is very important to understand the direction in which we, as a state, are going with technology. Having an understanding of the long range plan will keep me motivated with the changes that will come about as new technology is implemented. Understanding the ultimate outcome will also assist me in motivating my co-workers when they begin to show signs of frustration with the pendulum of change this is education.
I do wish I had learned if the principal, or school leadership, will use technology that is different from what the classroom teacher uses. I believe the classroom teacher uses more technology than the administration, but I am not sure. On my campus, my principal jokes that he does not know how to effectively use technology and he tells us that he looks to us for guidance in this area. Whether he is joking or serious, this could just be a weak area for him. Is the school leader expected to be strong in the area of technology or can one effectively ‘wing’ it?
During this course I had a lot of outside issues affecting me. I have five children between the ages of 7 months and 13 and I take care of my father. During this course, my father has had a stroke, and underwent a major surgery and three of my children were contracted the flu at different times, but I was able to maintain. The readings and discussion postings seemed excessive especially when coupled with the lengthy homework assignments. I think I would have felt this same way whether I had the crazy five weeks or not. I also felt there was little miscommunication about some assignments, the weekly email would provide one set of information and the Brighton information would provide another, this was not a major hindrance to me, until the last week. While at the hospital with my dad I only had the printed copy of the homework, therefore I thought the assignment was due on the ‘Seventh day of Week 5’ and not on the eighteenth, which was the end of the semester.
This course taught me that I have a lot learn about leading a school and all that is involved in it. I did learn that I work well under pressure and in most instances I am good at balancing my home and work life. I found I know more about technology than I originally thought. This course provided me with ideas for technology implementation on my campus. It also provided me the language needed to communicate with my students and opened up a dialogue for me to get my students more involved in our classroom activity decision making process. When discussing the wiki with my students I learned many of them already have websites and are proud of them and happy to share them with me. Many of my students are anxious to assist me with implementing technology more in my classroom, but I would not have started that conversation, had I not taken this course.
Blogs are class discussion in 21st century. I currently use blogs as a method of submitting homework assignments. Most of my students enjoy having this as an option for turning in work. When the netbooks are assigned to all of our students I can envision an entire lesson done in silence, via the blog. I think the students would enjoy that. When all students have access to the technology, I can see an assignment in which students must create and maintain a blog for the content area. I saw in the class where individuals were concerned with the safety of blogs, I personally do not see this as an uncontrollable issue.
Many are concerned with the safety of blogs. In the class, I saw people who were worried if predators can obtain information about students from blogs and use this information to hurt the students. I believe if students are trained in appropriate internet use, then this threat can lessened. I do not believe it will ever be one hundred percent safe for students to blog or even use the internet, just as it not safe for them to walk to school alone, however with proper training and education students can be prepared which can offer a great defense in the technology world. As technology is implemented in the schools, there must be a course which will educate students on proper internet use. It may even be useful to extend this course to parents and other stakeholders in the district.
Parents and stakeholders must be area of proper internet use and the benefits it can provide. Many stakeholders would benefit from being able to use blogging a way of communicating amongst each other and campus personnel. Blogs can be used as a form discussion and conflict resolution; I believe most stake holders would benefit from communication aspect of blogging. I currently have blogs on my website to communicate with parents about issues they may have or new concepts that are being covered in the classroom, but many parents have not taken advantage of this tool. This lets me know that having a blog is not enough; you must advertise the blog and benefits of using it.