Reflection and Vision for Leadership and Technology in Schools:
According to Dr. Spencer Johnson's book, Who Moved my Cheese?, "Change happens." If you anticipate
the change, monitor the change, and adapt quickly to the change, you will be happier and successful. The word "change" could
be easily substituted with the word "technology. Many teachers say they are resistant to technology, but
they aren't resistant to technology, they are more resistant to the idea of change. It takes a while to get used to new ideas
and strategies for teaching, especially when they involve technology. We must turn schools into technology-rich cultures.
We must individually convince each and every teacher that his or her students will benefit from technology integration.
Technology is a powerful tool that will play a major role in the future of our students. My vision is that
in the future every school in a district will have its own Technology Facilitator. Every teacher will be supplied with a wireless
internet accessible lap top and a Smartboard. Every student will have an electronic tablet.
As a TF, part of your job is to win teachers over with the benefits of technology. A TF needs to assess
individual teaching styles and identify ways in which technology can fit into a teacher's classroom. Find their comfort level
with technology and celebrate every step, even the smalll ones. Demanding teachers to use technology will only alienate them.
In Dr. Nancy Sulla's 1998 article, "Winning Teachers Over", she identifiied
three distinctive phases that teachers go through who are new to technoologgy integration.
1. "Dynamic Disequilibrium - the teacher is constantly trying new approaches,
and just when one appears to work well, something changes. It can be an exciting time, but human being seek stability, so
it can also be a trying time."
2. "Contrived Equilibrium - the teacher latches on to approaches that appear
too work best and adopts them as "the way." This is a dangerous phase because some teachers stop here and think they are using
technology and it is working pretty well, so they will just stay here.
3. "Reflective Practitioner- the most desired phase, where teachers reflect
upon their technology integration, reflect upon thier practices, and make the necessary modifications for continual improvement."
Drs. Sulla and Johnson share the same theme when it comes to change - it takes time, but the more quickly
you embrace change, the quicker you'll see positive results. "You can't expect your faculty to convert to technology overnnight.
Celebrate each forward movement - never take forward movement for granted - and you will surely build momentum in creating
a technology - infused school" (Sulla, 7).
