Supporting Learning Leaders for the Effective Integration of Technology into Schools
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Supporting Learning Leaders for the Effective Integration of Technology into Schools Rhonda Christensen1 · Koos Eichhorn2 · Sarah Prestridge3 · Dominik Petko4 · Henk Sligte5 · Rowland Baker6 · Ghaida Alayyar7 · Gerald Knezek1
© Springer Nature B.V. 2018
Abstract Learning leaders have important roles in facilitating and supporting the effective and innovative integration of technology in schools. Many leaders who are charged with the task of technology integration have not received professional development to support a leadership role. Many teachers who assume the role of technology leaders develop into this role organically over time based on their recognized performance. School administrators may not have the skills to make decisions for technology integration for learning. Effective ICT learning leaders exhibit the ability to create a shared vision, remain pedagogically focused, and seek and contribute to on-going professional development. Recognizing characteristics of learning leaders who are innovators in technology integration is an important step in the overall improvement of education systems. This paper focuses on the role learning leaders have in the effective use of technology in the learning environment and the types of professional development that best support learning for these leaders. The paper also addresses the important role of assessment, in order to continue the quest to determine what technology-enhanced interventions and innovations work for whom, in what contexts, and under what conditions. Keywords Learning leaders · Technology integration · School leadership · Professional development
* Rhonda Christensen [email protected] 1
University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
2
Lucas Onderwijs, The Hague, The Netherlands
3
Griffith University, Nathan, Australia
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Pädagogische Hochschule Schwyz, Goldau, Switzerland
5
Kohnstamm Institute University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
6
Santa Cruz County Office of Education, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
7
Public Authority of Applied Education and Training, Adailiyah, Kuwait
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R. Christensen et al.
1 Introduction Technology in education is an integral part of effective teaching and learning. It is crucial to prepare learning leaders who can guide and support innovative and effective technologyenhanced learning in the classroom. To achieve this goal, learning leaders should not focus on adding new technologies to the curriculum, but rather focus on the creation of a culture of change: “It does not mean adopting innovations, one after the other, it does mean producing the capacity to seek, critically assess, and selectively incorporate new ideas and practices—all the time, inside the organization as well as outside it” (Fullan 2001, p. 44). Technologies should support curricular activities in engaging ways that may not otherwise be possible. Rather than focusing on the technology, learning activities should meet instructional goals and involve technology when the technology enhances learning. Educat
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