"Think about it . . . I just "sat in" on a conference on the other side
of the world;
learned from them, and now I'm sharing their wisdom."
- Principal David Truss
I wasn't there, but I was CONNECTED
by David Trussconnected with people in my network that I've never met
face-to-face;
engaged with them; added to the digital conversation;
learned from them, and now I'm sharing their wisdom."
- Principal David Truss
I wasn't there, but I was CONNECTED
I wasn't there. In fact, I was almost literally half-way around the world. It happened at the
ISTE conference in Philadelphia, and I'm in Dalian, China. The session was called:
What Does it Mean to Be a Tech-Savvy Principal.
So, I listened and I learned:
"It is not just a tech savvy admin, but the building of teacher leaders that's needed to become innovative."
"Let professionals be professionals- good leaders let teachers take the lead and grow."
"Teachers must be the partners in learning. Let the students use the - 'stuff'."
"Go with the willing but model for the reluctant or rather the 'apprehensive' staff."
" . . .support teachers learning one item at a time."
"Not only is it about innovative leaders, it is about leadership in a student centered school."
"Bad tech leadership? Tools with no training, direction or support."
"Leadership needs to communicate, collaborate, and create using the technology they expect the teachers to use."
"Be a learner first. That's where we want every adult and child in the school to be, so model it from the top!"
"It's about learning. We need to help teachers understand this is the same for them as it is for the students."
"I don't want to see teacher using tech every time I walk in room. I want to see tech in hands of students."
"Do your schools have a technology integration group made up of teachers, admin, and students that make decisions about learning?"
"Observing for appropriate tech use in a classroom: 1. Tie into learning, 2. High engagement
3. Assessment considered."
"It's not so much about teaching teachers to use the technology, it's about changing the classroom pedagogy."
"Manage the present, create the future, and carry the vision. Most leaders get caught up managing the present."
___
Think about it . . . I just "sat in" on a conference on the other side of the world; connected with people in my network that I've never met face-to-face; engaged with them; added to the digital conversation; learned from them, and now I'm sharing their wisdom.
It cost me an hour of my time (and another 45 to share this with you now). It's already going
to influence how I handle a meeting with teachers tomorrow. This is the power of being a connected principal.
I'm not connected all the time. In fact I've basically been "absent" from connecting to these people for about a month now . . . It has been an unusually busy June for me. But I'll come
back again and again . . it's worth the time. It's something to make time for.
No one is too busy to learn, and my network gives me far more than I give back . . . no matter how hard I try. And they give back even when I have a busy month and I don't try. If you don't make the time to be a connected principal, then you are missing out on an opportunity, not an obligation.
[Cross posted on David Truss:: Pair of Dimes for your Thoughts and Connected Principals] with cuts made by Editor of The Daily Riff for length and relevance.
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