NETs for Administrators

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Given I don't have a classroom for which I manage tools and peripherals, I've decided to focus the final two blogs on the NETs standards for Administrators and Teachers. I'm currently neither an administrator nor a teacher, so I'm wondering which of these two most apply to my role? In order to reflect further I would like to take a look at the descriptors and question or comment on each one in relation to ISB or to learning institutions in general.


1. Visionary Leadership. Educational Administrators inspire and lead development and implementation of a shared vision for comprehensive integration of technology to promote excellence and support transformation throughout the organization.

• What is our shared vision? Like other curricular areas, do we have a philosophy that one and all are aware of and that is driving everything we do in this area?
• What do we mean by comprehensive and how are we measuring this? Do we have similar expectations for all areas or are there greater expectations for certain areas? If so, why? If not, does the reality reflect this?
  

Educational Administrators:
a. inspire and facilitate among all stakeholders a shared vision of purposeful change that maximizes use of digital-age resources to meet and exceed learning goals, support effective instructional practice, and maximize performance of district and school leaders

• How do you measure inspiration? According to research, "inspirational" leaders are not necessarily the most effective in improving learning.
  
• What are the most effect use of digital-age resources--has this been researched? If so, what are the results?

b. engage in an ongoing process to develop, implement, and communicate technology-infused strategic plans aligned with a shared vision

• So, does this mean using technology to help reach ISB's vision? If so, is this the responsibility of all administrators or of those responsible for IT?
  

c. advocate on local, state, and national levels for policies, programs, and funding to support implementation of a technology-infused vision and strategic plan

• not really applicable to our situation

2. Digital-Age Learning Culture. Educational Administrators create, promote, and sustain a dynamic, digital-age learning culture that provides a rigorous, relevant, and engaging education for all students.

• I love the end of this statement, "rigorous, relevant, and engaging education for all students." However, what exactly does a "digital-age learning culture" look and feel like?
  

Educational Administrators:
a. ensure instructional innovation focused on continuous improvement of digital-age learning

• First of all, does our culture value and promote innovation? Why or why not and what is our evidence?
  

b. model and promote the frequent and effective use of technology for learning

• This is pretty straightforward and seems doable for one and all!!
  

c. provide learner-centered environments equipped with technology and learning resources to meet the individual, diverse needs of all learners

• Isn't technology simply another type of learning resource?
  

d. ensure effective practice in the study of technology and its infusion across the curriculum

• This looks like a justification to have the TAIL standards embedded in the curricular area benchmarks.
  

e. promote and participate in local, national, and global learning communities that stimulate innovation, creativity, and digital-age collaboration

• This is more modeling but not necessarily directly linked to student learning.
  

3. Excellence in Professional Practice. Educational Administrators promote an environment of professional learning and innovation that empowers educators to enhance student learning through the infusion of contemporary technologies and digital resources.

• I believe that ISB does this one quite well, allocating a huge budget to resources and professional learning support.
  

Educational Administrators:
a. allocate time, resources, and access to ensure ongoing professional growth in technology fluency and integration
b. facilitate and participate in learning communities that stimulate, nurture, and support administrators, faculty, and staff in the study and use of technology
c. promote and model effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders using digital-age tools
d. stay abreast of educational research and emerging trends regarding effective use of technology and encourage evaluation of new technologies for their potential to improve student learning

• Is this true just for technology or once again is technology a resource and we should always be looking for new resources that have the potential to improve student learning?
  

4. Systemic Improvement. Educational Administrators provide digital-age leadership and management to continuously improve the organization through the effective use of information and technology resources.
Educational Administrators:
a. lead purposeful change to maximize the achievement of learning goals through the appropriate use of technology and media-rich resources

• I believe ultimately learning leaders are responsible for leading change that maximizes learning and technology and media-rich resources are possible resources with which to do this.
  

b. collaborate to establish metrics, collect and analyze data, interpret results, and share findings to improve staff performance and student learning

• I agree with this, except for staff performance. If our goal is improved student learning our data collection should be focused on that. Teachers should have some liberty about how they get there.
  

c. recruit and retain highly competent personnel who use technology creatively and proficiently to advance academic and operational goals
d. establish and leverage strategic partnerships to support systemic improvement
e. establish and maintain a robust infrastructure for technology including integrated, interoperable technology systems to support management, operations, teaching, and learning

• The three above are very specific to certain administrative roles and are currently being done here at ISB.
  

5. Digital Citizenship. Educational Administrators model and facilitate understanding of social, ethical, and legal issues and responsibilities related to an evolving digital culture.

Educational Administrators:
a. ensure equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources to meet the needs of all learners
b. promote, model, and establish policies for safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology
c. promote and model responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information
d. model and facilitate the development of a shared cultural understanding and involvement in global issues through the use of contemporary communication and collaboration tools

• I feel strongly that all learning leaders and facilitators should be responsible for this promotion and modeling of ethical behavior in the digital world.

In conclusion, looking at this NETs for administrator just further confirms my thinking that there is no need for separate standards for different learning leaders. Our focus should be on the knowledge, skills, and understandings we want to students to learn and then take responsibility for doing what it takes to promote, model, and facilitate such learning.