Activity 5 – Learning communities

After Activity 5:

What I have learnt about learning communities online: They offer numerous opportunities for people who would otherwise have limited access to education to access a vast amount of information. In addition they offer anyplace, any pace and anytime learning. They are also student centred.There is no equity in access to technology and technological tools, some persons may not be computer literate and as a result lack the skills to participate fully in learning communities...

(Optional) How I feel about the course so far:

Activity 4 – Whole school conditions

What I have learnt about whole school conditions for ICT integration: In integrating ICT in schools, there must be a vision that is created by the stakeholders. This will help to ensure that everyone would be motivated to work towards its realization. The necessary ICT resources must also be in place in order for the policy to be effectively executed.

What I feel is my biggest challenge in achieving ICT integration in my school: I think my biggest challenge in achieving ICT integration is that of getting a few teachers to change their pedagogy and learn new ways of teaching. Some teachers are just too reluctant to come out of their comfort zones and experiment with new technology.

(Optional) How I feel about the course so far: This course is very exciting for me since now more than ever before have been given more leadership roles to play and the knowledge and skills will help me to better execute my duties.

Activity 3 – Thinking about the whole School:

Thinking about the whole school: Ø  My vision is to: build a teaching and learning environment that motivates teachers and students to integrate ICT skills and tools in the school’s curriculum and develop as 21st Century Learners. Ø  How will ICT integration change the way things are being done? ICT integration will ensure that the entire staff is aware of ICT capability and the expected outcomes for students annually. It will enable whole school ICT policies to be clearly communicated to all stakeholders so that staff and students can be adequately prepared to use ICT in different subject areas of the curriculum. Integration will also help to improve pedagogy as more teachers would be engaged in professional growth and leadership, and would be able to apply instructional principles, research and appropriate assessment practices to the use of technology and integrate technological tools into student learning activities across the curriculum. Team work will be crucial as teachers would be given the opportunity to plan their schemes of work collectively so that ICT is properly infused into the curriculum. Assessment practices will also be improved as a result of ICT integration Ø  Success stories: A few of my senior colleagues who are in the profession for over two decades would often seek my assistance in getting certain tasks done on the computer , solving problems they encounter while using ICT tools or finding educational resources for them to use in their lessons. From time to time I would find information that my colleagues could use to get students to better understand certain concepts and share it with them. I would also assist my principal and completing administrative tasks using ICT. Ø  Other leaders in my group can learn from my example by sharing best practices with their colleagues and also by providing the necessary ICT assistance to staff members who are in need of it ( Technological Mentorship).

Activity 2: School Scenarios

The four schools studied all have different issues that are very similar to our situation. It is imperative that school administrators apply leadership wisdom in addressing various issues that plague their institutions so that positive relationships can exist between all stakeholders.

Activity 1: Leadership in the Digital Age

Leadership is a very difficult task in today's changing school environment. The advent of technology has brought about new  ideas and new perspectives on leadership. School leaders are faced with the responsibility of initiating and implementing school  change via the use of ICT and facilitating complex decision to integrate ICT into teaching, learning and educational administration. They are sometimes faced with the challenge of leading teachers to change their pedagogy in order to integrate ICT. However, change is sometimes very difficult to bring about especially when persons develop old habits over a period of time. Some are just stuck in their old ways out of fear of the unexpected or not wanting to take on any additional workload. According to Spencer Johnson,“Movement in new direction helps find new cheese.” Therefore, leaders must be tactical enough to gradually introduce change by communicating the desired change and getting the buy -in of all stakeholders so that the change can be meaningful and they can see the positives results from the change.

What I learnt about leadership in the digital age: Digital age leaders must: Take a systems perspective on technology and predict the long-term ramifications of decisions. Ensure that you listen to all groups before making technology decisions. The technology staff may have valid reasons why some- thing can or cannot be done. Be flexible. Have a plan but keep up on where technology is going in education. Promote technology use not as playing with gadgets, but as accessing tools to make educators and learning more effective at motivating, engaging, and preparing students for their futures. Demonstrate how investments in ICT are impacting on learning and attainment.

(Optional) How I feel about the module so far: Very relevant and detailed.

Module 9- Hello

Hi All,

Welcome to this new module. I hope that we will all have fun while we draw closer to the end.

All the best.