You are required to
post a description of the most effective leader you have either worked with or
observed, the change they were working toward, and your analysis of their
leadership style to our Module 2 blog forum.
Thinking about a person that I have worked with that has
shown technology leadership, I would have to say our business teacher Michelle
Allen. Mrs. Allen always goes above and beyond to make sure that all of her
technology works before letting students use it in the classroom. She is always
projecting different items on the board and making her lessons interactive with
her students. She always finds different lessons to engage her students while
working on different things online. When she is not in the classroom she is
helping different teachers learn new skills with the technology sources that
they want to start utilizing in their own classrooms. During professional
development days, Mrs. Allen will have a session about different sources that
teachers can use and goes into detail about the trainings that are available
for them. She goes above and beyond to help the teachers and the students stay
on top of new technology sources that we have available to us at our school.
She goes to different meetings in the summer and works hard to help others that
need her.
You are also required
to complete the leadership skills assessments included in this module and
reflect on your results.
I scored a 77 on the leadership skills assessment. I scored 9
out of 10 on self-confidence, 10 out of 10 on positive attitude and outlook, 10
out of 10 on emotional intelligence, etc.
What are your skills? What
leadership style is your strength?
I think one of my best skills when it comes to being a
leader is that I am very organized. Whenever I am in charge of something with
the school, I always see what I need to do and make lists to see what needs to
be done first. I always ask others what they think when it comes to different
things. I don’t boss others around; instead I ask for others input and
thoughts. I try to be a very positive person and to look at the good rather
than the bad. I like to motivate others to help them achieve something.
What skills do you
need to develop?
I would say that I need to have a stronger self-confidence.
Sometimes, depending on what I am doing, I doubt myself. I feel inferior to
others and that they can do it better. I am human and sometimes I let my
emotions or feelings get the best of me. I want to be liked by everyone and not
feel like others don’t want to work with me because of the person I am.
What kind of leader do
you aspire to be?
I want to be a leader that everyone looks up to and wants to
be more like. I want to lead by working with others and getting and sharing
input with others that are in my group. I don’t want to be known for being a
control freak or a bossy person. I want people to want to work with me and want
me to help them when they are in need. I want to be able to step up to any
situation with great confidence in myself.
Digital
Leadership: Changing Paradigms and
Changing Times (Chapters 3-4)
Chapter 3 Keys to
Leading Sustainable Change
Summarize two of the
Six Secrets of Change.
Fullan Change Secret 1: Love Your Employees
Teachers and staff need to know that they are loved and
supported by their administration and school. To help them be successful they
need to have support and their own space to make mistakes that they can learn
from. Teachers need to be able to receive support for their teaching and for
attaining their goals for each school year. By showing that they are loved and
supported teachers are able to reach their goals and so isn’t the school.
Fullan Change Secret 5: Transparency Rule
Having mentors in your school is very important when it
comes to having new teachers in the building. By having leaders in your school
work with other teachers everyone will improve in some way. Teachers need to be
able to share their views and their teaching strategies with others so
improvements will be made.
Chapter 4 Leading with
Technology
What is your
philosophy of how schools can/should use social media?
I have a love/hate relationship when it comes to using
social media in school. As a teacher, you have to consider all of the risks
that go along with implementing social media in your classroom. There are pros
and cons to this as well. I think that if students are well behaved while using
social media then there is not going to be a problem. We need to make sure that
each student remains on task and only visits sites that they are told to. I
think that if you are careful and watch your student’s activity that certain
social media sites could be used in the classroom. Edmodo is a really good
social media source that is both interactive and safe for students to use.
Flickr and Blogger are two other great social media sites that students can use
to interact and the teacher can still monitor the posts and keep students safe.
It sounds like you have a great leader at your school and I find that a lot of business teachers are amazing leaders. You scored well on your leadership quiz and it looks like you have a lot of confidence in your ability to be a leader, how to handle others, and always keep looking towards the future. I wasn't too sure about the transparency rule, but after reading this I can see how important this rule is to having a well rounded school. Social media is a beast that does not like to be tamed, but when you do it is a powerful ally.
ReplyDeleteLove this statement, Sean- "beast that does not like to be tamed, but when you do it is a powerful ally" !
DeleteBrianna,
ReplyDeleteThe description of your leadership skills reminds of a teacher in my school that has recently stepped outside of her comfort zone and has become the team leader. She is very organized as well, makes lists and is positive. I believe these attributes are extremely important, and as I watch this teacher grow, I have to believe you will continue on as a leader. As you continue in leadership roles, your self-confidence will continue to grow. I really embrace Secret 1: Love Your Employees. Support is what the teachers in my school crave. Support can look different each day, from instructional support, student support, moral support, tech support, resource support and personal support. Secret 5: Transparency. I use this word so often in my school, the teachers probably want to remove it from my vocabulary! I want the walls torn down, literally and figuratively I think it’s great you are aware of the risks that go along with social media. But as an advocate of social media, I can tell you the rewards are well worth it!
Mrs. Allen sounds like and amazing example of teacher leadership! We need more folks like her in the education system! Organization is definitely a trait of an effective leader, and it's nice to see that applies to you. I like the fact that you don't get in a leadership position and boss other people around, but instead ask for their input. That, and having a positive attitude and outlook, really makes a difference. I also picked the secret of loving your employees. Without the support of the administrators, teachers might lack confidence and opportunities that can help not only the students in their class, but the school as a whole.
ReplyDelete"She goes above and beyond to help the teachers and the students stay on top of new technology sources that we have available to us at our school. She goes to different meetings in the summer and works hard to help others that need her."
ReplyDeleteIt takes A LOT for most teachers to give up some of their summers for the job and to help others. In my experience most teachers will not consider professional opportunities over the summer because that takes away from their time off. I have taken a weeklong Technology training 2 summers ago where we created lesson plans to earn 1 ipad mini for our classroom. This is where my knowledge and exposure to all that ipads had to offer for the classroom and I was hooked. For the past 2 summers, I take on a 2-3 weeks Art Summer Program (I get paid but I also do it for the kids), and I have taken several professional development day sessions on discovery education in the classroom and other similar classroom topics.
Anything I can do to improve my teaching and make my classroom more dynamic. I look for options to collaborate with others. Like now the Italian teacher and I are collaborating bringing art and Italian culture together with a lesson on Venice and their "Carnevale" celebration and traditions. Teachers really have to be proactive and self starters when it comes to their classrooms and in their jobs.
I love team-teaching and switching things up. It is so easy to get bored with what you do, and to fall into a routine. I never disqualify any opportunity and brainstorm new ways of changing things up.
You made some good points and I admire Michelle Allen and you for all you do for your students.
Brianna,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Mrs. Allen does go above and beyond in her classroom and for the students. You are right when you talk about all the potential risks and students staying on task when engaged with social media sites, but they're also many great benefits that can occur when students interact collaborative with other students in other schools (around the world). This new generation wants to share their work with the world and I think teachers can capitalize on that desire because students want to share their best work. It can also introduce students to new cultures, but again I agree with you... social media needs to be safe. Good Post!!