Visionary leaders can be found all around us. They are individuals who have an inner desire to take a task and tackle it in a new way. They are the people, like the video stated, who will be able to produce the newest thinkers, dreamers, designers, leaders, and entrepreneurs because they themselves, are just that. Using the instant technology that is available today to connect with innovative people across the globe, visionary leaders will empower people to network with other creators and make great things happen.
Through my research of Visionary Leadership in Education, I stumbled across a few blogs. Two of which sparked my attention when I saw Pokemon Go! in the titles. I thought to myself, "What in the world does this silly game have to do with education?" After reading on, I understood, and I found that a lot of the topics were relatable to the topics being discussed this week. George Couros' Blog lead me to an interesting blog post published by David Theriault on IDEAFM's blog. Now, I'm sure you may be thinking, "What does this have to do with leadership?" Let's discover that part together...
Dr. Hilt shared a quote describing a visionary leader. A very specific part of this quote stuck out to me after I read through Couros' and Theriault's blogs; "A visionary leader would support positive transformation throughout his or her district in order to ensure that teachers integrate information literacy into classroom lessons and activities in ways that promote critical thinking and excellence." As I read through the 14 Reasons Why Pokemon Go! is the Future of Learning, I discovered many opportunities that exemplify a visionary leader, therefore aligning with Common Core Standards that require students to access digital resources. Scavenger hunts could be created using GooseChase.com, which recently started using EDU accounts. Students could blog using their personal devices, they could listen to Podcasts created by their teacher, or vetted by their teacher that would enrich the learning already taking place inside the classroom, and they can create short video clips or emoji stories that summarize the plot of a recently read novel. Now that we are able to "access all human knowledge through a device that fits in the palm of our hand," we need to make changes in education because there are very few things that we are currently doing that are preparing our youth for their competitive futures. It's time we create a "new normal" and enrich our students' minds.
Scheninger makes reference to Spike who models for teachers in their classroom, he does not believe that teachers need to be pushed out of their comfort zone. As I thought about myself as a visionary leader, and how I would instill my vision into others, I found that I really connected with parts of this mindset. Scheninger explains that Spike rewards teachers for taking risks and supports teachers in all of their decisions, understanding that each teacher makes connections in his or her own way. My favorite part about his mindset is that he has patience for those educators who may never get beyond Web 1.0 tools. Although technology is very important and prevalent in today's world, I do not believe that technology makes a teacher a good teacher or a bad teacher. Technology enhances one's experience and provides opportunities beyond the classroom.
I have had the opportunity to work with many house principals throughout my tenure at SF. I can think of many things that I loved about their leadership styles, and things that I may have changed. However, when reflecting on my experience, I find that I am able to easily pull out positive experiences that all begin with one thing: modeling. One of my favorite leaders would bring an activity, tech tool, or resource to our monthly faculty meetings. She would model the usage, have the staff participate in a quick application of the resource, and provide time for teachers to ask questions. After, she would ask if we would invite her to our classrooms if we wanted to use this resource, and many times, she would just swing by. I found that this was the most effective way to communicate her desire for technology to be used in our classrooms and a frequent reminder at monthly meetings pushed teachers to try new things without the fear of failing.
To tie everything together, I believe that I am capable of being a powerful visionary leader. I think that in order to be a powerful leader, you must have the support of all stakeholders. In order to do so, I must be supportive, involved, and present. I think that it is easy to get the buy-in from people who are interested in using technology in their classrooms in order to enhance the learning of their students, but it is difficult to get the same support from those who do not feel comfortable. Supports, coaching, and collaboration with colleagues are a few of the ways to gain the support of struggling tech-users. It is my vision that I will be able to foster an environment where 21st century learners have access to the tools that will connect them with networks across the globe. They will leave our district with the knowledge and resources that will enable them to compete with the world around them.
I believe that my school will be filled with teachers who exemplify this image:
I must admit, before our last meeting on Monday. I was roaming the campus looking for Pokémon. I am constantly reminded of the good and the bad with this game. The bad is that I do kind of feel like a zombie while playing it because it is so addictive. So I don't know how good it is for students. Obviously, safety is the other main concern with the game because of people falling or being lured into places that they shouldn't be. The good however, is that I have heard many stories of children who are agoraphobic being able to go outside. It forces children who may just want to be inside on the computer all day to exercise. It also is a tool to make children more social. The more people you know, the easier it is to catch pokemon. It is also achievement oriented, which can do wonders for a child's self esteem.
ReplyDeleteAs I read your post, the idea of using Pokemon Go all made sense to me. Obviously, the game is motivating to many so why not use the idea of that game to educate our children and motivate them to learn. I also agree with Dr. Cook's idea of not pushing teachers out of their comfort zone. As someone who struggles with technology, I can say that it is much more likely to have teachers use new technology when they are not forced to do so. Teachers will be much more likely to accept the ideas and try them when they feel as though they are supported through the learning process as much as they support their students through the learning process.
ReplyDelete