The challenge: There is not enough systemic change in K12 education needed for life in the digital age. Most schools and school districts are either not addressing the necessary changes or take an approach that lacks goals, focuses on devices and counts innovation as pockets of classrooms doing progressive work. This isn’t acceptable.
The question: How do we move from pockets of transformation (individual classrooms) to transformed systems? It’s not impossible. Getting Smart recently published a selection of 25 school districts worth visiting because of their progress toward implementing progressive education systemically.
The solution: Leadership. Until we have leadership that understands the why of digital transformation and can influence stakeholders to embrace action plans toward making a systemic transformation, we will continue to have pockets of innovation. Without knowledgable and engaged leadership, the transformation many of us dream of just isn’t going to happen. Digital leadership isn’t easy considering all the financial and political constraints and challenges faced by public education institutions. But it’s possible.
The work: My mission is to “make school different,” and to do that, I believe one of the primary things we need to do is focus on leadership to support the change we envision. Working with many other stakeholders, I have had the opportunity to develop my understanding of digital leadership through the real work of bringing about systemic change. Are we there yet? Of course not, but we have made significant progress and know where we want to go.
You can learn more about our work at TL2020.org or by contacting me at ziegeran@gmail.com. I look forward to connecting!
Read these posts on digital leadership:
- So you think you’re a digital leader?
- 4 cultural signs you’re ready to push educational innovation
- Does your leadership need a system software upgrade?
- Changing processes through inquiry
- How does this change the conversation about learning?
- How might learning with technology look different if…
- Are you asking these questions about #edtech?
- Do we have a crisis of vision? 5 resources to help define a compelling vision for learning
Connect with Randy on Twitter and on the TLTalkRadio podcast!
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