Comments on: Should we get rid of technology directors? http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2010/05/should-we-get-rid-of-technology-directors.html Technology, leadership, and the future of schools Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:42:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: N. Gomez http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2010/05/should-we-get-rid-of-technology-directors.html/comment-page-1#comment-41378 N. Gomez Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:08:47 +0000 http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/?p=3716#comment-41378 There are a lot of assumptions in your development of this post which illustrates the fundamental flaw at play in the education and technology discussion. The educational model in it's current form cannot accomodate technology in any meaningful way. Wether or not you have tech directors or iPads or tech integrations specialists or education gurus with strategies, or whatever...technology is beyond educations ability to assimiliate it. -Education evolves at a glacial pace. Technology has changed in the time it took for me to write this comment. -Teachers don't have enough time to learn it because they are still teaching to the test. -Employers don't want grads that have degrees but rather have 21st century skills...which everyone in education says is what we should teach, but are too petrified to change the monolith in fear the kids dont get into college or university. Arguing about wether we need a local tech director or a district one or none at all is a moot point. At the end of the day, the sum total product is still unacceptable. Form is irrelevant, the foundation is not. Dangerously irrelevant? I fear it is now terminally irrelevant. NG There are a lot of assumptions in your development of this post which illustrates the fundamental flaw at play in the education and technology discussion.

The educational model in it’s current form cannot accomodate technology in any meaningful way.

Wether or not you have tech directors or iPads or tech integrations specialists or education gurus with strategies, or whatever…technology is beyond educations ability to assimiliate it.

-Education evolves at a glacial pace. Technology has changed in the time it took for me to write this comment.
-Teachers don’t have enough time to learn it because they are still teaching to the test.
-Employers don’t want grads that have degrees but rather have 21st century skills…which everyone in education says is what we should teach, but are too petrified to change the monolith in fear the kids dont get into college or university.

Arguing about wether we need a local tech director or a district one or none at all is a moot point. At the end of the day, the sum total product is still unacceptable.

Form is irrelevant, the foundation is not.

Dangerously irrelevant? I fear it is now terminally irrelevant.

NG

]]> By: MBrad http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2010/05/should-we-get-rid-of-technology-directors.html/comment-page-1#comment-20311 MBrad Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:11:43 +0000 http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/?p=3716#comment-20311 I would have to disagree with your point that it would be better to hire on a non-teaching IT person. This tact results in a much higher cost to the district when the same functions could be performed by another organization, whether private or public. The key in determining who provides the best value of services/products is to look at not only the cost, but also the quality of product and the reliability of the provider. Nonetheless, keeping a tech director, or someone with a similar title/role, would likely benefit the district because s/he would be the liason between the school and the service provider... they'd be in the best position to know the technology needs of the district. I would have to disagree with your point that it would be better to hire on a non-teaching IT person. This tact results in a much higher cost to the district when the same functions could be performed by another organization, whether private or public. The key in determining who provides the best value of services/products is to look at not only the cost, but also the quality of product and the reliability of the provider.

Nonetheless, keeping a tech director, or someone with a similar title/role, would likely benefit the district because s/he would be the liason between the school and the service provider… they’d be in the best position to know the technology needs of the district.

]]> By: douglas W. Green, EdD http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2010/05/should-we-get-rid-of-technology-directors.html/comment-page-1#comment-20241 douglas W. Green, EdD Fri, 04 Jun 2010 02:47:21 +0000 http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/?p=3716#comment-20241 Bailey: My main point is that instructional leadership and integration of instructional technology should be coming from the same place and not be separated. The fact that you are the CTO for a county district changes the calculus as well. If you manage all the stuff that CoSN covers, your job makes sense as long as the concern in my first sentence is addressed. I my case, I argue that our county organization should be taking care of network infrastructure and maintenance, not some district-based administrator. Keep in mind there are 700+ districts in New York State.Thanks so much for your response. Doug Bailey:
My main point is that instructional leadership and integration of instructional technology should be coming from the same place and not be separated. The fact that you are the CTO for a county district changes the calculus as well. If you manage all the stuff that CoSN covers, your job makes sense as long as the concern in my first sentence is addressed. I my case, I argue that our county organization should be taking care of network infrastructure and maintenance, not some district-based administrator. Keep in mind there are 700+ districts in New York State.Thanks so much for your response. Doug

]]> By: Bailey Mitchell http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2010/05/should-we-get-rid-of-technology-directors.html/comment-page-1#comment-20220 Bailey Mitchell Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:54:31 +0000 http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/?p=3716#comment-20220 You have a disruptive title for this blog ... I will give you that. You have a couple of points I agree with: (1)Power shared is power multiplied. (2)Educational technology initiatives that have bottom-up consensus work better. My superintendent describes one attribute of my work as: “You must have the ability to connect to the people networks and departmental silos. The CTO has got to cultivate a continued “network” with key system leaders.” He also suggests "Like any other department, your team is important. Make sure the tech team understands how their work connects to the whole.” I would strongly encourage you to look at the work that has been done by CoSN on the Framework of Essential Skills for the District CTO: http://www.cosn.org/EssentialSkillsoftheK12CTO/tabid/4489/Default.aspx CoSN has worked for many years now to enable district technology leaders to increase their knowledge and skills within CoSN’s Framework of Essential Skills of the K-12 CTO. As the CTO of Forsyth County School's, I am an advocate, a relationship architect, a venture capitalists, an information steward and a lobbyist and most importantly, a full-fledge member of the top management team chiming in on discussions that have nothing to do with IT most days. District technology leaders must be "empowered" with the range of skills and abilities needed to position them as educational leaders—not just technology leaders—providing the district with the necessary vision and leadership. Bailey Mitchell Chief Technology and Information Officer Forsyth County Schools You have a disruptive title for this blog … I will give you that. You have a couple of points I agree with: (1)Power shared is power multiplied. (2)Educational technology initiatives that have bottom-up consensus work better.

My superintendent describes one attribute of my work as: “You must have the ability to connect to the people networks and departmental silos. The CTO has got to cultivate a continued “network” with key system leaders.” He also suggests “Like any other department, your team is important. Make sure the tech team understands how their work connects to the whole.”

I would strongly encourage you to look at the work that has been done by CoSN on the Framework of Essential Skills for the District CTO:

http://www.cosn.org/EssentialSkillsoftheK12CTO/tabid/4489/Default.aspx

CoSN has worked for many years now to enable district technology leaders to increase their knowledge and skills within CoSN’s Framework of Essential Skills of the K-12 CTO.

As the CTO of Forsyth County School’s, I am an advocate, a relationship architect, a venture capitalists, an information steward and a lobbyist and most importantly, a full-fledge member of the top management team chiming in on discussions that have nothing to do with IT most days.

District technology leaders must be “empowered” with the range of skills and abilities needed to position them as educational leaders—not just technology leaders—providing the district with the necessary vision and leadership.

Bailey Mitchell
Chief Technology and Information Officer
Forsyth County Schools

]]> By: douglas W. Green, EdD http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2010/05/should-we-get-rid-of-technology-directors.html/comment-page-1#comment-20217 douglas W. Green, EdD Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:08:54 +0000 http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/?p=3716#comment-20217 Erik: The skill set of the principal is gradually changing. It use to be that the good old boys club provided principals who came from the coaching ranks. As a person who teaches future principals, I have seen big changes over the years. Now we expect principals to have a good understanding of technology as opposed to the old group who couldn't type and had the secretary do the email. Now we have a very different group coming in. They are much more likely to be women, special education teachers, and somewhat tech savvy. The role will change somewhat, but the principal will still be responsible for everything. Erik: The skill set of the principal is gradually changing. It use to be that the good old boys club provided principals who came from the coaching ranks. As a person who teaches future principals, I have seen big changes over the years. Now we expect principals to have a good understanding of technology as opposed to the old group who couldn’t type and had the secretary do the email. Now we have a very different group coming in. They are much more likely to be women, special education teachers, and somewhat tech savvy. The role will change somewhat, but the principal will still be responsible for everything.

]]> By: Erik Hanson http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2010/05/should-we-get-rid-of-technology-directors.html/comment-page-1#comment-20216 Erik Hanson Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:19:05 +0000 http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/?p=3716#comment-20216 Very interesting blog post and responses by readers. I ask the question: Does the role of the Principal need to change? Very interesting blog post and responses by readers. I ask the question: Does the role of the Principal need to change?

]]> By: Douglas W. Green, EdD http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2010/05/should-we-get-rid-of-technology-directors.html/comment-page-1#comment-20173 Douglas W. Green, EdD Fri, 28 May 2010 18:56:06 +0000 http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/?p=3716#comment-20173 Sam: My purpose in not having a tech director is not so much to save money than it is to put the technology leadership where it belongs, and that is with the superintendent, the principal, and the teachers who get it. It is unlikely that a staff administrator will have the skill set or the influence to get it done. Now that the good old boys are checking out, we need to make sure that the next generation of superintendents and principals can also factor technology into the big picture. Thanks for your comment. Best, Doug Green Sam:
My purpose in not having a tech director is not so much to save money than it is to put the technology leadership where it belongs, and that is with the superintendent, the principal, and the teachers who get it. It is unlikely that a staff administrator will have the skill set or the influence to get it done. Now that the good old boys are checking out, we need to make sure that the next generation of superintendents and principals can also factor technology into the big picture. Thanks for your comment.
Best,
Doug Green

]]> By: Sam http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2010/05/should-we-get-rid-of-technology-directors.html/comment-page-1#comment-20172 Sam Fri, 28 May 2010 16:44:56 +0000 http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/?p=3716#comment-20172 Asking the question is like asking, "Should we get rid of Superintendents?" Technology can be a driving force of education or it can be a cost-cow that you may never escape. When technology is in driver's seat, You need someone to meld instruction and technology together cohesively that fits your schools, time, and money. Do you really trust an outside agency to do that? If technology is a cost-cow, I feel sorry for you. Feel free to outside tech and all your other school functions (except for teachers and maybe a principal or 2). The ultimate problem in school's, like most organizations, is leadership. Leadership about not documents, policies, and meetings. Leadership is about underlying principles and future vision for the organization. The former has lots of leadership, the latter has none. Asking the question is like asking, “Should we get rid of Superintendents?”

Technology can be a driving force of education or it can be a cost-cow that you may never escape.

When technology is in driver’s seat, You need someone to meld instruction and technology together cohesively that fits your schools, time, and money. Do you really trust an outside agency to do that?

If technology is a cost-cow, I feel sorry for you. Feel free to outside tech and all your other school functions (except for teachers and maybe a principal or 2).

The ultimate problem in school’s, like most organizations, is leadership. Leadership about not documents, policies, and meetings. Leadership is about underlying principles and future vision for the organization. The former has lots of leadership, the latter has none.

]]> By: Shane Wheeler http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2010/05/should-we-get-rid-of-technology-directors.html/comment-page-1#comment-20167 Shane Wheeler Thu, 27 May 2010 18:22:00 +0000 http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/?p=3716#comment-20167 When I read the article, I thought the same thing. That technology director's role within the school should change. I only have personal experience in smaller schools. I see the coming of 1:1 programs and other new technology to districts, and think that the technology director should be used more for the integration of technology to the classroom, and not purely a tech person maintains the system and occasional teaches teachers how to use a new computer or the new grading software. A technology director in chorus with the other administrators, should be visible in the school to follow up on professional development related to technology and technology integration. I see this person as the go to person for what tools are out there for betterment of instruction and engagement of students. Teachers do not, and often don't search out technology for their units and lessons, because they are ready have something that works. I think that technology directors should be there to help infuse technology into the already established units, lessons, and curriculum standards being taught. That they should have a more active role in the classroom. When I read the article, I thought the same thing. That technology director’s role within the school should change. I only have personal experience in smaller schools. I see the coming of 1:1 programs and other new technology to districts, and think that the technology director should be used more for the integration of technology to the classroom, and not purely a tech person maintains the system and occasional teaches teachers how to use a new computer or the new grading software. A technology director in chorus with the other administrators, should be visible in the school to follow up on professional development related to technology and technology integration. I see this person as the go to person for what tools are out there for betterment of instruction and engagement of students. Teachers do not, and often don’t search out technology for their units and lessons, because they are ready have something that works. I think that technology directors should be there to help infuse technology into the already established units, lessons, and curriculum standards being taught. That they should have a more active role in the classroom.

]]> By: Eric Townsley http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2010/05/should-we-get-rid-of-technology-directors.html/comment-page-1#comment-20164 Eric Townsley Thu, 27 May 2010 15:19:38 +0000 http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/?p=3716#comment-20164 I do wonder about having an IT person, computers break down. Having someone in a different town managing the system doesn't fix my computer when the hard drive crashes etc. I agree that teachers and administrators need to be involved in integrating tech into classroom practice! I do wonder about having an IT person, computers break down. Having someone in a different town managing the system doesn’t fix my computer when the hard drive crashes etc. I agree that teachers and administrators need to be involved in integrating tech into classroom practice!

]]>