SUPPORTING A TECHNOLOGY RICH LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Reflecting on the 5 International Society for Technology in Education Standards for Administrators (Visionary Leadership, Digital Age Learning Culture, Excellence in Professional Practice, Systemic Improvement and Digital Citizenship),

I feel that it is important to understand the importance of adopting some sort of standards around at the leadership level relating to technology. As was talked about in the beginning of the blog post “Supporting Effective Technology Integration and Implementation” (it is a long read but worth it if you have the time), the implementation and integration of digital technologies is taking off at exponential rates in recent years, with student to device ratios moving from 11:1 in 1996 to 1.7:1 in 2009 and many schools at 1:2 or 1:3 ratios by now. As leaders, how can this rapid shift to digital learning be guided in order to maximize student and staff benefits? That is where standards come in. While we may not know what the next new technology will be, these standards can keep us moving forward in a way that assist everyone. The ISTE standards are not the only list of guild-lines for administrators. Other organizations and leaders have written lists and standards for technology implementation (like this set of habits by THE Journal) and it may not be important which list or standards guild you, I feel it is important that you have something guiding you so that technology can take center stage in every school.