TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION       2300w

 When I first started teaching in the early 2000s, the job of a technology coordinator or technology leader in a school district was not a well-defined position. I remember only one technology director and possibly one or two network specialists in my whole school district in my first years of teaching. As a classroom teacher, I never interacted with them, as they were always behind the scenes setting up equipment and network infrastructure. I did not have any intention of pursuing instructional technology as a career path, let alone being a technology leader. But as the demand for and availability of technology resources grew over the years, my interest in finding a variety of digital tools to enhance student learning increased. Now, almost twenty years later, I consider myself fairly experienced with instructional technology and I enjoy finding ways to reimagine my teaching through technology. I’ve recently begun to consider a career change towards an instructional technology coach or technology leader. This reflection paper examines five essential topics of technology leadership, and how I will apply what I have learned in this course to help me be an effective technology leader. 

Leadership Topic #1: Visionary Thinking and Strategic Planning

 An educational technology leader must have a vision for the use of technology in a school district and a comprehensive plan of how to implement this vision. This vision begins with the cooperative efforts of various stakeholders of the learning community to craft a strategic plan incorporating the development of appropriate technology policies, the acquisition, monitoring, and maintenance of technology, the design of effective professional development programs, and the coordination of technical support for users (Frazier & Hearrington, 2017). A strategic plan committee should comprise of teachers, administrators, students, parents, and board members. Together, they will create a shared vision for how technology can enhance teaching and learning. A strong technology leader must continuously research best practices and educational trends to maximize student learning to reflect the demands of today’s changing world.