iLead Leadership Fandango

Image: Design by Tonya Mills, San Antonio ISD's Instructional Technology Services

After attending El Paso ISD's Administrators' Technology Leadership Seminar as keynote speaker, I felt guilty that I hadn't brought school leaders together for a leadership seminar. So, I decided that my district should throw its own fandango for school leaders. The goal of this is leadership seminar is to help school leaders maximize the use of technology in their own work. For example, a workshop on digital storytelling would include components of Dan Pinks A Whole New Mind's "business narrative" or learning how to tell stories about their work community that engage using, as George Lucas writes, the language of images and sound, not just text.

Last week, Instructional Technology began preparations for hosting such an event. Everything in what you see below is DRAFT and pending scheduling, but I would love to get your feedback on what topics we SHOULD be discussing.

Scott McLeod (Dangerously Irrelevant) has definitely started us off with his recent post (after the agenda below was developed) on Leadership Day. Scott writes:

Many of our school leaders (principals, superintendents, central office administrators) need help when it comes to digital technologies. A lot of help, to be honest. As I’ve noted again and again on this blog, most school administrators don’t know

* what it means to prepare students for the 21st century;

* how to recognize, evaluate, and facilitate effective technology usage by students and teachers;

* what appropriate technology support structures (budget, staffing, infrastructure) look like or how to implement them;

* how to utilize modern technologies to facilitate communication with internal and external stakeholders;

* the ways in which learning technologies can improve student learning outcomes;

* how to utilize technology systems to make their organizations more efficient and effective;

* and so on…

Administrators’ lack of knowledge is not entirely their fault. Most of them didn’t grow up with these technologies. Many are not using digital tools on a regular basis. Few have received training from their employers or their university preparation programs on how to use, think about, or be a leader regarding digital technologies.
Source: Dangerously Irrelevant

Below are the topics we've tentatively scheduled. How would change/improve on these? And, would it be worthwhile to have guest speakers "Skyped in?"

8:30 to 9:30	Keynote
9:45 to 10:45	Podcasting for Admin (MAC) Presenter: Apple	Spotlight Session: Blogging for Administrators Presenter: TBA	Tech Apps ES Presenter: Martinez	Tech Apps MS Presenter: Mills
11:00 to 12:00	Podcasting for Admin (MAC) Presenter: Apple	Podcasting for campus communications Presenter: Larry	Campus Websites Presenters: Debbie Guardia and Mills	Tools for the Trade Presenter: Sue
12:00 to  1:00	Lunch
1:15 to  2:15	Podcasting for Admin (MAC) Presenter: Apple	Podcasting for campus communications Presenter: Larry	Facilitating Online Book Studies Presenter: Patti & Greg	Spotlight Session: Making Positive Change Presenter: Jean Haverstick
2:30 to  3:30	Podcasting for Admin (MAC) Presenter: Apple	Digital Storytelling Presenters: Cynthia DeLa Garza and Martinez	GATS Admin Presenter: Ascolese	Texas StAR Chart Presenter: Greg
3:30 to 4:00	Closing Remarks

 

• All sessions will be audio-recorded and made available online as podcasts.
• The keynote and spotlight sessions will have online forum where you can continue the discussion and planning. Simply go to SAISD Connections at http://itls.saisd.net