CNIE: Managing K-12 E Learning Implementation: What Do Real Leaders Do?
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CNIE-RCIE: Banff Conference CNIE-RCIE: Banff Conference 2008 2008 Managing E- Managing E- Learning Learning Implementation: Implementation: What Do Real What Do Real Leaders Do? Leaders Do? Randy LaBonte Randy LaBonte 604-983-0636 604-983-0636 [email protected] [email protected]
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Presentation April 30, 2008 at the CNIE 2008 Banff Conference
Transcript of CNIE: Managing K-12 E Learning Implementation: What Do Real Leaders Do?
CNIE-RCIE: Banff Conference 2008CNIE-RCIE: Banff Conference 2008
Managing E-Learning Managing E-Learning Implementation:Implementation:
What Do Real What Do Real Leaders Do? Leaders Do?
Randy LaBonteRandy LaBonte
604-983-0636604-983-0636
[email protected]@shaw.ca
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Professionally speaking...Professionally speaking...I believe that technology:• Changes the way we work• Requires the learning of new skill sets• Causes changes in organizational structures• Shifts control of learning to the individual• Alters education from knowledge transfer to
the process of knowledge attainment (Learning to learn, not learning to know)
• Can be a catalyst to change pedagogy
April 2008 MANAGING E-LEARNING IMPLEMENTATION:What Do Real Leaders Do?
Leadership & TechnologyLeadership & Technology
My thinking has been influenced by:• Doctoral research on leadership in K-12 in
technology-enhanced learning situations• Consulting work with the BC Ministry of
Education– Facilitation of standards
– Follow up research on technology grants
– Policy and practice consultation with DL schools
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Is it about Technology?Is it about Technology?
• If technology is the answer, what is the question?
• The paradox of technology enhanced education is that technology changes very rapidly and human beings very slowly.
• It would seem to make sense for proponents of e‑learning to begin with the students.
Bates & Poole, 2003, p. xiii
April 2008
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It’s About Pedagogy…It’s About Pedagogy…
• Technology is often viewed as pedagogically neutral (Moll, 2001)
• Yet the organization of learning and engagement of learners through educational technology is essential to pedagogy (Bednar, Cunningham, Duffy, & Perry, 1992; Gayol & Schied, 1997)
April 2008
Technology & EducationTechnology & Education
• The question is not “if” technology will impact our educational system and student learning, but rather how we can most effectively utilize technology as an instructional tool to improve student learning”.
Hughs & Zacariah, 2001, ¶ 20
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April 20, 2006 MANAGING E-LEARNING IMPLEMENTATION:What Do Real Leaders Do?
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Technological revolution inevitably must be matched by a political revolution: The very power of modern technology to liberate learning leaves no role for the sprawling empire of academic bureaucracy but self-serving protectionism. At its root, this technological revolution puts learning and education on a collision course.
(Perelman, 1992, p. 23)
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Leadership & TechnologyLeadership & Technology
• New research on leadership and implementation of educational technologies recognizes the key role leaders play in successful use of educational technologies in schools (Davidson, 2003; Foster & St. Hilaire, 2003; Creighton, 2003)
April 2008
The ResearchThe Research
Or once upon a timethere was no BCEdOnline or AOC, oh…now there isn’t again– Why?
The ContextThe Context
• The last decade has seen policy changes that allow any school board in BC to offer a distributed learning program.
• These policy changes have resulted in annual growth in the number of school boards delivering DL.
• That growth has led to competition and confusion.
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Change EventsChange Events
• March 2002 – Lifting of cap on DE programs• February 2003 – DE Visioning Session• Spring 2003 – BC Ed Online initiated• February 2004 – PTC eLearning Roundtable• Spring 2004 – Ministry Program Audits• July 2004 – Ministry DE Policy revised• May 2006 – DL standards established
DL enshrined in legislationMANAGING E-LEARNING IMPLEMENTATION:
What Do Real Leaders Do? April 2008
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Research FocusResearch Focus
April 2008
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Theoretical UnderpinningsTheoretical Underpinnings
Transformational Leadership Theory (Burns; Bass; Leithwood, et al)
Systems Theory (von Bertalanffy; Senge; Wheatley; Fullan)
Complexity Theory (Bar Yam; Dooley; Waldorp; Cowan):
• Offered better insight into fundamental assumptions about change, control, order, organizations, and people, and
• Provided a more useful base from which to examine leadership and e‑learning program adoption
MANAGING E-LEARNING IMPLEMENTATION:What Do Real Leaders Do?
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Leadership CharacteristicsLeadership Characteristics• Leaders could be characterized as:
– Having a desire to learn, seek challenges, take risks, and to improve learning
– The leaders had a clear vision, were highly motivated and hard working – finding it difficult to say ‘no’
• Leaders were:– Focused on learning– Clear and consistent communicators– Focused on strategic goals– Passionate about what they did
April 2008
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Leadership & Preparation: ELRLeadership & Preparation: ELR
• Critical to successful implementation was adequate teacher preparation
• Project leaders played key roles in systemic change for implementation of new technology and instructional approaches
• Successful projects had a shared, clear vision, collaborative leadership, and strategic systems thinking approach
April 2008
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Research reaffirms the critical role of a leader in systemic change and confirms that without a clear vision, collaborative or shared leadership, and a systems approach, organizations could commit precious resources to e-learning without much success or change.
In Short...In Short...
April 2008
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What Change MeansWhat Change Means
April 2008
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Leadership, Technology & ChangeLeadership, Technology & Change
• So, what do real leaders do??
April 2008
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Four InsightsFour Insights
1. Leaders within the BC e‑learning community believe educational technologies to be a catalyst for changing how learning is organized and supported
2. Policy is of key influence in education, and in some instances precedes change and reform
April 2008
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Four InsightsFour Insights
3. Leadership practice within the BC e‑learning community can be described as transformational (ala Leithwood, et al)
April 2008
Transformational LeadersTransformational Leaders– Set Directions
• Vision (Charisma inspirational motivation)• Group goals• High Performance Expectations
– Help People• Individualized consideration/support• Intellectual stimulation• Modeling (idealized influence – attributed and
behaviour)
– Redesign the Organization• Collaborative cultures• Structures to foster collaboration• Building productive relations with parents and the
community Leithwood & Jantzi, 2005, p. 8
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Four InsightsFour Insights
4. The present tension between top down and bottom up transformational leadership approaches can be attributed to
• Lack of resources provided to support change• Lack of transactional leadership behaviours• Adaptation of complex systems
April 2008
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Why the tension?Why the tension?
(or what happened to AOC & BCEd Online?)• In complex systems transformational
leadership can be top-down & bottom-up (Silins & Mulford, 2002)
• Leadership vs. followership• Discrepancy between centralized vs.
decentralized control of change process• Leaders underestimate influence of
organizational learning at district levels (Leithwood, et al.1995)
MANAGING E-LEARNING IMPLEMENTATION:What Do Real Leaders Do?
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Research: The Critical StepsResearch: The Critical Steps
In establishing a successful e-learning
program, “real leaders” ensure:
1. Development of a shared vision/mission
2. Establishment of a collaborative culture
3. Structured involvement of key staff and stakeholders
4. Strategies for support of all involved
5. Enabling policy from central authorities
6. Adequate resources to support the change
April 2008
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Thomas Creighton, 2003Thomas Creighton, 2003
• What is exciting and encouraging [is that] with appropriate instructional leadership by principals, technology can be an effective catalyst for educational reform.
April 2008
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A thought to leave you with…A thought to leave you with…
Technology is powerful, but only in the service of a powerful conception.
Michael Fullan (2003, 86)
April 2008
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CNIE-RCIE: Banff Conference 2008CNIE-RCIE: Banff Conference 2008
Managing E-Learning Managing E-Learning Implementation:Implementation:
What Do Real What Do Real Leaders Do? Leaders Do?
Randy LaBonteRandy LaBonte
604-983-0636604-983-0636
[email protected]@shaw.ca
April 2008
