The Savvy Edtech Leader


Book Description

This book provides a road map for edtech practitioners looking to advance or pivot in their careers, ensuring they are well-positioned to move forward in their professional journeys. Edtech practitioners need pragmatic and applicable strategies to shape and advance their career paths. Written by four prominent edtech leaders, this book addresses this need, guiding readers in how to build effective leadership skills with strategies that encourage creativity, flexibility and adaptability, so they can respond effectively to evolving challenges. In a field as dynamic as educational technology, such a mindset is crucial to being prepared not just to adapt to the present, but to shape the future. Bridging the gap between theory and practice, the book addresses core topics such as leadership vision, strategic planning, ethics and performance management, so that both budding and seasoned professionals are well-equipped to navigate the diverse challenges they might face. By focusing on strategies that have the potential to transform learning with technology leadership, this book supports educators and leaders in harnessing technology to lead in the most effective ways, directly benefiting students. The book will help readers: • Focus on internal motivation and increase confidence in order to become an effective leader. • Learn how to establish a positive leadership culture at the staff and district levels. • Cultivate interpersonal and team-building skills to foster collaborative, harmonious work environments. • Make informed, ethical decisions as the rapid evolution of technology often outpaces the development of ethical guidelines. • Build strategic planning and performance management skills to prepare to move into top education technology leadership positions. • Map out a plan to support a school system’s vision, and influence others to buy into and support that vision. Tackling diverse challenges that professionals in educational technology face, this book equips readers with the knowledge and practical strategies needed to bring about meaningful change. Audience: Leaders and aspiring leaders seeking higher-level education technology leadership positions, including educators, education leaders and coaches.




The Modern CEO


Book Description

The Modern CEO is a compilation of research, stories, strategies and sets forth a cutting-edge approach to sharing the message of innovative leadership through technology. This book provides an insiders prospective with insights from information technology practitioners, leadership experts, technology consultants, and more importantly organization leaders. As technology continues to play a larger role in leadership strategies as it pertains to achieving business goals, and objectives the author discusses best-practices for leaders to take their organizations to higher levels. West, goes inside the minds of today's leader and prescribes viable tools, effective solutions, and strategies designed to address any organizations unique technology needs.




The Tech-Savvy Administrator


Book Description

How can school leaders use technology to be more effective? In this book, award-winning blogger and educational technology expert Steven W. Anderson explains how and why leaders should use technology and outlines what should be in every leader's digital toolkit. This resource will help leaders maximize social media to stay connected with teachers, students, and the community use online tools to manage documents and increase collaboration identify online tools to stay organized develop online professional learning networks. Digital tools can play an important role not only in streamlining how school leaders do their jobs, but also in helping them get better results—no matter what the initiative.




What Works May Hurt—Side Effects in Education


Book Description

Yong Zhao shines a light on the long-ignored phenomenon of side effects of education policies and practices, bringing a fresh and perhaps surprising perspective to evidence-based practices and policies. Identifying the adverse effects of some of the “best” educational interventions with examples from classrooms to boardrooms, the author investigates causes and offers clear recommendations. “A highly readable and important book about the side effects of education reforms. Every educator and researcher should take its lessons to heart.” —Diane Ravitch, New York University “A stunning analysis of the problems encountered in our efforts to improve education. If Yong Zhao has not delivered the death blow to naive empiricism, he has at least severely wounded it.” —Gene V. Glass, San José State University “This book is a brilliantly written analysis of well-known educational change efforts followed by a concrete call for action that no policymaker, researcher, teacher, or education reform advocate should leave unread.” —Pasi Sahlberg, University of New South Wales, Sydney “Nothing less than the future of the republic is dealt with in this wonderful and crucial book about the field of educational research and policy.” —David C. Berliner, Arizona State University




Tech-savvy


Book Description

Explores girls' attitudes to computers and computer technology and makes recommendations for improvements in girls' education in this area. Examines their reservations about the use of computers, investigates the concerns of teachers, and considers the gender aspects of educational software, computer games and the teaching of computer science. Looks at the incidence of women in computer-related careers.




EdTech Essentials


Book Description

An accessible, practical guide to incorporating the 10 essential EdTech skills and strategies in every learning setting. In a world awash in technology, what EdTech skills and strategies should educators focus on to ensure they are making the best use of online spaces for classroom learning? How can they navigate through the overwhelming number of options in digital tools and spaces? How can they guide students in learning best practices? EdTech consultant Monica Burns answers these and other questions in this powerful and reader-friendly guide to incorporating EdTech across all grade levels and subject areas, and in both distance-learning and face-to-face environments. Readers will gain practical advice on * Navigating online spaces, * Curating resources, * Introducing opportunities for exploring the world, * Developing collaboration structures, * Providing time and space to create learning products, * Assessing students, * Creating opportunities for sharing, * Connecting student work to relevant audiences, * Developing transferable skills, and * Planning for tech-rich learning experiences. Each chapter explains why the skill or strategy is essential, including supporting research, classroom examples, guiding questions for planning and reflection, and suggested websites and digital tools for classroom use. The book also includes access to downloadable forms to help you set goals, assess your progress, and build your EdTech tool belt. Timely, accessible, and informed by the author's experience and expertise, EdTech Essentials is a must-read for educators who want proven ways to prepare their students to be productive, responsible users of technology both within and outside the classroom.




The Palgrave Handbook of Crisis Leadership in Higher Education


Book Description

This handbook provides a frame of reference for the global challenges facing higher education leadership today. Focusing on recommendations and directions for the future rather than simply a recap of measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, the contributors also delve into contexts such as the climate crisis, issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, digitalisation, funding and marketisation, the war in Ukraine and China-Taiwan and Hong Kong tensions. They collate a systematic, global view of higher education systems during the pandemic and beyond, and explore possibilities for the future, providing recommendations for "the new normal". With contributions from across six continents, the book will be of interest to students and scholars of higher education and governance, university leaders, government and accreditation bodies, and anyone else interested in reflecting on the past few years in higher education and the road ahead. Jürgen Rudolph is Director of Research and Learning Innovation at Kaplan Singapore. Joseph Crawford is Senior Lecturer in Management, Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education), University of Tasmania, Australia. Sam Choon Yin is Dean (Academic Partnerships), Kaplan Singapore. Shannon Tan is Research Executive at Kaplan Singapore.




What School Leaders Need to Know About Digital Technologies and Social Media


Book Description

Facebook, Twitter, Google...today's tech-savvy students are always plugged in. However, all too often their teachers and administrators aren't experienced in the use of these familiar digital tools. If schools are to prepare students for the future, administrators and educators must harness the power of digital technologies and social media. With contributions from authorities on the topic of educational technology, What School Leaders Need to Know About Digital Technologies and Social Media is a compendium of the most useful tools for any education setting. Throughout the book, experts including Will Richardson, Vicki Davis, Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach, Richard Byrne, Joyce Valenza, and many others explain how administrators and teachers can best integrate technology into schools, helping to make sense of the often-confusing world of social media and digital tools. They offer the most current information for the educational use of blogs, wikis and podcasts, online learning, open-source courseware, educational gaming, social networking, online mind mapping, mobile phones, and more, and include examples of these methods currently at work in schools. As the book clearly illustrates, when these tools are combined with thoughtful and deliberate pedagogical practice, it can create a transformative experience for students, educators, and administrators alike. What School Leaders Need to Know About Digital Technologies and Social Media reveals the power of information technology and social networks in the classroom and throughout the education community.




Developing Digital Detectives


Book Description

From the authors of the bestselling Fact vs. Fiction, this book offers easy-to-implement lessons to engage students in becoming media literacy “digital detectives,” looking for clues, questioning motives, uncovering patterns, developing theories and, ultimately, delivering a verdict. The current news landscape is driven by clicks, with every social media influencer, trained and citizen journalists chasing the same goal: a viral story. In this environment, where the race to be first on the scene with the most sensational story often overshadows the need for accuracy, traditional strategies for determining information credibility are no longer enough. Rather than simply helping students become savvy information consumers, today’s educators must provide learners with the skills to be digital detectives – information interrogators who are armed with a variety of tools for dissecting news stories and determining what’s real and what isn’t in our “post-truth world.” This book: • Shares meaningful lessons that move beyond traditional “fake news” protocols to help learners navigate a world in which information can be both a force for good and a tool used to influence and manipulate. • Includes resources and examples to support educators in the work of facilitating engaging, relevant (and fun!) instructional opportunities for K-12 learners, in both face-to-face and digital learning environments. • Unpacks the connection between social-emotional learning and information literacy. • Includes access to the Digital Detective’s Evidence Locker, an online collection of over 100 downloadable and remixable resources to support the lessons in the book. As the authors state: “Remember, the detective’s job is NOT to prove themselves correct. Their job is to detect the truth!” This statement reflects the way they approach the lessons in this book, providing clear and practical guidance to help educators address and overcome this ever-expanding issue.




Better Edtech Buying for Educators


Book Description

Based on interviews with experts in the field, this booklet offers real-world examples of how educators can become active players in the procurement decision-making process. Frontline educators have a unique and invaluable perspective on adoption of edtech solutions that no other stakeholders have. They know what learning goals are difficult to achieve, have “on-the-ground” knowledge of what is age- and task-appropriate and know what tools students are more or less likely to use. Educators also have their own requirements for edtech solutions, for example, ease of use and accessible data to help them make informed decisions. However, too often, educators are left out of the evaluation and purchasing process that occurs at the district level. And even when they are involved, educators might not know what questions to ask or may not feel empowered to raise issues or point out potential problems. To take on a greater role in edtech decision-making, educators need to better understand the process and become more informed about the options available. That’s where this guide comes in. Topics include: • Supporting educators as critical consumers to help their school or district make informed decisions. • Alignment with learning and teaching goals, with emphasis on solving real problems for students and teachers. • Implementation and ongoing support to ensure that edtech solutions work in the classroom and that teachers feel supported in implementing them. • Data interoperability and student privacy. • Research and evidence that demonstrates a product’s potential. This guide highlights ways educators can contribute to their district’s purchasing and identifies key areas where educator insight can help others become more informed, critical consumers of edtech.