Module 9 Activity 11: Closing Reflections

Whole School Diagram

The journey thus far has been a challenging but inspiring one for me. I am convinced that the key aspect of any successful change is leadership, since it is the leader who keeps things going by motivating stakeholders to buy into, develop and pursue the shared vision. I have also recognized that to accomplish ICT integration as a whole school effort , all areas that may influence the success of this goal - creating partnerships, teamwork, critical reflection, staff development, physical resources, curriculum and assessment, must taken on board.

My aspirations for school change remains steadfast although I know that the road ahead is an extremely tough and challenging one, filled with many obstacles and barriers. It has been acknowledged that ICT integration is crucial for the development of our learners to function in the 21^st century and beyond. I think my school’s vision is still on track and with the involvement of the staff; the shared vision will be accomplished.

The key areas of monitoring and evaluation will be the focus point for me in learning about ICTs in education. These areas are complemented by the effective use of these tools in the teaching/learning process. It is clear that this is important if ICT tools are to become effective and integral tools in the entire education process. I am therefore committed to pursue any training opportunities in this area, as an overall effort to build my competence and confidence in providing the relevant support to my staff members.

 Final Reflections

This module focuses on identifying key aspects of leadership that are critical to the change process, as a school embarks on the journey to develop a shared vision for integrating ICTs in its administration and the teaching/learning process. During the module I had the opportunity to reflect on my own practice as a school leader and I am committed to improve on areas that will enhance my leadership qualities. One key aspect that I need to improve on is time management. The consistent monitoring of staff has suffered because of the lack of a structured management schedule of activities during the day to day operations of the school. For example, I need to set particular days and times for appointments with stakeholders, instead of this being done sporadically. The other area that needs improvement is communication and collaboration between principal, staff, students, parents and other institutions to successfully effect teamwork.

 While focusing on staff development which is a top priority area during the time of transition, it is critical that I balance the training and support of staff with the monitoring of curriculum instructions. The allotment of time for professional development that is convenient and allows for full participation of the entire staff, need to be strategically established. I also need to focus on the individual needs of staff members and structure the training to satisfy the specific needs.

The teaching and learning process coupled with infrastructural development will also require my focused attention in this change process. There will certainly be a need for consistent technical support especially during the teething stage of the integration process. This will undoubtedly serve to build staff confidence as they recognize that there is always access to support in times of difficulties. Retrofitting the classrooms and acquiring the relevant resources will be a very expensive undertaking. In the first instance, I will guide the staff to utilize the minimal resources available to achieve maximum benefit as we build incrementally on that foundation. I will form a strategic alliance with key stakeholders of the school to address these issues in a holistic way.

I must admit that participating in the previous modules have contributed in a significant way to me completing this module in ICT Leadership in schools. In my opinion, the modules are all interrelated and in this regard provide the necessary information for one to develop into an overall ICT champion. Issues relating to: Learning, teaching and thinking with ICT,   ICT in schools, ICT and the roles of the educator, Assessing ICT integration and elearning in the connected classroom were critical to my success in completing this Module in its entirety.