Where do we go from here?
Educational technology leaders face a daunting challenge, but luckily there is a framework to follow. The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) created a document describing the skills necessary to become a leader in today's educational system. The CoSN separated the skills into three categories "I: Leadership & Vision II: Understanding the Educational Environment III: Managing Technology & Support Resources" (Consortium for School Networking, 2018, Framework of Essential Skills). Each category is subdivided to further define skills and knowledge. The goal of the technology skills framework provided by CoSN is to define the skills embodied by effective and successful educational technology leaders.
I have been using the CoSN framework as a list of skills I must attain to succeed. I would love to say I have mastered every skill listed in the framework, but that would be a lie. It is better to say I have learned how much I still do not know. This might be called the growth mindset, but to me, it means my education does not stop after a further degree is attained. I realize I will continue to utilize the CoSN framework for many years in the future. To provide an example of how my training and the framework align, I want to discuss a few of the CoSN essential skills I gained leading professional development meetings.
You simply have not lived until you attempt to get a group of teachers to sit through a meeting they have been told to attend by their administrator. This was definitely "professional development" for county staff, and I was the leader of many meetings. The meetings were designed to encourage educators to embrace digital technology (Google Classroom). I was in charge of "strategic planning" to travel the district ensuring educators in county schools were trained to utilize Google Classroom. The professional development of county staff was also part of "leading the infusing technology" into many of the county's schools. While all of these skills outlined above in italics are easily understood, the skills are represented in the CoSN framework. The categories of the skills are presented under the headings Instructional Focus and Professional Development, Leadership and Vision, and Strategic Planning (Consortium for School Networking, 2018, Framework of Essential Skills). For a full list of the skills provided by CoSN, please visit Framework for Knowledge Topics. While skills can be learned, technology leaders must have a thirst for learning.
Educational technology is moving forward by leaps and bounds. What was once merely a textbook will soon be replaced with augmented reality and virtual reality (AR and VR respectively). If you don't know about AR and VR, please view one of my prior posts titled Illuminate the Future. It takes time to learn new technologies, even more time to design training materials, and still more time to train staff. Regrettably, technology is moving so fast that we will never catch up, but we can maintain a fast pace.
This continuous fast pace of learning new educational technology is not for the light-hearted. If we slow down, we will most likely sink. Think of all the materials no longer in use due to the removal of Adobe Flash. In time, Google Classroom and Schoology will also be replaced by newer technology. Remember, iNow was replaced by PowerSchool in Alabama public schools roughly a year ago. The importance of learning is critical for the success of anyone entering into educational technology. I am both happy and thankful I am getting close to the attainment of an Instructional Technology Ed.S. degree, but I have much more to learn. Lucky for me, I love a challenge!
References
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Giphy. Meeting Office Life GIF. https://media.giphy.com/media/l0HlvuvDVBwUc8awo/giphy.gif
The Consortium for School Networking. (2018). Framework of Essential Skills. CoSN. Retrieved April 3, 2022, from https://www.cosn.org/careers-certification/framework-of-essential-skills/
