Running Head: PRINCIPALS CAN TEACH TOO!

Principals can teach too! modeling technology use for teachers Matthew Ulyesses Blankenship, M.Ed. Affiliations: Polk County School Board Dean of Students University of South Florida, Tampa PhD Student in Curriculum and Instruction

Number of Words: 1,456 (excluding cover page). Visuals available upon request. Contact Information: 4825 Kanoy Drive Lakeland, FL 33805 (863) 651-6212 Matthew.Blankenship@polk-fl.net or mublanke@mail.usf.edu

PRINCIPALS CAN TEACH TOO! FULL ARTICLE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

SUBMISSION INFORMATION:

Hello! Please find attached a manuscript for the March 2013 issue focusing on the "Technology-Rich Learning" (referenced below signature line). If you need any additional information, please let me know. Sincerely, Matt Blankenship ______________________________________

Matthew Blankenship
Dean of Students, College and Career Auburndale Senior High School

Inspiring Greatness!

Email: Matthew.Blankenship@polk-fl.net Phone: (863) 965-6200 www.AuburndaleHighSchool.com

March 2013
Technology-Rich Learning

When used wisely in the classroom, technology can promote higher-order thinking, deep learning, collaboration, interactivity, and student engagement. This issue will look at how teachers are integrating technology with best practices to improve learning in all content areas and to help students create authentic work as they collaborate with peers and experts both in and outside school. Articles will look at blended learning environments and discuss how all teachersboth proficient technology users and those just coming on boardcan best use technology to support and challenge learners. Articles will also address how to avoid such pitfalls as information overload, plagiarism, the downside of social media, and technology as a distraction from learning.

Deadline: October 1, 2012

PRINCIPALS CAN TEACH TOO! Principals can teach too! modeling technology use for teachers A well-kept secret in the main office is that principals can (and should) teach too. After

all, teaching does not end when principals step out of the classroom. Whether child or adolescent or adult educator, all members of the school community need to see a principal in teaching action-- especially when it comes to technology integration across campus. According to Scott McLeod and Jayson W. Richardson (2011), professors of educational leadership and Director and Associate Director of the Center for Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education, preparing future-ready citizens who are technologically savvy, globally competent, and prepared to engage in a 21st-century knowledge-based economy with applicable skills requires a school leader who is prepared to lead changes in school, as catalyzed by technology and its ubiquitous presence (p. 216). In fact, many researchers state, the leadership role of the principal is the single most important factor affecting the successful integration of technology (Afshari, Bakar, Luan, Samah, and Fooi, 2009, p. 236). As such, principals must work to incorporate technology in the classrooms of their schools. One way to ensure classroom integration technology is by modeling its use in meaningful and very public ways. Principals should incorporate technology into everyday tasks such as completing observations or in small-group and large-group presentations. In addition, classroom modeling is a more direct approach in which principals can complete a classroom lesson with students effectively utilizing technology in order to help teachers witness the benefits as well as the challenges (Lamb and Johnson, 2011). Through any opportunity, principals need to ensure they publicly value technology as much as possible in order to encourage use in the classroom.

PRINCIPALS CAN TEACH TOO! References Afshari, M., Bakar, K. A., Luan, W. S., Samah, B. A., & Fooi, F. S. (2009). Technolgy and school leadership. Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 18(2), 235-248. doi: 10.1080/14759390902992527 Dexter, S. (2011b). School technology leadership: Artifacts in systems of practice. Journal of School Leadership, 21(2), 166-189. Lamb, A., & Johnson, L. (2011). Sensible approaches to technology for teaching, learning, and leadership. Teacher Librarian, 38(3), 62-66. Mcleod, S., & Richardson, J. W. (2011). The dearth of technology leadership coverage. Journal of School Leadership, 21(2), 216-240.