Reflection # 2 text book "Why Social Media Matters, School Communication in the Digital Age"

The authors' purpose  of this book as stated in the introduction of the book were: explore the communication landscape in which school are operating, explore the process of how to plan and create an online platform, and look at the contents that leaders are communicating. "This book contains how-to instructions, best practices, practical suggestions, and some cautionary tales about using social media to support the communication efforts in your school or district" (Pg. 3) The essence of the book is that is provides a easy and practical approach of "how" to use the digital tools to enhance communication with the community. Social media is described as, "a vision of communication between school and community that empowers school leaders to meet the demands of today's parents, staff members, neighbors, and community leaders." (Pg. 123)

These are some topics that I found very helpful that can be used for professional development:

1. Five ways to reconnect with stakeholders in the 21st century. Pg. 38
2. Communication strategies with solids results: listen first, employees must be your first costumers, segment your audience (each group will want different information and support), costumer service goes a long way, repeat the important message, give yourself permission to fail, and use all the tools at your disposal. Pg. 41-43
3. Chapter 4 Planning your debut and creating an online platform. Looks at the school website as the "home" base of information and others social media tools as outpost. These outpost are Twitter, Facebook, and Blogs. I am sure that these outpost will eventually change in the future.
4. Chapter 5 Facebook 101, Chapter 6 Twitter 101, and Chapter 7 Blogging 101, can be combined or used as stand along items.
I was grappling with the actual implementation of social medial and in these three chapters I was able to find very specific guide lines.

I need to continue to learn and exploring the language of social media. I need to self reflect and continually ask my self: Which of all these communication choices is the ones (or ones) that will best serve our stakeholders? Which will get the job done? As stated in the text, "Communication is no longer about you; its' about your costumer."

Now what?

In the learning process, the ability to take any acquired knowledge to application is a clear indicator that indeed learning has taken place. In order to prove to myself that I have learned to become a digital leader and I need to be able to apply the learning that was taken place in these two wonderful weeks of learning. My journey begins by developing a successful professional learning network (PLN).
The purpose of the PLN is to meet NETS A standard 3 of excellence in professional practice where educational administrators promote an environment of professional learning and innovation that empowers educators to enhance student learning through the infusion of contemporary technologies and digital resources. I will know that I have achieve this goal if in the school teachers and students are using technology to improve teaching and learning.

These are my reminders to sustain the work:
1. It starts and ends with me. I need to continue learning and effectively using the technology that I want the staff to embrace. Be aware that the change will be adaptive or 2nd order change. This type of change will take time. The change needs to come from within the individuals. Be patience!!

2. Make the time (30 minutes) everyday to reading the Twitter feeds and my Feedly account. I need to balance the learning of leadership and classroom applications articles. It would be best to set aside 30 minutes at night from 10 to 10:30. The articles that I find helpful I will Tweet them so that I can keep track of the articles that I reading on a weekly basis. The BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) would be get 5 per week but I need to start one step at a time. I plan to read at least three articles per week. Once I have develop the hobby of reading the articles, I will tackle the BHAG.

3. I am going to create a Blog to record and reflect on my experiences of my admin internship.  I am going to invite at least three or more principals so that they can provide feed back on my reflections. Two of these mentors will be the two principals that I will be working with. If they aren't familiar with Blogging, this will present a great opportunity to show them how I am using this digital tool.

4. Talk to both of my principals about using both Facebook and Twitter as digital to improve community involvement. Help create a Facebook page and a Twitter account for both schools. (I need to find out about the districts policies of social media usage) Find teachers leaders that the step up and be administrators for this accounts. Start by creating a weekly schedule for posting on both places.

5. Innovation is key, think like an artist. Technology will present obstacles that will come from the technology it self or teacher's frustration. Innovation flourishes when risk taking is encouraged, and teachers are supported. Think ahead and identify those road blocks and removed them.

6. Teaching and learning are at the core. It is not about technology nor the latest technology gadgets, but rather it is about using technology tools to enhance instruction. Focus on 21st century skills of collaboration, problem solving and innovation.

In my digital leadership journey, I need to remind myself that I don't have to change the world, I only have to change my world one step at a time.

Kids having fun at the library

The library is such fun place to hang out with the kids!! Impromptu puppet show put up by the Castro kids. Enjoy!!

Connectedness

Failures is failures only if we don't learn from it. We can learn from the failures of implementations of 1:1 and BYOD initiatives. The latest tech will not solve "difficult" education challenges; it will not automatically transform the school culture. Technology alone will not decrease the achievement gap, nor will it help students that come from low social economic status; Tittle I schools will not become successful just because they have 3 different computer labs. The complexity of the challenges that schools are working with are not easily solve by technology alone.
The article, "A Culture of Innovation" by Pautz (2015) tells the successful story of two schools that implemented the 1:1 initiative.  The journey of these two schools can be linked to NETS A standard 1 visionary leadership. The school leaders inspired and led the implementation of a shared vision for the integration of technology to promote excellence in teaching and learning. The leaders focused on 21st century skills of collaboration, critical thinking, and innovation. The leaders had high expectations for student learning, build teacher capacity, improved instruction, community involvement, and student voice. Teachers and administrators had to relinquish some control to nurture a creative environment. Teacher were encouraged to take risk and become "artist of pedagogy". Teacher collaboration was effectively used. Teachers shared their success stories with other teachers and thus became teacher leaders in the school.  Instruction was student centered, that enabled small group instruction. All these changes laid the foundation for a successful implementation of the 1:1 initiative.

The lesson learned from these two schools are: change begins with the principal, technology usage needs to be strategically planned (vision/mission), instruction can be improved by effective use of technology  and focus on innovation.

Assignemt # 3 School culture/branding

The quote "If we do not tell our story, someone else will" is true. The media has proclaimed the title of "experts" of education and in the process misinformed the public of the true stories and identity of schools. To a certain expend there has been some truth to their stories, but the media tends to focus on the negative aspects of education. It is time for educator to say,  "Stop, this is our story; allow me to tell you about the great work that schools are doing for our kids!"   

An important question to answer is; how do you intend to do that? Telling our school story starts with the main character of the story-the school principal. The individual Brand of the principal needs to be present. Branding is the marketing practice of creating a name, symbol or design that identifies and differentiates a product from others. The main character, the principal, needs to be fully aware of these questions: what makes you different, how to do interact withe public and promote the school, what's your power, loyalty, and future plans for the school.  Yes, the principal is his own brand so therefore he is the creator of his brand. The principal brand needs to be present on social media. Social media tools need to be utilized effectively and responsibly.  

Digital tools such a Facebook and Twitter can help with the Branding of the school. Branding can help create a positive school culture. Schools have great visions and missions that need to promoted to the community. Schools are much greater than any other type of business or organization. The impact that schools have on kids goes beyond the perimeter of the school. Education empowers individuals, families, communities, states and nations. The work that occurs in the schools is far greater that any test; schools prepare students for life. Students need to be empowered to be their own agents of opportunities. This goal is best achieved when families, school and the community work together. This is our story, the story schools, that needs to be on Facebook pages and Twitter feeds to inform the community of what really goes on in the school. 

You and I can start Branding ourselves and the schools and tell our own story. What is your story? What is the story of your school?  

Reflection

Do you consider yourself a novice or experienced technology user? Are familiar with the terms Web 2.0 application, hash tag, Linked, BYOD, PLN, Twitter, Facebook, and Blog? If this was pop quiz, how did you do? If it helps, I didn’t pass the digital quiz but I am sure that you did your best. This week I have been studying the concept of digital leadership as a school leader. I am a firm believer that technology is a dormant plethora of possibilities that can help improve teaching and learning.  

As Gandhi stated, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” The digital transformation of a school needs to start with the leader of the school. I can’t change others but I can work on improving my digital knowledge.  I would consider myself a novice technology user when it comes to social media. I didn’t see how social media could improve my practice as a teacher or educational leader. Social medial, Web 2.0 applications, do have a place in the school. This week trough Twitter I have been able to connect with political leaders, school leaders and educators. I have read Blogs of other inspirational educators who share the same passion for education.  This digital interactions have allowed me to take charge of my own learning and grow professionally. Now I see the endless possibilities of how technology can improve teaching and learning. Facebook can be used to help engaged the community and tell our story to the public. Teachers in the school that already have Facebook pages can be authorized to administer and manage the page. Another tool that I intend to use as a principal is a Blog to communicate with the staff. The Blog can be a means to enhance professional development in the school. Teacher can be empowered to take charge on their own learning. 

21^st century students’ world is different than what school offers. Today’s students have grown up in a technology-rich world but it does not mean that they know how too effectively and responsible utilize technology. This is a new task that needs to be addressed by the school. Teaching and learning can be improved by incorporating technology in the classroom. “Technology has the power to engage students, unleash creativity, and allow them to apply what they have learned to demonstrate conceptual mastery.” (Sheringer pg. 65)

My challenge as a school leader will be to foster, support, and promote 21^st century pedagogy which includes technology usage in the classroom. I will need to continue learning and sharing with others that have traveled this rewarding path before.  

Differentiated Instruction

Much work remains to ensure all English learners can access the supports and structures necessary for success in school and beyond.

The following recommendations for district and state leaders help address potential barriers to English learners’ success:

1. Ensure English learners have full access to rigorous content and college-preparatory coursework aligned with the Common Core, English Language Development (ELD), and Next Generation Science standards, including the “A-G” courses at the high school level that are necessary for acceptance into the state’s public universities.
2. Train teachers to support language development within the context of the core curriculum, not just in targeted ELD classes.
3. Monitor early implementation of the new Smarter Balanced formative and summative assessments to understand their impact on English learners.
4. When reporting test data on English learners’ achievement, disaggregate results for long-term English learners.
5. When reporting data on English learners’ achievement, focus on student growth, not just overall proficiency.
6.. Ensure the needs of English learners are adequately addressed within Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs).
7. Support biliteracy as a viable instructional program so that districts may provide a range of language instruction options for students and their families.
8. Create clearer, more uniform statewide reclassification standards and guidelines.
9. Modify the Local Control Funding Formula to allow reclassified English learners to generate supplemental and concentration funds.

http://west.edtrust.org/resource/the-language-of-reform-english-learners-in-californias-shifting-education-landscape/

What can you do to differentiate instruction and help knock down any barriers for English learners?