Whilst working in and across schools in International and local education reform, one of the challenges that I’ve seen and faced is how to engage with leaders so that they embrace new or even current technologies.

In the best cases I have worked with leaders who have seen the real value and investment in time, money and effective Professional Development to enable technology to enhance and improve learning. In other cases Professional Development programmes and executive coaching models have been necessary just to help support and develop a change in the mindset in leaders and teachers.

It worries me when governments or schools just introduce devices such as ‘IPads for all ‘ and give them out with the message that ‘this is going to make your life easier’. We need more PD programmes that develop leaders confidence and mindset to develop a more risk taking culture to embrace change. We need leaders to allow ‘seed time’ and be able to give out devices without immediate expectations . Rather than say ‘I need a report from you on the impact of learning in 2 weeks’,  let teachers get used to the devices and capability and try and develop a culture where if necessary students show them.

Students say there is a ‘technology age gap’ and this may well be the case but as long as leaders create a climate for personalised learning through access to technology, this is what matters most. Leaders and educational organisations need to stop looking at projects like children and persevering with them as if they HAVE to succeed . Treat them more like gold fish ..if they DON’T work get another one i.e focus on another project and target for success.

That said leaders face certain challenges to use technology effectively in their schools. Current education systems and curriculum don’t really support the use of mobile learning for example. There is still a debate on whether their is a ‘cone of distraction’ using lap tops or other devices. Having the flexibility to create collaborative learning spaces and environments is not always an option and cost always remains an issue.

Why can’t a classroom look like a sky-news screen set up where there are three or four sources of information of learning for students. A crawler with an activity for example , two or three interactive sources of learning on the screen and then the use of devices to access the learning if and when necessary? Isn’t that what we do when we go home from a hard days work from time to time?