Collaborative Leadership – Investigating
(0-39%)
Element: A Shared, Forward-Thinking Vision for Digital Learning
Description: The district recognizes that, to prepare their students to thrive in today’s connected, fast-paced society will require an education that engages students in evidence-based, deeper learning through smart uses of technology and new pedagogies. The district has engaged students, teachers, administrators, parents, and the community in the envisioning of a transformed education system that personalizes learning for all students through the effective uses of technology.
Possible Next Step: A cross-functional team participates in conferences and discusses strategies with other districts and experts on a vision for digital learning. The team explores the economic, social, educational, and ethical underpinnings for such a vision.
Element: A Culture of Collaboration, Innovation, Capacity Building, and Empowerment
Description: The District leadership team has established a collaborative culture of innovation in which leaders at all levels are empowered to innovate. The capacity of leaders to innovate is maximized through a culture of trust and respect, providing leaders with the flexibility and adaptability they require to lead. This culture leads to sustainable change, informed by research and facilitated by digital leaders.
Possible Next Step: District leaders are becoming more deeply informed about creative, innovative, empowered leadership. They have established a research base that identifies the potential outcomes for a culture of collaboration, innovation, capacity building, and empowerment in leadership.
Element: High Expectations for Evidence-Based Transformations to Digital Learning
Description: Across the district, teachers, administrators, and students are expected to show progress toward the district vision. The district has established metrics for gauging such progress and is working across the district to monitor progress and to use evidence-based decision making to ensure that technologies are implemented in ways that advance the vision.
Possible Next Step: District leaders analyze research studies on the potential impact of digital leaning on student attainment of the learning goals, thus forming a knowledge base on digital learning. They also document various models of evidence-based reasoning and models of change management.
Element: Transformative, Coherent Thinking, Planning, Policies, and Implementation
Description: The district’s forward-thinking vision is advanced through leaders’ transformative thinking. Leaders have ensured that the district’s policies are coherent with the philosophy underpinning the vision (e. g., personalizing professional learning for education professionals, just as they personalize learning for students). They have developed strategic plans that map potential pathways to the district’s preferred future, and have created the tactical and financial plans and dedicated budget necessary for implementation. As they implement they monitor, adjust, build capacity, and incrementally improve.
Possible Next Step: District leaders study the processes by which other districts successfully transformed their school system to deepen and extend learning through technology.