Principal as Lead (Networked) Learner

I have been thinking a lot about the changing educational landscape that we are a part of. The world is changing so rapidly and the amount of information that we encounter in a short time, is more than ever. Looking back at my own university career, I can’t remember more than simply regurgitating facts to achieve grades, similar to my time in K-12. Although it prepared me (at the time) for my career, if university education has not transitioned from what it was 12 years ago, I would be extremely worried about the new crop of teachers coming into our schools. I am not saying that university does not prepare student teachers, I am saying that I simply don’t know if it does.

With that being said, I feel that there are many opportunities out there where educators can learn. Through a continuous stream of applicable information to creating successful learning communities, I do not only have the opportunity to take in information, but I have also found several opportunities to absorb and reflect. It is important that we are open to this information, but it is essential that we apply it in a meaningful way to our own education systems.

Statements like the following really push my thinking about my role as a principal:

Gone are the days when you could equip students with slide rules and a core of knowledge and skills and expect them to achieve greatness. Our children already inhabit a world where new game platforms and killer apps appear and are surpassed in dizzying profusion and speed. They are already adapting to the dynamics of the 21st century. But we can help them adapt more methodically and systematically by focusing our attention on improving their capacity to learn throughout their live
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naveen-jain/post_1215_b_779221.html

As a principal, how has my role changed? When I think back to my former principals, I know that they had learning opportunities, but not in the same way I do now. We have the world at our fingertips and I have learned to leverage this learning to help to meet the needs of my school.

Here is the part that is essential: as an administrator (educator), this should not be optional anymore. If we are to be role models to our staff and students, we need to be learners first. Not only do we need to be learners, but we need to be able to share and give access to our learning to those we serve (as well as others around the globe). I know that through reading, conferences, meetings, etc., we have always had the opportunity to learn, but we need to start leveraging the learning opportunities that are available through social networks. This learning is available 24/7 and can truly impact you and those you serve.

The funny thing is, I have never enjoyed learning (or my job!) so much. Not when I was in school and not when I was in university. I am having the opportunity to continuously create, build, and share my learning in a ways that are engaging to me based on what I love. Greg Gorman, a superintendent in Kansas, who has become a great friend, said something that really resonated with me (paraphrased): “I am sad that I am only realizing these opportunities now when I am nearing the end of my career. I have never been as excited about education as I am today!” The opportunities for learning are not only immense, but they are absolutely invigorating.

I am not saying that administrators need to be experts in every aspects of our school. Schools do better when leadership is distributed and we have several experts leading the way. School administrators do however need to ensure that we are able to connect those we serve with information to ensure that they are successful. I have found this to be a lot easier as I have developed my own Personal Learning Network. Instead of connecting simply to information, I am able to connect to people. My experience as a “Connected Principal” has been transformative in my own learning and practice. Learning should be social and I am enjoying the worldwide connections I have created to develop my own understanding and knowledge.

If administrators are truly to be leaders, we need to continuously learn and connect with others to shape ideas. We are the role models for our staff, students, and community. You should never ask something of your staff that you are not willing to do yourself.

Learn.

Kelly Goldberg

I can't wait to share your blog with my principal. Actually, in reflecting upon some comments she's made recently about a blog she found from a person in Canada, maybe she's already reading your thoughts. Either way, she should know your work – she's right there with you on this leadership journey! Thanks!
- George
  
  I got a comment from your principal! Thanks so much for sharing my blog
http://www.audreynay.com Audrey Nay

If only we could clone you and your attitude!!
- George
  
  You are very kind Audrey
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http://avivadunsiger.wikispaces.com Aviva (@grade1)

Another excellent post, George! I love your thoughts on distributed leadership. It's clear that you bring not only so much to the school, but encourage your staff and students to bring so much to the school too. Thanks for continuing to inspire me with all that you do!

Aviva
kengler

I absolutely agree that networking should no longer be optional. If it is not being utilized we are doing an injustice to our children. Great post George!

Kim
- George
  
  Thanks Kim!
http://usd344supt.blogspot.com Greg Gorman

I feel honored to be mentioned in your post, great things going on now we just need to take advantage of them. Its about working smarter and questioning so many practices in education that have been fixtures for so long. I hate the term "We've always done it that way."
- George
  
  You inspire me too buddy!
Debbie Barnes

I couldn't agree more! I have always loved my job, but I am more excited now than I have ever been. I'm the principal that Kelly speaks about in her comment up above. A handful of us spent two days last week with Silvia Tolisano, Langwitches. I have been following Twitter and your blog for only a couple of days and feel like I have entered a whole new world. Several staff members and I are on an exciting journey and I can't wait to lead the way!
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Mark Halverson-Wente

Interesting and thought-provoking article. I have some reservations about the principal's position, however. First, while it is true that we have available at our fingertips access to more "information" than ever before, my experience as a college instructor is that most students simply are unaware of the existence of information or lack the skills to access and discern reputable and relevant sources of information.

Further, many students struggle with what to do with the "information" once it is accessed. I find it interesting how we refer to the benighted traditional teachers of the past with their "slide-rules" and assume the impossibility of students in this MILLENNIAL age ever acquiring a "core of knowledge and skills" (I do not think that achieving "greatness" was ever an expectation of the tradition). It is precisely a core of knowledge and skills that our students lack and would enable our students to wade through the slough of information to find what is relevant and reputable. Students need a means, a standard, to apply information intelligently within some structure/project with a coherent purpose.

I am concerned that we are more concerned with "connecting" students without giving them a means to understand to what they need to connect and why. The principal states that as educators we need to be willing to do what we ask of students: we need to connect not simply to information but to people, and "we need to continuously learn and connect with others to shape ideas." Today's students do not need our help connecting to others–if anything, students today need time away from others in order to be comfortable with themselves and their own thoughts and ideas absent the input of others. They do need our help, though, in learning to recognize, shape, and communicate ideas. Call me "old school," but if real learning is to occur attention-spans need to last beyond reading 2-3 successive screens or a 10 minute YouTube video, ideas need to be not only "created" but cogently and concisely shaped and communicated in full words, sentences, and paragraphs (rather than texting-English limited to 140 words), and the overall focus of education needs to be more on coursework and critical thinking skills and less on entertaining or "occupying" students busy, multi-tasking minds. If traditional education was unduly teacher-focused, today's education is (dare I write it?) unduly student-centered–here they are now, entertain them!

We are, I fear, failing to methodically and systematically focus our attention (oh, this sounds dull and LONG) on facilitating–inspiring!–our students capacity to learn throughout their lives. We are assuming that connecting students to information, people, and helping them to creatively develop their "own understanding and knowledge" is sufficient. It is not. What is first needful is enabling students to engage in focusing their attention and doing the hard work of coming to an understanding of the necessity of using method and system in becoming educated human beings and not simply social consumers of information with a transient technological "skill-set."

Education is more than apps and social networking, which are minor tools not ends in themselves. As a democracy, we need an educated citizenry and not one distracted by the latest app on a social networking site. And we certainly need a citizenry that is able to see through "Wiki-Truth" (see The Colbert Show…I show this to my students, but many fail to see the irony and the point of this bit).

Learn.

Learn what? Why? How?

Better check my Blackberry…its been over 45 minutes.
- George
  
  I appreciate your comments Mark. I really agree with your thought on "why do they connect". It is essential we talk about this.
  
  Here is a question back to you. On this comment, "today's education is (dare I write it?) unduly student-centered–here they are now, entertain them!"
  
  Do you believe that schools are actually too student centered, or their goal is too student centered?
http://ilearntechnology.com ktenkely

We all have different giftings and strengths, when we allow each person to work to the full capacity of those gifts the result is a leadership team that shines and has the potential to make huge changes that will impact students forever.