Using Technology to Support, Enhance and Shape Education | Notes for Leaders
TA Education
A leading provider of consultancy and end-user training focused on people and outcomes, not the technology.
By Philemon Burney | Associate Director: Strategy & Transformation
I'm often involved in discussions with leaders of multi-academy trusts, colleges and other educational stakeholders about how technology can be implemented successfully in #education. Many factors are important. Over the last couple of years a topic that has come up frequently, is the development of an effective #DigitalStrategy .
I often ask leaders "What is your strategy for the effective use of technology in your institution?" and then "Why are you thinking of getting laptops or tablets for your students?". Some leaders reply, that they plan to roll out or have rolled out laptops for students so they can offer what similar institutions are offering and by using a laptop students are being prepared for the future. These are useful considerations, but there are many more components to an effective digital strategy.
Educational institutions are often busy and hectic, and it can be difficult for leaders to have the headspace to think beyond the challenges of the day and think more strategically. Other factors that make thinking strategically difficult include:
🔹 Strategy is often a nebulous and elusive concept to define at times.
🔹 Developing a strategy is hard and takes time.
🔹 Strategy can sometimes be defined as a wish list of everything that leaders want to do in the near future.
🔹 A strategy can be viewed as merely a record of all the things key individuals think are good ideas.
🔹 For some leaders, a strategy is purely a set of projects with descriptions and deadlines that are to be completed over the next couple of academic years.
So, what is a strategy?
A helpful book on strategy I've found is 'Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters' by Richard Rumelt, in which Rumelt (2011) writes:
"A good strategy does more than urge us forward toward a goal or vision. A good strategy honestly acknowledges the challenges being faced and provides an approach to overcoming them. And the greater the challenge, the more a good strategy focuses and coordinates efforts to achieve a powerful competitive punch or problem-solving effect…A good strategy includes a set of coherent actions. They are not 'implementation' details; they are the punch in the strategy. A strategy that fails to define a variety of plausible and feasible immediate actions is missing a critical component."
When it comes to the development of a digital strategy in education, for many, this is something that is delegated to the Director of IT or Network Manager and is usually focused on future hardware and software needs including licensing, network infrastructure, devices, internet connectivity and printing. A multi-year plan for hardware and software is important, but technology alone will not improve outcomes.
An effective culture and skills development for staff and students are needed for technology to have a meaningful impact. As Fullan and Edwards (2017) describe in 'The Power of Unstoppable Momentum - Key Drivers to Revolutionize Your District',
"Although there are examples of carefully planned and orchestrated technology, very few have paid attention to corresponding pedagogy and culture that are essential for success in learning and student achievement. Technology becomes an end to itself and overlooks the real drivers—engaging pedagogy and collaborative cultures that build change knowledge and efficacy of results."
So what does this mean for education leaders?
It is vital for leaders to focus on the key challenges their institution is facing, and opportunities they have identified as being important. A digital strategy needs to be developed that addresses how technology will support, enhance and shape the wider focus of the institution rather than merely being an end in itself. And of course, then there's how staff and students are involved in implementing the strategy, but that's for another post.
At TA Education we support many schools, colleges, MATs and businesses with the development, review and implementation of their digital strategy using our structured strategic consultancy process.
If you’d like to find out more about how we can support you with this, or find out more about our bespoke digital strategy support check out: https://ta.education/services/#consultancy