GUIDE QUESTIONS ON THE NEED OF SCHOOL HEADS TO BE DIGITAL

LEADERS BASED ON THE SEVEN PILLARS OF DIGITAL LEADERSHIP IN

EDUCATION BY ERIC SHENINGER, 2017

1. How can you provide learners, teachers, and stakeholders with relevant information in real
time through a variety of devices?

As a school leader, I can provide learners, teachers and stakeholders with relevant
information in real time through communication with the use of different online and offline
platforms such as facebook, twitter, blogs, school website, text messaging and phone calls.
Important and updated information can be communicated through these various free social
media and offline tools and simple implementation strategies in order to meet stakeholders in
the digital age.

2. How can you form the foundation of a positive public relations platform using free social
media tools where you control the content?

Inspiring, leading and sharing stories with the parents, stakeholders and learners are
the keys in forming the foundation of a positive public relations using free social media tools
where I can control the content. It is important to share all the positives associated with our
school and constantly practice the transparency of information about the programs, activities
and accomplishments of the school.

3. How can you leverage social media tools to create a positive brand presence that emphasizes
the positive aspects of school culture, increase community pride, and helps to attract/ retain
families when looking for a place to send their children in school?

I can leverage the social media tools such as school website, facebook page, google
classroom and messenger in creating positive brand presence by making them accessible to
all our parents, stakeholders and learners. All pupils and parents can access teacher's
websites and instructional resources. Google classroom, messenger and other social media
tools could be used in online teaching and announcement purposes. Moreover, in school
website parents can get pupil's attendance report, PTA information, relevant and updated
information, news, programs and community accomplishments which will inspire the
learners, parents and stakeholders.

4. How could you put real-world tools in the hands of students and allow them to create
artifacts of learning that demonstrate conceptual mastery?

I could put real-world tools in the hands of the pupils by identifying learning
modalities suited for them like online learning, radio, television, modular or blended
learning. Providing them meaningful activities and relevant experiences with higher order
thinking skills will surely develop their essential abilities to communicate, collaborate,
connect globally, create, media literacy, critical thinking, and problem solving. With a
correct pedagogical foundation, solid partnership with parents and stakeholders, digital tools
and social media, it can afford learners the opportunity to learn anytime and anywhere.
 Moreover, letting them choose the suited tools to create an artifact of learning to demonstrate
conceptual mastery builds a greater appreciation for learning, while better preparing them for
the real world.

5. How could you form your own Personal Learning network ( PLN) to meet the diverse
learning needs, acquire resources, access knowledge, receive feedback, connect with both
experts in the field of education as well as practitioners, and discuss proven strategies to
improve teaching, learning, and leadership?

I could form my own Personal Learning Network through the use of social media
and technology in collecting, communicating and collaborating with learners, parents,
teachers, and stakeholders anywhere at any time to meet the diverse learning needs, acquire
resources, access knowledge, receive feedbacks, and discuss strategies to improve learning
and teaching and leadership.

6. What would you do to establish a vision and strategic plan to create an entire school building
dedicated to learning in an ever so more digital world?

Through the optimum support and continuous involvement of all the parents,
stakeholders, local government unit, and IT experts in the school improvement planning, we
can initiate sustainable change and begin to transform learning environments that support
important skill sets and are aligned with the changing world. By this way, we can begin to
establish a vision and strategic plan to create an entire school building dedicated to learning
in an ever so more digital world. Moreover, we must be knowledgeable of the characteristics
and changes that embody innovative digital learning environments.

7. How could you leverage connections made through technology and increase opportunities to
make improvements across multiple areas of school culture?

As a school leader, I can leverage connections made through technology and increase
opportunities to make improvements across multiple areas of school culture by consistently
seeking out ways to improve or enhance existing programs, resources, and professional
development. Effective use of technology improves the connection to our learners, co-
workers, parents and stakeholders. Email, calling, video conferencing and collaborative tools
give me easy ways to get in contact with teachers, learners, parents and stakeholders no
matter their location. Moreover, I can also evaluate and provide technical assistance to the
teachers for their improvement across learning areas.

8. As a school head, what are your needs to be a digital leader?

As a school head, I need to be updated on the use of different technologies and online
platforms. Through this, I can be able to use technology effectively and improve my digital
leadership. My goal as a leader is to have a school with sustainable transform in programs,
instruction, behaviors, and leadership practices with technology as an essential element in
producing globally competitive 21st century learners. I realized that the world is changing
and as a school leader, I need to be the catalyst for change.