Comments on: Another Beginning

By: Jocelyn Wallace

Jocelyn Wallace — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:42:45 +0000

Ben – Your transparency is refreshing and your questions at the end of the post are key. They actually made me think of my blog post for today – giving tips and encouragement to solve problems through visual thinking. I’d love to see one of your questions sketched out using the diverge/converge model! It might be a fun exploration — to apply the model but use one of your questions as the starting point instead of the one I illustrated: http://www.jocelynwallace.com/blog/five-steps-to-exploring-social-media-using-visual-thinking

Keep pressing forward, Ben!

Jocelyn

By: Weekly Town Crier

Weekly Town Crier — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:24:45 +0000

[...] speed ahead, Mr. [...]

By: Robin Ellis

Robin Ellis — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:37:59 +0000

Ben I agree the potential is exciting, I look forward to learning as you share your thoughts in your new position.

By: Greg Noack

Greg Noack — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:30:19 +0000

Ben, Congrats on your new position. I’m looking forward to reading about your work. I read your post yesterday and have been thinking about it off and on today. As I contemplate other ways I can use my talents, it gives me hope that a teacher can leave the classroom, move into a district position, and stay focused on ‘making a difference’. Too often I have seen administrators move into their office and become swallowed by the job. What I think is most important about your post is that you are asking questions. It’s about the process, not the product, and if you aren’t asking questions, you have disengaged from the process. Thanks.

By: Ben Grey

Ben Grey — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:19:25 +0000

Chad- Thanks a lot. What you describe is what I’ve seen too often in too many districts. One of my greatest goals is to ensure that culture doesn’t permeate where I now work.

Robin- Great points. You are absolutely correct that too often the technology department is siloed away from the curriculum department. In my new role, I will be a member of the Executive Cabinet and will report directly to the Superintendent. This means that I oversee both the hardware and instructional aspects of technology. And I will absolutely be working closely with our Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction. It’s very exciting to see the potential here.

Damianne- Thank you, and I will be sharing my experiences and discoveries here as they unfold. I’ll also look forward to your feedback and insights as this happens.

By: Damianne President

Damianne President — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:52:56 +0000

I’ve spent my whole teaching career working at small overseas schools. The questions that you pose here are some of the questions that I grapple with individually, as well as within my communities. After one year in my current post, I’m still challenged to find balance in supporting students, teachers, other staff and parents so that they may successfully use technology to meet their needs.

Good luck in your new post. I look forward to reading about your discoveries.

By: Robin Ellis

Robin Ellis — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:02:09 +0000

Congratulations on your new position. In relation to your questions and your new title I am curious to understand the structure of the organization as they relate to your questions. In your new district are the technology and curriculum and instruction departments working together? Will you have the opportunity to meet with curriculum directors and together talk about a vision for learning that includes the use of technologies available when they make sense? I have found that when the two don’t work together answering some of your questions above may be difficult to answer.
In my previous position I worked as part of the curriculum department within the technology department. The idea was to create communication between the departments and have those in one understand that those in the other were trying to accomplish around learning in the classroom. I believe truly successful organizations need to have positive working relationships between the two. I am interested to learn more as you move into this journey.

By: Chad Lehman

Chad Lehman — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:54:20 +0000

Ben, first of all, good luck in the new position, you’ll be great! In my District, there is certainly the “rift” you mention. We have a Manager of Technology Services and we have the curriculum people. One side knows very little about the other. I don’t think it’s intentional, I just think it’s not very high on their priority list to learn about the other side. We would benefit greatly from someone working with both sides, but with budgets the way they are, this isn’t going to happen soon. Increased communication and understanding of each other’s roles would benefit the students and the teachers. The money that’s being spent would (hopefully) be used in a better way.

By: Ben Grey

Ben Grey — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:57:11 +0000

Tracy- Thank you for the vote of confidence. I am going to work hard to make sure there aren’t silos where I’m at now.

Andrew- I think there’s a real danger in many administrative positions to allow the administrivia to take over as the greatest point of focus instead of the learning taking place in the institution. It’s my goal to always look through the lens of learning.

By: Andrew Forgrave

Andrew Forgrave — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:32:59 +0000

Ben, congrats and best wishes for your new role. No doubt it is not exactly the same as your previous role, and so you are well served in looking to approach your new job with questions. I like the simplest, “How can I help?” question, which, while less specific in focus, emphasizes your unique opportunity to support and assist the classroom teachers who are looking to use technology to support learning for their students (and themselves!). Your observations regarding the need to “stand with” everyone else in your district and avoid “rifts” reflect a reality that many in your role must work at to accomplish. I’m sure that if you keep learners and educators foremost, the other aspects will follow!