The person asking this question was Brad Rathgeber, my colleague, an NBOA board member and the executive director of The Online School for Girls (Twitter: @bradrathgeber, @OS4G). The audience was about 50 business officers and other independent school leaders at NBOA's first Business Office NOW program. The answer to the question—that is, your answer—will have a powerful bearing on how effectively your school integrates technology to advance its programs and further its mission.
In Fractus Learning, educator Amy Heavin (@AmyHeavin) asserts that "leaders today cannot wait for the integration of technology in their schools to magically take place." I agree. Too often I hear business officers say that technology integration is up to the head of school, the director of information technology or faculty. While all of those players certainly have their part, business officers have a very significant role to play as well. Three tips on how to do it successfully, courtesy of Heavin:
Join Twitter. This is a must, says Heavin. I've been talking about Twitter for the last two years, yet too few business officers are participating. A great free source of professional development, Twitter will help you build your learning network, stay current on key issues, keep up with your head of school and further develop your technology chops.
Enhance meetings using technology tools. Many leaders already use presentation tools during staff meetings, Heavin notes. But why not also extend the conversation by creating a "backchannel" through Todays Meet, Padlet or Twitter hashtags? Then you and your colleagues can continue to discuss topics and share ideas, concerns and resources any time.
Support staff development of technology integration. "When teachers learn, students learn." I heard this recently from Russell Shaw, head of school at Georgetown Day School, and I couldn't agree more. Heavin further articulates this: "Teachers need to be encouraged and supported to develop the same learner mindset in order to fully develop their skills of technology integration within the classroom. Leaders need to find job-embedded opportunities and creative ways for teachers to learn new tools and resources, as well as encourage teachers to try new activities using technology to engage students in their classrooms."
Heavin's post re-ignited my commitment to be a digital leader. If you feel the same way, join me in taking one more tip from her: to read Digital Leadership: Changing Paradigms for Changing Times. I encourage you to play your leading role as a business officer.
