Pop Quiz:
If your school became the subject of a Hollywood movie, would you characterize the story as:
- A Drama
- A Comedy
- A Hero's Journey
- An Inspirational Tale
- A Tragedy
This may seem like an odd question to pose, but it came to mind as I was preparing this post for a global discussion on Educational Leadership; a challenge from my colleague Scott McLeod.
Scott encouraged educators around the blogosphere to contribute advice and insight about the role technology plays in teaching and learning in hopes to help the leaders of our schools guide their students and staff in finding ways to utilize its power more efficiently and effectively.
So what does a Hollywood movie have to do with this? Everything! We are not moved and motivated by statistics and factual data. We are driven to action and empowerment by hearing stories of people who have overcome and turned those hurdles into triumphs. Yet that is not the story being told.
Right now the story of technology and education is one of disruption, change, fear and destruction. We are broadcasting this story to teachers, members of the community , and most importantly the children we serve. Our belief in this story deepens as the messages we convey is one of loss for the good ole days and worries for the future. Soon enough we will find ourselves playing the lead roles in the horror we have been describing and predicting.
What we often fail to recognize is that we have more control than we think. We create the setting, we choose the lead characters, and we have the power to design the script. Just as a director of a movie utilizes different perspectives, camera angles, and colors to create a look and feel of a movie, we too can redefine the experience of school with new perspectives and actions that could change everything.
I want to encourage our 21st Century leaders to tell this new story. Tell the stories of how technology is allowing millions of students to connect like never before. Of how teachers are collaborating globally. And how together, teachers and students are changing the world in big and small ways
Check out the roster of Leadership Day 2009 in the comments section of Scott's call for Leadership Day.
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