Comparing ICT Leaders

Brief Description of the Work of This Educator

Bernie Dodge
– created web quests and writes educational software
-“My main professional focus is on the design, implementation and evaluation of computer-based learning environments”
(Bernie Dodge – from his home page:
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge
/Professional.html)
-professor of educational technology at San Diego State University
-by tackling a problem, he designed a template that later became known as a web quest
-considers himself an “architect of learning environments.”
(http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues
/chat/chat015.shtml)

Judi Harris
– designed several framework structures for teachers to use as guides in their lesson planning of using computer technology in their teaching
-“A professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and the author of several books and countless articles dealing with the effective integration of technology in the classroom”
-“She leads professional development programs and speaks to educators in the U.S. and Canada about telecomputing.”
-“Harris also contributes a monthly article entitled
"Mining the Internet"
(http://www.officeport.com/jharris/)

Jamie McKenzie
–writer and publisher of journals and magazines, editor of web-based “zine”
-author of technology and fiction novels
-encourages professional development for teachers
-writer of teaching ideas, lesson ideas (slam dunk lessons) and structures (the research cycle)
-“Jamie has published and spoken extensively on the introduction of new technologies to schools. In recent times he has paid particular attention to information technologies, questioning and powerful teaching, exploring how they might best transform classrooms and schools to support student centered, engaged learning.”
(http://fno.org/JM/aboutauthor.html)

Alan November
– writer, author, presenter on ICT technology and education
-famous keynote speaker
-leads annual “Building Learning Communities Summer Conference” with speakers from all over the world
-“His areas of expertise include planning across curriculum, staff development, new school design, community building and leadership development.”
-“…he pushes the boundaries of how to improve teaching and learning.”
(http://ali.apple.com/november/)

Kathy Schrock
– maintains and updates several web sites with resource links available to teachers, namely “Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Educators”
-administrator of technology on Cape Cod, MA
-author of several books and articles about computers and education
-started out as a library media specialist, now Internet specialist
- “she is very interested in search strategies, evaluation of Internet information, copyright issues, emerging technologies and gadgets, and the use of technology as a tool to support instruction.” (http://kathyschrock.net/about.htm)

David Warlick
– writer, creator and manager of web resources for teachers e.g., “Landmarks For Schools”
-“the owner and principal consultant of The Landmark Project, a professional development, web design, and innovations firm in Raleigh North Carolina.”
(http://www.pinetlibrary.com/classpage.php?page_id=263)
-created and currently manages the “Landmarks for Schools” web site, resource for teachers
-created “Global Grocery List” and “2 Cents Worth” weblog and runs a podcast
-writes articles and has written some books on education and technology
-public speaker and computer programmer
- “…have utilized 20 years of experience inventing instructional applications of computer and communication technologies for teaching and learning.”
(http://landmark-project.com/about.html)


Leadership Qualities Demonstrated By This Educator

All of the educators below demonstrate many or all of the same skills. The skills that I have chosen below are, in my opinion, the ones that seemed to be their strongest.

Bernie Dodge – empowers students and inspires creativity

Judi Harris – analytical and a problem solver

Jamie McKenzie –insightful, strong language skills

Alan November – inspirational and motivational

Kathy Schrock –resourceful and excellent researching skills

David Warlick –creative and innovative

Other skills commonly demonstrated by these and other ICT leaders:
-well-organized
-delegates tasks
-encourages higher order thinking
-encourages responsibility
-coaches students
-thinker
-perceptive
-knowledgeable
-researcher
-manager of information

Reflection on This Educator’s Philosophy of Learning

Bernie Dodge
Dodge focuses on a constructivist approach with students doing activities through web quests. It seems to me that teachers who teach computers, myself included, often fall into the trap of teaching the basic tools such as how to type. Often there isn’t enough time (it seems anyway) to use these resources. Well, we really should be using more valuable tools like web quests – they can save time and help us teach students well at the same time.

Judi Harris
She believes there are better ways to teach students than just plugging information into a template model. She created frameworks for teachers to use in planning their lessons. The frameworks do not change, much like that of a house, rather what’s within the framework is flexible to change. I like this idea and concept because it leaves room for creativity and different teaching styles.

Jamie McKenzie
He emphasizes the importance of Professional Development for teachers. I fully agree.
PD is so important for teachers. In order to continue teaching well, we need to keep educating ourselves. This includes taking courses, reading and sharing information with co-workers. If we expect students to continuously learn, then we should be continuously learning, too.

Alan November
He uses humour to help teach and combine technology and learning. This approach makes learning more interesting. There are so many technology terms for students to learn, that making it fun often helps them better understand and learn the terms. The same thing applies to adults learning tricky terminology!

Kathy Schrock
She has much experience searching for information as she was a media librarian. Her philosophy of everyone needing to learn these skills is so true. Computers will always be a part of our lives and they are continuously changing. We need to adapt and become proficient in computer literacy in order to prepare students for our continuously changing technological world.

David Warlick
Similar to Kathy Schrock’s philosophical belief, he aims to prepare students for the 21st century giving them the right tools and resources through ICT and the web. This is key and something I hope to learn as a new teacher. Instead of using the computer as a word processing tool, it can be used to teach higher order skills.

How I Might Use This Educator’s Work in My Current Role

Bernie Dodge
– ideally, I would be using web quests with classes, create my own web quest resource
-have planned to use web quests with classes but, have not yet
-many great web quests currently available via the web
-would love to create a web quest collaboratively with one or more other teachers
-great way to share teaching resources by posting your web quest on-line for others to access

Judi Harris
– ideally, to use the various activities within the genres with my class
-I might use any or all of the activity structures
-the multicultural calendar would be a great resource to use with my Kindergarten and Grade 1 class as we learn about celebrations

Jamie McKenzie
–mainly to use these great resources: research cycle, slam dunk lessons

Alan November
– attend workshop/seminars presented by him, read articles for ideas

Kathy Schrock
– use resources in my teaching and find ideas from web sites
-Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators is a great resource to find information on a variety of topics
-I have used the site for bulletin board ideas and read several of her articles about technology and education (all very helpful and easy to read – very clearly written)
-teachers can link to web sites that are appropriate for student use

David Warlick
– use resources in my teaching and find ideas from web sites
-“Landmarks For Schools” is full of links to educational resources
-“Global Grocery List” is a web site to use with students -interesting articles to read for professional development

A List of Resources:

Bernie Dodge
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat
/chat015.shtml
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/Professional.html

Judi Harris
http://faculty.mwsu.edu/west/maryann.coe/coe
/structures/structures.htm#Electronic%20Process%20Writing
http://www.officeport.com/jharris/
http://virtual-architecture.wm.edu/Foundation/wetware.html

Jamie McKenzie
http://www.fno.org/JM/aboutauthor.html
http://questioning.org/rcycle.html
http://fno.org/sum04/fivekinds.html

Alan November
http://nlcommunities.com/communities
/alannovember/about.aspx
http://www.edtechnot.com/notnovember.html
http://ali.apple.com/november/

Kathy Schrock
http://kathyschrock.net/about.htm
http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/index.html
http://marylaine.com/exlibris/xlib29.html#kathy

David Warlick
http://www.pinetlibrary.com/classpage.php?page_id=122
http://www.pinetlibrary.com/classpage.php?
page_id=263http://davidwarlick.com/wordpress/?page_id=2