WHY DO WE NEED AN EFFICIENT TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER IN

EDUCATION?

By: B

n

Brinda Surnam

THE FUTURE

IS ELECTRO

NIC

Info graphics from the State Of The News Media 2012 

Report

One-fifth of third-graders (Standard 4)own cell phonesA new study finds that 20 percent of third grade students have cell phones and 90 percent of them are online, while 83 percent of children in middle school have one.

This is the trend in the United states, however Mauritian students are not far behind in the communication field.

Revolution in the communication world

Students

Revolution in the communication world Info graphics from the State Of The News Media 2012 report and the

Mauritian context

If we correlate this study to the Mauritian context ,

text messaging is popular with our students.

Very few Mauritian teenagers /children of upper

primary classes do not have a mobile phone. Parents

provide mobile phones to their children primarily to

stay in touch with them.

Mobile phones hold a great importance in the

children’s lives. Gone are the days where they had to

ask permission to use the land line telephones

It is a fact that children from lower socio economic

backgrounds in primary or lower secondary classes

are less likely to own mobile phones.

Most of the children own either play station , PSP,

computer XBOX or Wii games

Research has shown that

In the Mauritian context

Texting is ultimate social tool for teens

63% of all teens say they

exchange text daily

72% of black teens and 63%

of Hispanic teens have

mobile phones

White teens are most likely to

have a cell phone (81%),

60% of 12- to 13-year-olds have a cell phone

90% of older teens (aged 14-17) have a cell phone

Social privilege

Integration of technology in the school/educational system: from classrooms to E- Learning. The educator can use multi media instruction for

teaching/learning

Multimedia programs contain links and tools that let the user navigate, interact, create and communicate with anyone across the globe.

Networks , such computer and other devices connected by cables, telephone systems, satellites or other means to provide enhanced means of communication are required

Computer software and application programs ,software dealing with the different subjects in the curriculum, problem solving software. are needed

Interactive books, games activities CD ROMS of encyclopedias , are required. (New Technologies in Education, A Beginner’s Guide, 3rd Edition)

Technological tools

Technological tools

Multimedia instruction are

defined as educational programs

integrating

text

animation

graphicsvideo

sound

The technological environment is controlled by the computer.

Benefits :Students will learn to utilize technology and be prepared for the future society and workplace where technologies will be ever present.

Technologies can

Cater

f or students of all abilities Promote

active learning

Enhance instructional effectiveness

Motivate students

Cater for individualizat

ion

Induce critical

thinking

Encourage multicultural collaboration

Promote E-Learning

Cater to all types of learning

styles

Boost communication skills

Encourage cooperative

learning

Importance of change Follow Darwin's Theory of Evolution- adapt, change or perish

As new technological tools will be used the way instruction is delivered and how learning is organised, will be affected

The reason for the changes to be made in educational field (tools, teaching methods) are self evident. E.g. lesson plans have to be prepared in such a way that technological tools are used intelligently.

The changes to be made are complex and can be expensive

It is not enough to buy technological tools and place them in educational settings. The tools by themselves are meaningless. Their power lies in the effectiveness of their use.

This change should be well planned out and implemented so that resources are not wasted and the pedagogical objectives set, are attained

E-learning is the new way to teach and learn and to make this a reality a clear vision and collaborative leadership is required

Human evolution is speeding up due to the changes in the new technologies. This has affected all spheres of life . One of the aims of education is to prepare the learner to live and adapt to the ever changing future.

Change your tools or be out of the race/ E -learning the future in Education

Implementation of innovative educational tools needs a contemporary style of leadership to transform the educational field- The

Transformational leadership, a tested and proven method of leadership

:

Dynamic

Democratic

Innovative

Transformational leadership changes the way

The transformational leadership is

Planning is done

People are engaged in the work

Leadership is exercised

The work is organised

The leader controls the project

Change is implemented.

Transformational leadership is about:

Creating a

vision

Setting goals

Providing intellectu

al stimulati

on

Supplying

individual

support

Leading by

example

Achieving the high goals set

Shared leadersh

ip

Transformational leadership combines both bottom up and top down approaches to fulfill the requirements of the projects.

Top down approachBottom down approach

Power is centralised

All the directions come from the top

Top management establishes project

objectives Top management

provides guidelines, information, plans and

funding processesManager clearly communicates his expectations to each project team member

Workers follow instructions

Employees are invited to participate in every step of the process

The employees and the management as a team agree on what course to take

Then team members develop personal to-do lists

It is up to each member of the team to choose the methods and ways to perform their tasks

The transformational leader implements E learning as well as other technologies by

1. Sharing his/her vision, pursuing agreed goals, helping others in achieving their purposes

2. Leading 3. Managing the change efficiently4. Creating conditions for successful

implementation5. Managing new educational

technologies6. Having the ability to make choices

and changes when required 7. Implementing e-learning programs

efficiently8. Coping with a changing world and

keeping abreast with new innovations

9. Developing new skills and attitudes10. Being open to learning11. Managing the finances for minimum

wastage and maximum benefits

Share leadership

Be a model

Create a vision

Supply individual support

Achieve high goals set

Intellectually challenge

Lead by example

CONCLUSION

A Transformational leader is needed to revolutionise the education system from top to bottom by implementing technological tools in teaching and learning

The technological tools by themselves are powerless but the intelligent use of these tools will render teaching and learning much more efficient.

The transformational leader has the ability to bring about this change firstly by his own personal attributes, then by his knowhow and skills, and by his leadership style.

The transformational leader is the core who can implement the changes systematically and with maximum success.

The technology manager should be a transformational leader

References

1. http://hypotheticorp.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_xs_17629027-e1314445525170.jpg/picture accessed on April 16th 2012

2. http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01298/child-mobile_1298315c.jpg/ picture accessed on April 19th 2012

3.  Media Use Statistics  Resources on media habits of children, youth and adults; http://www.frankwbaker.com/mediause.htm/ Accessed on April 19th 2012

4. New Technologies for Education

A beginner’s guide

3rd Edition http://www.amazon.com/reader/1563084775?_encoding=UTF8&page=316

5. https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRVztt2bmo4NbaLREmb2fDCs8_MmIkIk58hclGMvWorHf9DJ28FPoWV-w/ accessed on April 19th 2012

6. https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTj9Ii-ScB8lu4phhMCX1KPXVME4dZQbsCV4DOXLFDSf7orwMTZ_AqG6w/ image accessed on April 19th 2012

7. http://www.ebizq.net/z_images/features/monkeys.jpg Accessed on April 19th 2012

8. =0CDQQrQMwADgo

References

5. https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWjREe0lzdHmhtYRDTneXB0qKA5kK5wSf5irlbM999aMI8gyesnkYK-fU Accessed on April 19th 2012

6. http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/get-maximum-benefits-of-merging-top-down-and-bottom-up-project-management.html

7. http://www.google.mu/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/E-learning,_blended_learning_framework_and_model.png&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:E-learning,_blended_learning_framework_and_model.png&usg=__i4atBDD1pIpFWRdnsvyhByXB_EI=&h=400&w=400&sz=83&hl=en&start=9&zoom=1&tbnid=MM2OXRuKrwsLEM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=124&ei=s4ghUu_FE8LmrAeQmYCABQ&itbs=1&sa=X&ved=0CEQQrQMwCA

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9. http://www.google.mu/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Hilbert_ICT4D_cube.jpg&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_and_communication_technologies_for_development&usg=__fuvPfLF7Dx3OCgvGPZ_cCChh5wU=&h=720&w=695&sz=81&hl=en&start=41&zoom=1&tbnid=2wJOn1-nh4tMsM:&tbnh=140&tbnw=135&ei=CIwhUuCNHceOrQfx2IDgDw&itbs=1&sa=X&ved