Learning & Leading Through Technology

Mindy Frisbee, senior project manager for ISTE’s Standards Department, introduces a new resource for ed tech leaders.

Is your school or district planning a big transition to a new technol- ogy model, such as BYOD or 1: 1?

We know that taking the leap toward a technology-rich learning environment poses unique challenges for education leaders at every level.

That’s why we’ve started Lead and Transform, a new movement that will enable you to learn from those who have blazed the trail, including school and district leaders, advisers, ISTE members, and other experts in the field.

Based on ISTE’s Essential Conditions— 14 critical elements that work together to provide a foundation for effective technology planning and implementation—this new service will help you prepare the soil for technology integration by cultivating the requirements that allow a systemwide initiative to thrive ( iste.org/ EssentialConditions). The movement gives district superintendents, CTOs, CIOs, school leaders, and other decision makers a framework for identifying and addressing each Essential Condition during the planning, transition, and implementation process.

Here are just a few of the new
resources and learning opportunities
ISTE is offering as part of the Lead
and Transform movement:
• Take a deep dive into each of the
Essential Conditions—what it is,
why it’s important, and what it looks
like when incorporated into the plan-
ning and implementation process.

• Explore what it takes to become tech and standards ready, using the Essential Conditions as a road-map for moving from where you are to where you want to be.

• Use the Lead and Transform Diagnostic Tool to pinpoint strengths you can leverage and areas for growth.

• Discover extensive resources related to each condition in the Lead and Transform Resource Portal.

• Receive personalized strategies for addressing the issues and challenges that arise during your transition.

No matter where you are in the process or what your school or district’s technology goals are, your transition will likely hit many decision points, from technology purchases to professional learning programs to rollout strategies. But there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. The Lead and Transform Diagnostic Tool will help you identify where you are on the journey to successful tech integration.

Next, you’ll learn about the important
factors and issues you will encounter
during the planning, transition, and
implementation stages, so you are
ready when you get there. The Lead
and Transform Resource Portal will
give you useful tools, resources, and in-
formation to help you ensure a holistic,
comprehensive, and ultimately success-
ful systemwide technology transition.

How can the Lead and Transform movement work for you? If you are still in the planning stages and don’t know where to start, it can educate you about the technology transition landscape and give you the critical information you need to develop a tech plan that is effective, comprehensive, and sustainable.

If you already have a plan in place, it can help you identify anything you may have missed in the planning process, address specific issues or problems as they arise, and facilitate reflection to ensure your ongoing and long-term success.

Ready to get started? Join the movement by creating a free ISTE community account, or by becoming an ISTE member and subscribing to the Lead and Transform community ( iste.org/ Leadand Transform). Use the diagnostic tool to get some free recommendations right away. Then work with us to generate customized strategies for working with your school or district’s strengths and improving any weaknesses, so you can make the journey through your technology transition with confidence.