Module 9 Activity 2 School Scenarios

As a leader in a school, there are numerous problems which you will encounter on a daily basis and it is up to you to ensure that measures are put in place to solve them. As in the case of the Thuto primary school, the school leader must start the ball rolling to prevent the pirating of utilities and to correct the internet issues which they have.  Even if he/she does not take on the responsibility first hand, the measures that are put in place must be initiated by the leader. It is also very important that the leader leads by example and do not take a back seat when things are there to be done. Once the leader is visible and there are signs of commitment from him/her, the other members of the school will also be motivated and committed to the tasks of getting rid of the problem.  The school leader’s role is pivotal to the direction in which the school moves in its undertakings.

Module 9 Activity 1 Self Assessment

Self Assessment as a Leader

For several years, I have played the role of a leader dealing with a myriad of personalities to ensure that a specific set of curricula meet the needs of the children and are that they are taught the correct way. The leadership skills used ensured that at the end, each person works towards the common goal of the programme. I practice leadership skills that are commensurate with the individuals that I have to deal with.  I do not believe in fighting fire with fire, and as a result of this, I find different ways of dealing with the matters at hand. Instead of the traditional top down type of leadership, I make each team member see the reason why certain things are done.  With this type of ‘buy in’, the members will be a part of the decision making and will be more compelled to achieve the goals set.

A good leader is one who can achieve goals by having input from each member of his team. He/she has a vision which is the guiding principle upon which he/she operates.  As a leader, I try to incorporate as many of the following characteristics as possible.

• ·         A good leader is capable of inspiring his team members to see the vision and work towards achieving it. He should be able to motivate his team members to want to achieve the goals of the group.
• ·         He uses his intuition to help him to make decisions. When leading a team, there might be unchartered waters and it is up to the leader to lead his team members along the path.  For example, in a school where ICT is to be integrated, there will be areas of uncertainty and it is the leader’s responsibility to chart the course.
• ·         Is creativity: As a leader, it is important to learn to think outside the box and to choose which of two bad choices is the best option. By utilizing all possible options before making a rash decision, a leader can typically reach the end conclusion he/she was aiming for.
• ·         Has a positive attitude: A leader wants to keep his team motivated towards the continued success of the effort, and keep the energy levels up. 
• ·         Has the ability to delegate: The key to delegation is identifying the strengths of the team that you lead, and capitalizing on them.
• ·         Is honesty: A leader must make honest and ethical behaviour a key value and the team will follow suit.
• ·        Is good at communicating: Being able to clearly and succinctly describe what you want done is extremely important in a leader. If a leader cannot relate his vision to his team, team members won’t all be working towards the same goal.
• ·         Is committed: If a leader expects his team to work hard and produce quality content, he is going to need to lead by example. 
• ·         Is confident: As the leader, by staying calm and confident, you will help keep the team feeling the same.

·         Confidence: As the leader, by staying calm and confident, you will help keep the team feeling the same.

Module 7 Activity 11 Flipped Classrooms

Unlike the traditional classroom, the flipped classroom provides the opportunity for the creation of personal learning environments where students use their own spaces to learn.  On an everyday basis, students are generally engaged in communication through social networks by using computers, mobile phones or tablets, and learning using the flipped classroom basically harnesses the same skills and hardware. In this way, the students will feel comfortable as they grapple with the learning.  It is the way to go as far as learning is concerned, since it focuses on students learning at their own pace and the teacher spending time with individual students creating effective differentiation.

21st century learning spaces must cater to the needs of the students by providing opportunities for them to socialize while they work, and use critical thinking skills and problem solving to solve tasks.  The learning spaces must be dominated by areas for student collaboration, communication and  innovation to advance knowledge.

Module 7 Activity 10 Project Ideas

There are many ways in which project ideas may be presented.  I am an advocate for projects that have strong real-world components which have as their bases the implementation of a solution/strategy.  When published, the product will assist the rerader with the information/ideas that may be used in his or her situation.  In publishing their ideas, students will have to communicate and collaborate and find ways and means of presenting their projects that are creative.  Students will be engaged in the exercise and will learn as a result.

Module 7 Activity 9 Collaborative Learning

Collaborative learning involves mutual engagement between members of a group working towards a common goal.  It involves using problemsolving and critical thinking skills to solve problems as they arise when doing tasks.  As a teacher, I see the merit of using this method to develop my students social skills and basically give them an opportunity to deal with their own learning.  They will depend upon each other for decisions that need to be made and steps to be taken to successfully complete an activity.  The teacher in this case will only act as guide.

Module 7 Activity 8 Communication in a Connected Classroom

This activity has caused me to take a second look at what communication isin relation to collaboration. We communicate everyday within our classrooms and throughout our daily lives whether it be through synchronous communication or asynchronous communication, but one of the main focus of communication in the connected classroom is through digital storytelling. There are a myriad of interesting ways in which we as teachers could make learning interesting for our students while at the same time enhancing the learning taking place.  Our students are not strangers to facebook and twitter, and as teachers we need to utilize the resources that are at hand to teach. Communication in the connected classroom will  motivate learners and will increase their creativity and their communication skills.

Module 7 Activity 7 - Social Media in Project Learning

Social media is a way of collaborating or communicating inside and outside the walls of the classroom.  It is critical for the blended classroom where the students are virtually 'taught' by the teacher without being onsite.  In this way, students can access the learning from any avenue as long as they have access to a computer, mobile phone, tablet or similar device.  Teachers will need to plan their lessons ahead of time and determine the tasks that the students will be rerquired to do so that critical thinking and problem solving are involved. The use of social media can make learning fun for our students.