The Critical Role of Leadership for Education Transformation with Successful Technology Implementation

Abstract

The attention governments around the world pay to education illustrates a powerful key to unlocking socioeconomic opportunity and building a foundation for a successful future, provided it offers equal access for quality education for all, anytime, anywhere, just in time, and it prepares future generations with qualified teachers and a learning environment to succeed in the knowledge economy, thus contributing to national competitiveness and global citizenship. Access and Quality Education for All is a major challenge for governments worldwide and requires strong leadership at the national (government), regional, school, and classroom level, embedded in a system wide approach of education transformation, enhanced by utilizing public private partnerships. The Intel Education Transformation Model is a proven model implemented around the globe. Grounded in research, this model provides a holistic framework that encompasses seven essential, interdependent vectors: Leadership, Policy, Teacher Professional Learning, Curriculum and Assessment, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Sustainable Resourcing, and Research and Evaluation. The model reflects evidence-based best practices that have emerged from Intel’s collaborations with governments and school systems in more than 100 countries desiring to advance their education systems and improve student learning with effective use of new technology. Using this model, stakeholders can address the practicalities of resource allocation, motivation, and learning progress. A meta-analysis of multiple evaluation reports and studies describe Intel’s process of applying a strategic professional development seminar for school leaders and discuss the systemic factors associated with understanding classroom level change. A synthesis of these studies illustrate the effectiveness and impact of the Intel Teach Leadership Forums in informing and supporting school leaders, as well as the role of school leaders in the successful implementation of Intel Teach and Learning courses in their school and the implementation of the training strategies following the course. Results from deployment research and Leadership Forum participant survey and interview data provide evidence of immediate outcomes and longer term impact of professional development  courses for leaders, such as increased support through funding, time release, priority status, interest, and involvement. In addition, findings from these studies highlight the impact that leadership has in facilitating whole school change toward effective technology use across the curriculum.