What is your style of leadership?

According to the Conceptualizing leadership questionnaire by Sage (2016a) I rated ability and relationship as the highest characteristics for how I define and view leadership. I was not surprised by this outcome since I believe that forming relationships is the most important component of leadership. Yammarino (2013) wrote that leaders are both born and made, and Northouse (2013) wrote that leadership is not a trait or characteristic but a process which utilizes the influences on others to accomplish a mutually beneficial outcome. Leadership is a process and one that involves exerting influence on others to accomplish a goal.

            The definition of leadership that I agree with most was written by Yammarino (2013), Leadership is a multilevel leader-follower interactive process where all share a purpose and jointly accomplish things willingly. This definition encompasses the people who will share in the process and the process itself. In contrast Northouse (2013) emphasized that leadership is a process and in my view, is shortsighted. Based on these definitions I would contend that the definition of leadership is both a process an emergent trait involving both leader and followers who work together to accomplish a mutually beneficial goal based on interactions that flow from mutual influence from the leader and followers.

            Technology has made the process of leadership more efficient for those who have the capacity to utilize it. Northouse (2013) wrote that organizations have management and leadership kinds of positions. Both management and leadership style positions can benefit from the integration of technology. Under the management style creating agendas, timelines, budgets, resources allocation, communication all lend themselves well to increase efficiency with the use of technology. On the leadership side communicating vision, the larger picture, collaboration, team building are easily aspects that can be enhanced with the use of technology.

            The five characteristics that I feel are most essential for leadership are derived from McClesky’s (2014) four factors of transformational leadership: ability to influence others in a positive form, is inspirational, is intellectually stimulating, and uses individualized considerations when making decisions. The fifth and most important characteristic that I feel is most important is an ability to encourage others to co-create and work towards realizing a vision and is organized to be able to develop a plan to implement it.

          

Reference

Hechanova, R., & Cementina-Olpoc, R. (2013). Transformational leadership, change management, and commitment to change: A comparison of academic and business organizations. Asia-Pacific Education Researcher (Springer Science & Business Media B.V.), 22(1), 11–19.

McClesky, J. A. (2014). Situational, transformational, and transactional leadership and leadership development. Journal of Business Studies Quarterly, 5(4), 117–130.

Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Sage. (2016a). Conceptualizing leadership questionnaire. Retrieved from http://studysites.sagepub.com/northouseintro2e/study/resources/questionnaires/89527_01q.pdf

Sousa, M. m., & Dierendonck, D. d. (2017). Servant Leadership and the effect of the interaction between humility, action, and hierarchical power on follower engagement. Journal of Business Ethics, 141(1), 13-25. doi:10.1007/s10551-015-2725-y

Yammarino, F. (2013). Leadership: Past, present, and future. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 20(2), 149–155.

Ed Tech Doctoral Journey Pt. 3- The role of theory.

Before I began advanced graduate coursework I never stopped to consider the importance of theory and what bearing it has on practice. The term theory always had a highly academic and conceptual feel to it and I never considered how important it is to practitioners. When I think of the difference between theory and practice, I think of theory being located in a lecture hall in a university, and practice being nicely situated in K-12 classrooms. Little did I know that both are ubiquitous in each location. I endeavor to be a scholar-practitioner and I leaned what the significance is in considering both in what I do as an instructional coach, teacher, and researcher.

            A theoretical or conceptual framework reflects one’s unconscious assumptions about the world; a person’s world view which in turn affects one’s view of research (Thomas, 2013). As researchers we have assumptions and strong beliefs formed by our lives but we can not contextualize citing the experiences we had growing up or in our present lives. We must become fluent in the theory and research that forms the context of our research problem (Thomas, 2013). Theory is needed for a study to provide context for the research topic and helps to situate the problem in the chosen discipline. Theory assists in framing the problem, purpose, and analytics of a study by providing a context to scaffold and develop a solid research study (Laureate, 2016l).

            According to Ravitch and Carl (2016) a conceptual framework makes the case for why a study is significant and relevant, how the study design answers the research questions. The conceptual framework is comprised of several items. The components of a conceptual framework include: research questions, goals, context, the researchers themselves, theoretical framework, tacit theories, structured reflexivity and dialogic engagement, and methodological approach and research methods (Ravitch & Carl, 2016). The conceptual framework creates a link between context, theory, and the way that they study is organized and carried out in relation to all of the influences of context.

            Ravitch and Carl (2016) wrote that “the role of theory is central in developing and iterating qualitative studies in formative, ongoing, and summative ways” (pg. 85). Single (2009) wrote that writing research is the process of contributing to a filed where the researcher “shifts from being a consumer of knowledge to a contributor” (pg. 34). The researcher enters into a conversation and that process takes patience, humility, and the recognition of others expertise and work that has come before. Theory helps to add more dimensions and layers of understanding about a phenomenon. Theory helps to deepen and extend our understanding of these concepts by conceptualizing their construction and meaning (Ravitch & Carl, 2016).

References

Laureate Education (Producer). (2016l). Theoretical/conceptual framework[Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Ravitch, S. M., & Carl, N. M. (2016). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Single, P. B. (2009). Demystifying dissertation writing: A streamlined process from choice of topic to final text. Stylus Publishing, LLC.

Thomas, G. (2013). How to do your research project: A guide for students in education and applied social sciences. Sage.

Launch Hays District PD Conference

For the second time since its inception, Hays CISD has hosted a district wide professional development conference where by all of the 1700 faculty and staff meet to enjoy a day of learning, exploration, and camaraderie. This day is wonderful event where teachers can re-connect with each other and reinvigorate their spirit of life long learning with newly acquired knowledge, tools, and practises which can be transferred into the classroom for the benefit of all nearly 20,000 of our waiting students.

I am so proud and honored to be part of this event. The realization of a life lone dream of mine to support teachers has come to fruition. Being given the change to impact the academic success of our students is something that I do not take lightly. The presentations I developed were fine tuned to sustain a session that included a balance of training and hands on so that teachers could at least begin the creation of something that could be utilized within the first few days of school.

At the end of my presentations I include a link to a Google Form that has been created for participants to provide my feedback on the quality of the presentation and questions/topics they have going forward. I am still nervous at times to see how I have been rated becasue of the perfectionist in my wants to reach all the needs of my participants and make sure that the quality is the very best I can provide. I have been honored and truly touched by some of the feedabck that I have received. It continually gives me confidence that I am growing as an insturctional coach and leader. I know that I still have much to learn and I look forward to continuing my personal and professional growth.

I am excited to continue to work with teachers who want to delve deeper into technology integration. The countdown has begun, ignition is moments away, this launch will be momentous.

Reflections on, "Blended Learning in Action" by Tucker, Wycoff, and Green. Ch. 1

I am so glad that Tucker, Wycoff, and Green (2016) offer to provide us with a good definition of what blended learning (BL) is. I find that there are many educators that have a vague or inaccurate perception of BL. In Chapter 1, Tucker et. al. (2016) wrote that BL is:

"[I]is a formal education program in which a student learns: (1) at least in part through online learning, with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace; (2) at least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar- location away from home; (3) and the modalities along each student's learning path within a course or subject are connected to provide an integrated learning experience" (pg. 6).

The importance of addressing culture can not be underestimated when attempting to integrate a new program or system. I am happy to know that the authors address this since it is a well researched approach. For instance, Rogers (2003) wrote that when an agent of change is attempting to engage in a process whereby an innovation like BL is diffused into an organization, the culture of the organization must be respected. "Change agents' success in securing the adoption of innovations by clients is positively related to a client orientation, rather than to a change agency orientation" (pgs. 374-375).

We must begin with the culture and work within the system. That is the most successful approach to truly make impactful change!

References

Tucker, C. R., Wycoff, T., & Green, J. T. (2016). Blended Learning in Action: A Practical Guide Toward Sustainable Change. Corwin Press.

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). New York, NY: Free Press.