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June 15, 2001

A Conversation on Technology Leadership

As part of our focus on preparing school leaders, we turned to two visionary thinkers-and nationally known speakers-on the topic of technology and transformational change in education: Jason Ohler, a former teacher who founded and has been director of the University of Alaska's Educational Technology Program for 15 years; and David Warlick, a veteran history teacher, administrator, and IT specialist, who now directs The Landmark Project, an educational consulting firm. Both participated in a weeklong online discussion moderated by Technology & Learning editors. Edited excerpts of the conversation follow.

T&L asked:

• What are the most important qualities education leaders need in today's technology-driven world?
  
  
• Practically speaking, what steps can schools take to create transformational change?
  
  
• How should school leaders deal with resistance from others about changing the established educational models?
  
  
• In the context of this new model of leading, teaching, and learning, how do leaders assess what's working and what isn't? Do the usual methods of assessment-standardized tests come to mind-get thrown out?
  
  
• Any final points that educators should be thinking about as they try to move forward in this brave new world?
  
  

More information about Jason Ohler's and David Warlick's projects, presentations, and books are available at their Web sites. (Jason Ohler | David Warlick)

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