Standard Two
Standard Two
Standard Two
Ebony Dixon
February 5, 2024
Standard 2 2
Introduction
Learning is rapidly changing in the digital age. Educational leaders have watched
technology change the way learning is happening in many institutions across the world. Digital
age learning has affected instruction and the learning process. It has enabled personalized and
adaptive learning within the classroom (Ellis, Lu & Fine-Cole, 2021). The International Society
for Technology in Education (ISTE) guides educational leaders in using technology to create
high-impact learning experiences for all students. Educational leaders should be visionary
planner is the second standard under the ISTE standards for educational leaders. This standard
defines a visionary planner as a leader that engages others in establishing a vision and a strategic
plan. As well as conducting ongoing evaluation cycles that transform learning with technology.
There are five indicators that educational leaders should follow when creating their vision plan
for their institution. To better my understanding on how an educational leader creates and
implements a visual plan as outlined in standard two, I set up a meeting with my principal. Prior
to the meeting I generated some questions that I had for her that I needed answered to have a
Indicators
The first indicator states visual planners should engage education stakeholders in
developing and adopting a shared vision. This vision should improve student success with
technology informed by learning science. I began my interview by asking the principal if she had
a visual plan for the school. I was advised that it is our school district's Digital Learning Team
that establishes the technology plan for the district. However, they do receive insight from
principles, the appointed board, teachers, and consultants. The team works directly with schools
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and teachers to facilitate the successful integration of technology resources. When asked is there
any place I can find a copy of an actual plan. I was informed to try the districts website. There is
a mission statement that states that the Digital Learning Team is to create and sustain a culture
that supports digital age teaching and learning. It also mentions that it follows the ISTE standards
and uses it as a model when working with leaders and teachers to facilitate the integration of
Since the district creates the overall vision plan for all schools. I then asked my principal
“how does our school build on that shared vision?” and “how does our school collaboratively
create a strategic plan that indicates how technology will be used to enhance learning?” She said
that during the summer months at principal meetings. Principals review data from their buildings
and determine what the technology needs are among staff and students. With that information
they then look at the content that is being taught and the technology tools that supports that
instruction. For example, two years ago the district adapted a new math learning tool that
students would use to reinforce math skills being taught. The principal stated that after teachers
were trained on the new tool, they were to implement it into their lessons. It was mentioned that
after a few weeks teachers checked back in during PLC to discuss how they implemented it into
their lesson, how is it going with the tool, and are they seeing positive results among students.
Our school also builds on that shared vision by incorporating technology in all aspects of the
classroom not just during instruction. Special area teachers also find innovative ways to enhance
learning as well. Students are learning about different aspects of coding in STEM, and they can
use iPads and various coding apps to create their own. Not only do teachers use technology to
enhance learning but our principal encourages collaboration through weekly PLCS and monthly
staff meetings. During these times together she meets with all the groups to ensure that their
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needs are being meet and to address any academic or technology concerns. Many times, during
these meetings teachers share new apps and tools they are using with the group.
The advantages of technology and learning is that it provides instructors with immediate
feedback from students. It motivates collaboration with peers and fosters learning by trial and
error (Al-Labadi & Sant, 2020). The use of technology also assists teachers with determining the
students’ level of understanding through online assessments and classwork that provide
immediate feedback. Indicator three states that educational leaders should evaluate the process
on a strategic plan, make course corrections to it and determine how much of an impact it was.
Leaders should also incorporate trial-based technologies into classrooms to increase student
learning. When I asked my principal “how is the progress of the strategic plan evaluated?” I was
given the response that it is monitored and evaluated through classroom walk through’s,
discussions during meetings, and through students’ data. By taking a step back to look at our
school and the data our educational leader can see if the tools that we have in place to increase
learning or if another one should be adopted. This also makes for great reflective leading by
setting the example of determining where you can improve and what can you do better so more
celebrate success and engage in a continuous improvement cycle is the fourth indicator under
standard two of the visionary planner. What this standard essential means is that educational
leaders after their technology plan is created, should keep stakeholders informed of the various
technologies used. They should also inform them of its progress among teachers and students
through digital data obtained. That data should also be monitored to inform everyone if there are
any changes that need to be made of the plan. Stakeholders can be beneficial to educational
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leaders because they can provide a prospective that those educational leaders might not see. This
feedback is extremely important because it allows for collaboration from the stakeholders and
the educational leaders. They can discuss ways to revise the vision plan as well as celebrate some
of the accomplishments made by students relating to their learning and the effective
The last indicator states that educational leaders should share lessons learned, challenges
they face, and best practices with other education leaders that want to learn about the impact of
learning with technology. One of the most effective ways to determine if technology is beneficial
to students is through application. As educational leaders learn of new tools and digital content it
is important for them to be shared with teachers. Teachers should have training on those new
tools prior to them being used within the classroom. Once they are trained, the technologies
should be incorporated into instruction. After some time, educational leaders should meet with
teachers to see how well or not the technology is working. At that time, it is also important for
teachers to collaborate with each other to learn how they implemented the technology in their
classroom and what their take aways were. Collaborating with educational leaders and other
teachers also allows for everyone to be open to new ideas and accept constructive feedback.
According to Killion, teachers that engage in high quality collaboration that is extensive and
helpful it benefits the individual and it is also a collective benefit (Killion, 2015). A study was
conducted to show the correlation between teacher collaboration and student learning. The
results of this study show that teachers that collaborate on instruction, new technologies, and
strategies has a positive effect on students as well as each other (Killion, 2015).
The last indicator also states that as the strategic plan gets implicated educational leaders
should reflect on and document the lessons learned and challenges that impact student learning.
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One thing that many educational leaders must remind teachers is that it is alright if a lesson does
not go as planned or better yet if that technology tool did not work for the set of students that
they have. That is why it is important to reflect on the lesson and for leaders to reflect on the
vision plan. My principal informed me that there are many times where she must reflect to
ensure she made the correct decision regarding aspects of the vision plan. Although she would
like our school to be technology rich in the sense that it is enhancing instruction and promoting
student learning. She does not want the technology to be over whelming and take away from
Researching standard two under the Standards for Education Leaders and its indicators; I
am now aware of what a technology vision plan is and the importance of an educational leader
creating one. One of the biggest take-aways I got from this is that it is a collaborative effort not
just with the leaders and teachers but all the stakeholders. Also, that it can be an evolving
document to ensure that technology tools and apps are meeting the learning needs of students.
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Reference
Al-Labadi, L., & Sant, S. (2020, September). Enhance learning experience using technology in
class. Journal of Technology and Science Education. https://doi.org/10.3926/jotse.1050
Ellis, M. L., Lu, Y.-H., & Fine-Cole, B. (2021). Digital Learning for North Carolina Educational
Leaders. TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning, 65(5), 696–
712. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-021-00649-x
Killion, J. (2015). High-quality collaboration benefits teachers and students. The Learning
Professional, 36(5), 62.