On Being a Bricoleur

Bricoleur The French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss developed the concept of the bricolage in 1960 to describe a human who adopts a particular approach to framing problems, solving problems and learning. Others have adopted the concept, and applied it to thinking about how to approach the use of information technology in schools. In my experience, being Read More

Thoughts of School Leaders and Technology

I am in the middle of cleaning out old files. I discovered a assignment for my doctoral studies in which I commented on my observations of school principals and their collective ignorance of technology. I am unsure of it is still true. I hope my observations are les true than they were, but I expect Read More

On Quality in School IT

School and technology leaders generally concur that the IT systems in schools should be of high quality (for now, we can define “high quality” as being functioning and used for relevant purposes). Quality is also understood to be a measure that has no ceiling; one can always makes changes that will improve the degree to Read More

Thoughts on Data from Two Decades Ago

As an educator, I cannot go to a meeting where “the data show” is used in one version or another. I appreciate the role of data when we draw conclusions. This character of my nature is deeply embedded in my professional life; it started with my undergraduate studies in science and continued during my life Read More

On #edtech Decison Making

Humans have a long history of using technology. It is reasonable to conclude that humans and their technologies cannot be separated. Without our tools, our species would not have become the Earth-altering species we have become.  When reviewing the history of our technology, we see that information technologies are a relatively recent invention, but for several thousand years, we Read More

#edtech Leaders and Innovation

Innovation is defined as “doing things differently.” In education, leaders, including technology leaders, must negotiate a balance between existing practices and innovation. Educators are professionals who are deeply invested in what they do and how they do it. While “we have always done or this way” is too often given excuse for not implementing new practices, including those thought to be improvements, it is also given Read More

An Important Role for #edtech Leaders

221: An Important Role for #edtech Leaders Technology comprises hardware, software, network infrastructure, cloud platforms, and personnel resources. IT leaders must be prepared to accurately assess each when making technology procurement decisions.  The assessment must integrate both internal and external factors. The internal factors are grounded in the contingencies described in a previous section. Software, for example, has system requirements, and if the existing hardware and operating systems Read More