We can't do what we can't imagine

As a part of my professional inquiry I have been researching and reflecting on effective eLearning leadership as a key factor for developing an eLearning vision and successful teacher practice.

I love this thought-provoking talk by Julia Atken.    She outlines things so well and provides many useful ideas for developing both leadership and eLearning in a school. Sharing it with a school's leadership team would be a good way of starting an eLearning vision discussion and the ways this vision will be co-created by staff


Leadership has two main key aspects:
Transactional - Supervision, organisation; getting things done (management)
Transformational - Enhancing the motivation, morale and job performance of staff.  ‘There is a basis of respect, encouragement, and influence that is involved in transformational leadership. The personality of the leader has to be genuine because any chance of inconsistency for the followers and all trust is gone, and the leader has failed.’ (Wikipedia)

Engaging staff in thought and discussion:
Why are we educating these young people?  What is the nature of the world we are educating them for?  After these questions are clearly thought about and answered, now ask the questions 'so where does eLearning fit in?' and 'Why would we want eLearning?'

Transformational leadershipAs a leader, providing the right opportunities for your staff - acknowledging where they are and providing the support needed to move them forward.  Nurturing the growth of each of the staff members. Teachers defining what learning they need to do.

The three main points for me: 

1. A leader going into a back room and writing the eLearning vision will make no difference to eLearning in the school.
2. Be a transformational leader - a role model, inspire, understand, nurture to enhance performance, challenge
3. Helping teachers imagine the possibilities - we can't do what we can't imagine.