Yes, and…The Path to Being a Technology Leader and Visionary
By Lesley Coe, Chief Technology Officer, Cardinal Gibbons High School
“Yes, and…” is often the catalyst for great success — the distinguishing factor between being a technology leader and a technology visionary. We can be both, if we choose to approach our challenges with the collaborative drama principle of Yes, and…
Can we move an entire school from in-person to remote learning in 48 hours? Yes, and we will invent ways to test endpoint hardware before we send everyone home with their devices. Can we suddenly provide tech support for 2,000 users remotely? Yes, and we can do it with drop-in office hour Zooms and remote technicians.
As technology visionaries, the Chief Technology Officers and Technology Directors have the ability to give teachers the freedom to solicit student feedback while moving around a room.
Can we provide tech support on-site to 2,000 users with a tech staff of two? Yes, we can teach students how to be integral to that opportunity.
Can we provide teachers with a cordless, collaborative classroom environment? Yes, and we can give them a variety of tools to do it. The combination of a mobile device (laptop, tablet, smartphone) and wireless projection through tools such as Vivi have fostered a collaborative learning environment in which both teachers and students can cast their screens to the classroom projector. The introduction of Vivi into our school creates a consistent digital experience in all of our classrooms. It provides us with common instructional language and classroom engagement opportunities. We can measure hours of student projection, see student work from any classroom location, and integrate feedback tools to assess student comprehension informally. We are using these tools to value and grow the student voice in classrooms.
As technology visionaries, the Chief Technology Officers and Technology Directors have the ability to give teachers the freedom to solicit student feedback while moving around a room. We develop collaborative opportunities through the technology resources we implement in schools. We are often the dreamers, the thinkers, and the creators. We know what can be possible in a classroom and we can partner with teachers to help them best utilize these resources to make their classes more engaging without creating extra work. We can provide the most accessible path between daunting technology and an enhanced classroom experience. We are the people responsible for seeing and understanding how technology can transform everyday experiences. Predicting the bumps on the road and constantly adjusting as new technologies and new challenges arise.
Collaboration is the key to becoming a visionary, open to new ideas and suggestions, and actively seeking input from others. It also means being willing to take risks and try out new technologies and approaches, even if they do not work out.
This role has become a visionary of what’s possible. Not what’s probable. We do not make decisions based on what everybody else is doing. Instead, we value the collective knowledge of our peers to power innovation via list-serv, Slack, in-person at a conference, or even group text. The power of sharing an idea with a professional community and aggregating their knowledge into innovation is what can make a CTO both a leader and a visionary.
It is empowering and rewarding to establish a community of others with whom you can share your ideas and receive honest and relatable feedback. Knowing that the collective will welcome your thoughts and encourage you with yes, and here’s another perspective. Your opportunities multiply by simply asking your peers for feedback.. There’s comfort in knowing other people are experiencing similar challenges, and there’s joy in experimenting with solutions that have worked for others.
Genuine group thinking, and the organic nature of the professional learning community is what makes the, “yes, and” a possible and sustainable approach.