Indeed, regardless of whether you’re in the US, Canada or in South Africa there’s always the human element that infects a concerted effort to move ahead with a vision that requires unity and professionalism. Initiating a plan to ensure that wireless mobility is instituted across a district requires this vision, but a vision that has the impetus and a workable plan. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Well, vision is one thing but ensuring that vision trickles down to the people who will put it into action requires some sobering realities. One of those realities includes the simple idea that not all parties are on the ‘same page’, sometimes not even in the same book or even the same library. If we continue to filter our focus through the myopic lens of ‘being the best and better than’ we will not move ahead with any sense of accomplishment or noble purpose.
Again, here in South Africa there are fragmented views of what should happen and how. It’s no different in our contexts. Do we consult all parties in the process? Do we actually take the time and effort to consult with the ‘bit players’ which in this context are teachers? What are the barriers to instituting a wireless solution that works for teachers and in the end, students? I can’t tell you how many times I have had conversations with different interest groups here in South Africa from government officials to open source content providers where the ‘reality’ didn’t match the utopia in any way, shape or form. The only thing they agreed on was that education was ‘broken’. But you could get that off the street from any citizen of the Republic of South Africa. True to an underlying theme in this article however is the human element, or more succinctly the various opinions and ‘interests’ held by these human elements – politics, in short, both formally and informally.
I don’t mean to be pessimistic, but realistic. I continue to encounter the visionaries who are not in touch with the ‘institutors’ or the key stakeholders. How many districts are truly led by a vision to empower educators and by relationship, students? And even more disturbing are the ‘cogs in the wheel’ who have no vested interest in supporting a plan and so don’t support or empower the people who know that this plan is a clear road to a better ‘system’ for all. You might think I’ve digressed from my original topic. No, the state of wireless in our districts – though not all districts – is a sobering picture of the ‘politics of authenticity’ that occur in any one district’s ‘sitz im leben’. Maintaining something that is already in place is relatively easy, but putting something new into place requires a systemic approach that is cogent, and involves all stakeholders so that the initial vision becomes a reality. This takes leadership and this kind of leadership is at a premium in this day and age. Where have all the leaders gone? Where have the leaders gone that can embody the Steve Job’s approach? Or, as he has stated: “stay hungry and stay foolish” approach – taking a complex reality and translating it into a workable one for the lowest common denominator. Where are all the visionaries with feet firmly planted on the solid ground of teacher and student realities? Truly, MIA.
Would it be too much to listen to teachers? I don’t mean the teachers who are ‘out of the classroom’ because it doesn’t take long for these teachers to lose touch with the reality of the classroom. I mean teachers who are ‘in the trenches’ and who are in touch with the real realities of the possible use of wireless in a classroom context. It means talking to the teachers who are currently at the top of the technology integration paradigm and those who have no idea how they might or might not use wireless. This latter group provides a good ‘touch stone’ for what may or may not work. If we believe that teachers and teacher collaboration are the cornerstones of a progressive, ever-improving education system then consulting with and talking to teachers is mandatory.
The state of wireless in education in any particular district can be a litmus test for the way a district reacts to new technology streams. My personal experience with wireless roll-outs, or even attempting to get wireless instituted in a school has been nothing but disenchanting. The vision is there, without question. What’s missing? Apart from what I’ve revealed above a roll-out of new technology in a new context with many different voices and opinions requires a number of things.
Firstly, it requires a team that is coordinated by a leader who can instill the vision and values of his/her vision to every key stakeholder in making the project move forward. This requires time and effort. This vision must be re-visited and re-posited in every conceivable way. This vision then needs to be moved out into practical steps with clear connections to the final outcome. I also believe that in order to ensure that this vision has any chance of success that districts that have already rolled out wireless technologies with some measure of success need to be consulted. And not a one-off consultation but a partnership – can education leaders in this country partner up? Perhaps a bit un-realistic but I think necessary and doable with the right people and the right synergies. I think in education this is more than possible because we’re not in it for profit but for the success of the system, regardless of what part of the country the two consulting districts reside. It could be a coalition of schools, or something of that nature. Yes, there are groups that work together and have conferences to ‘deliver’ their ideas but unfortunately little comes of it I think.
Second, it requires some financial commitment from provincial governments. Let’s not fool ourselves. School districts cannot create a solid technology infrastructure without some financial assistance from provincial governments. I know that this opens a ‘can of worms’ but if you look at the largest school district in Canada you can’t help but realize the a major part of their operating budget cannot be given to technology infrastructures. In fact, they’re struggling now to provide computers for schools and with a seven year refresh cycle, who’s fooling who? I think the only way that this is going to happen is when the public realizes that our economy – especially the Canadian economy! – is tied to our success in developing solid technology infrastructure systems – whatever that may look like – at both macro and micro levels. Once the public starts to inform trustees and their local provincial government member about the need to invest some money into school districts across Ontario then we’ll see some change.
The state of wireless in our school districts requires some serious long-term planning. This article in no way outlines all of the nuances of this problem and possible solutions. It’s a ‘thinking article’ in that I hope that it starts some serious discussion about moving forward into the future of mobile computing because that’s clearly what our future will look like from e-learning in every possible, conceivable way to local empowerment with a student accessing the huge database of the web to enhance, empower and cultivate vibrant, skilled and responsible citizens in a 21st Century context. Let’s get the discussion rolling and let’s become transparent enough to divest ourselves of our little ‘fiefdoms’ and look at the bigger picture – the future of education and the way forward in the future of a very global economy. Where did all the leaders go? I’m hoping they take notice and jump into the foray with some vision, integrity and humility. These are the leaders we need and deserve!
Timothy Gard
timothy.gard@tdsb.on.ca
