HELP WANTED – Questions for interviews of ‘technology-savvy’ superintendents
For an upcoming CASTLE research project, we’re going to do interviews of multiple years’ worth of the winners of eSchoolNews’ technology-savvy superintendents awards. We are soliciting input regarding our interview protocol. These superintendent interviews will be done over the telephone, recorded as podcasts, and made available online to the public as a free resource.
What changes / additions / deletions would you suggest to our draft interview protocol? We’ll take a look at anything left in the comments area by Sunday, September 19!
1. As we get started here, would you confirm verbally that you received the consent form that was sent to you and that you also recognize that this interview will be publicly available on the Internet? [pause] Thank you.
2. Where are you currently a superintendent and how long have you served in that role?
3. Why do you think you were selected for the eSchoolNews award?
4. In general, what do you think is the difference between a regular superintendent and a ‘technology-savvy’ superintendent?
5. How do you ensure that digital technologies are used as tools to enhance learning and not just as ‘technology for the sake of doing technology?’
6. What are some of the challenges to being a ‘technology-savvy’ superintendent? What gets in the way of doing this well? [ask follow-up probes about any/all of the items below as necessary]
7. Why do you think most superintendents struggle when it comes to being effective technology leaders?
8. Did your superintendent licensure program – or any of your other administrative licensure programs – help prepare you to be an effective technology leader?
9. What kind of learning opportunities do you have to enhance your own development as a technology leader? What, if anything, is being done by each of these entities to help you become a better technology leader?
10. What are some ways that you personally use technology?
11. We’ve been focusing on the superintendent side of all of this. What do building-level school leaders need to be doing when it comes to technology implementation and integration in their schools? What role do they play in all of this?
12. What kinds of professional development do you think are most effective when it comes to technology? Let’s start with teachers. What training do they need and how should it be structured?
13. So far we’ve been talking a lot about effective technology leadership. What does ineffective, or bad, technology leadership look like?
14. Here’s our next-to-last question: What advice do you have for school leaders who want to be more ‘technology savvy?’
15. Thanks so much. Is there anything else you want to say on the topic of effective technology leadership? Anything that we should have discussed but didn’t?
Image credit:Do you remember?……Call
