6.+Leaders,+Followers+and+Situation

 **Leaders ****, **** Followers ****, and **** Situation ****: ** **Working Toward Solutions **

It is clear that today’s leaders must be prepared for the challenges of looking out for the health and development of students in our rapidly changing technological world. Warren Bennis exemplifies this is his statement - “Leadership affects the quality of our lives as much as our in-laws or our blood pressure” (2007, p. 2). If those in executive positions in our schools and communities do not recognize the benefits and dangers of technology, the students of today will suffer. Leaders must be constantly assessing the situations to which students are exposed, and should organize actions to guide followers in both promoting the positives of technology and protecting students from the negatives. It is important for leaders to realize that this complex issue will require collaboration and should involve those who understand communication, media, laws, policies, and human behaviors. It takes a group effort to handle such an ambiguous and evolving situation. Students should be included in these discussions, because they often understand the new technologies and what can be done with them before adults can even grasp the basics.

It has become more common to realize that leaders are more than heroic persons with commanding ability to control others. It is accepted now that effective leaders must be aware of constantly changing situations and be able to adapt and reframe the vision of an organization based on the situation (Vroom & Jago, 2007). Researchers have found that situational factors outside of the leader’s control become new learning experiences, shaping how leaders act and influencing the consequences of these actions (Vroom & Jago, 2007, p. 22). In education, technology is changing the lives of students on a daily basis.

The followers in the educational system are teachers, parents, business leaders, and students, and they all need the guidance of those who understand what is happening and who can see positive, negative, and hidden consequences of technological expansion. Leaders who may have been successful in the days before cyber-bullying and cyber predators may not be prepared to address the challenges facing today’s youth. This is another reason for collaboration, bringing together people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences for a common purpose. It is crucial for community and educational organizations to come together to become tech-savvy themselves. In fact, we must even learn from the students. Studying current situations in the news and research adds an important opportunity to spread learning throughout the educational system, and to ask the essential questions that guide progress. Just this month, at a local high school in Pennsylvania, the very school of one of the authors’ own children, a fight broke out among senior girls after a call to arms on Facebook. Incidents like this, fueled by technology, are a common sight in the news today. These are not only heartrending and appalling; these incidents are also opportunities to learn how to respond and how to be proactive in this age of technological enthusiasm.

Somewhere, emerging out of the pros and cons, families, schools and families need to find a balance that works for them in a healthy way. That will involve a combination of setting limits, making other healthier alternatives more interesting and easier, using media together, as well as pragmatic parenting approaches. The challenge seems great because there is not a precedent in education for many of the situations that have occurred or could potentially occur. Although there are many opinions about what should be done, effective solutions will evolve from the situations encountered. This task falls upon both leaders and followers in many groups: schools, businesses, media and role-models, political leaders, communities, school boards, and parents.

Schools must continue to rewrite codes of conduct and acceptable use policies to address new technology practices, but they must walk a controversial line. How can the rights of individuals be protected without losing freedom of expression? This question especially shows the importance of involving legal experts in the discussions (Rideout et al., 2009, p. 35). The peak years for internet bullying begin right after 5th grade and usually end by early high school (Miller et al., 2009, p. 29). This shows that middle schools should be especially vigilant in monitoring use of technology. At the same time, this means that beginning to address these issues in 6th grade is too late; we must begin earlier. Schools can act proactively by building tolerance for differences and extending anti-bullying programs to include cyber-bullying and harassment. Frank discussions are needed in classrooms and in families about appropriate internet behavior, how to handle negativity, and the importance of thinking about the consequences of derogatory comments, threats, and gossip. Literacy instruction must develop students’ ability to evaluate internet sources and to question findings. Just as educators have always addressed “stranger dangers”, we must continue to address potential dangers of tech-savvy predators, faulty sources, and internet viruses. Cyber-safety should be integrated into all curricular areas.

School boards are influential in the schools and communities, and they can ensure that schools are supported in the creation of the needed policies and programs. A recent National School Boards Association study showed 92% of school districts require students to sign an acceptable use policy (Miller et al., 2009, p. 30). These policies should be reviewed and revised regularly, even more often than other policies. School board members should ask questions about the proactive measures being taken in schools, and should accept a shared responsibility to be informed on new technology developments.

Communities and businesses should be involved in promoting positive technology use. Highmark, a licensee of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, has recently featured a series of excellent commercials about bullying and the effects it has on students. Several non-profit organizations also address the well being of teenagers, including Education for Well-Being (ed4wb.org). It would be great to see more businesses, actors, athletes, and teen idols add their voices to advocacy for safe technology use.

One of the roles of the leaders in educational communities is to bring topics of concern to the attention of parents. In the past, schools have held evening workshops concerning various challenging aspects of parenting such as behavior management, test-taking skills, and information about drugs and alcohol. Meetings can also be held to help parents understand the effects of technology. In the recent Kaiser report, students aged 8 to 18-year-old were asked about family rules for time limits and types of media they were allowed to use. Most students responded that they did not have any rules that were expected to follow, although 52% did say they do have rules about computer use (Rideout et al., 2010, p. 35). A concerning trend in studies of students’ use of technology shows that cell phones are the most popular form of media use. This could be the most challenging form of technology to monitor. Students are able to text message others without even looking at the cell phone, with their hands in their pockets!

State and national political leaders must also be active in protecting individual rights. Twelve states have passed cyberbullying laws, and several other states are currently considering such bills (Miller et al., 2009, p. 30). The Federal Communications Commission established the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) in 2001, requiring schools and libraries that receive federal technology E-rate funding to adopt policies that promote safe internet use (http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cipa.html). Internet filtering software, used to block inappropriate or offensive sites is used by 98% of school districts, which is a condition of CIPA. (Miller & Thompson, 2009, p. 30). Involvement of national and state legislators is critical because this helps to sustain the efforts of parents and schools.

Although the potentially negative effects of technology use have been carefully detailed above, there are overwhelming benefitsto be reaped from technology advances. These are not just optional advantages; they are vital for our students to compete in the current and future global market. For this reason, we cannot abandon technology as too much trouble for its worth. The tremendously rapid growth of online schools and virtual learning environments practically guarantee that today’s students will be required to use technology in order to learn and communicate. Even today, most college professors and some high school teachers require students to use course management systems, online library searches, and online communication. Those who do not have opportunities and resources to access and learn through technology will be at a significant disadvantage. Students in the 21st century will be working in a world where technology will be as common as eyeglasses; perhaps even more! Everyone involved in the education of students today must be educated and prepared to lead students to this new digital world.

  It is important to realize that many students are using technology in positive ways. A recent  study found that 78% of teens who use instant m <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">essaging <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> and social networks <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> discuss <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">academics <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">(Miller et al. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">, 2009, p. 29). Even as graduate students, we are learning about more and more o <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">nline tools <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">that support learning and facilitate communication, creating a wonderful, new, open educational world in which anyone can learn, anywhere, and anytime. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msospacerun: yes;"> There are definitely pitfalls and concerns about technology, just like there can be for too much of any good thing; but the potential and benefits of technology cannot be suppressed. The answer is to be proactive, aware, informed and thoughtful about how students are using technology.