Reflection Module 11

 Reading the discussion posts this week helped me to see that we all experienced some of the same types of issues during COVID-19 related to transitioning from an in-person to an online learning environment. Preparedness was mentioned by several classmates as the key to the successful transition to online learning. However, we all recognized that the emergency situation of COVID-19 did not allow schools and districts much time for preparation. Instead, the true success story of the teachers and districts during COVID-19 was due to collaboration and perseverance. Everyone banded together for the students and each other. The lessons learned from that short period of time, which seemed like an eternity, will help school leaders and educational technology leaders better understand how to prepare students and teachers for unforeseen circumstances requiring in-person instruction to go fully online. 

Completing the technology evaluation form helped me to deepen my understanding of multimedia technology, Thinglink. I hope that I can use it one day to enhance my instruction and facilitate student engagement in future courses that I will teach.

Module 3 Reflection

This week's focus on leadership emphasized not only basic leadership traits but also a specific type of leader, transformational.  Transformational leaders motivate followers to do more than is expected by raising followers' levels of consciousness about the importance and value of specified and idealized goals. Hence, followers look past their self-interest for the team's cause (Berkovich, 2016; Northouse, 2022). Due to their strong values, transformational leaders effectively motivate followers to support a cause for the greater good. They have an idealized influence or charisma, which causes their followers to want to emulate their leadership. These leaders also have great vision and encourage their followers to catch their vision. After reflecting on what it takes to be a transformational leader and learning from my peers' discussions, I think an educational technology leader exemplifies the characteristics of a transformational leader in a natural way because they have most likely already exhibited the attributes of transformational leadership by being an innovator in their school, district, digital learning company or by starting a virtual school.