There are four modules in this course and each candidate is required complete each ‘Focus Area’ within the module in its entirety. At the end of each module, each candidate will be required to provide a reflective piece on the learning that has occurred.
As you complete your tasks and read your colleagues posts, new experiences have been gained or your thoughts and ideas may have been confirmed. When you begin your reflections after each module, think about why you are a life long learner and how has each ‘Focus Area’ activity has allowed you to gain more confidence as an educator working in the classroom. What meaningful information have you taken away and how will you implement change?
The purpose of this reflection is to show growth in your learning and allow you to make connections to your experiences. You must use the information from the readings to discuss your understanding of the process, and impact of leadership.
The reading reflection is a personal response to the readings and your colleagues’ discussions.
"The idea of leadership is much more complex and complicated that understanding what a school is from a managerial position. Leadership goes beyond committees and councils but resonates in the distinctness of what is created as a byproduct of a committee or council. Leadership is most effective when it is goal orientated and aware of the moving parts that will participate in the achievement of that goal.
As a teacher, our profession is not always lucrative or blatantly rewarding. The rewards are we teachers often times make of it. In some cases individuals may seek to move into more leadership-looking positions or simply leadership positions because of monetary gain and/or the desire to achieve reward in a different fashion. Here reward might be getting a student from one's classroom to regularly do homework which may be out of character for that particular student, or it could be the development of a new teacher committee. In any respect, maybe on a character-building level a position in leadership might be rewarding to someone who wants to see the system develop into a more well-oiled machine, or a more functional organ in hopes that others may benefit from the changes.
Leadership is a challenging position to because before one can be a leader, one must have been led. In most cases teachers are led one way or another, but specifically, a teacher needs to have been apart of a team (even if it was one they didn't enjoy, but suffered through for the cause), a teacher needs to have been led before they can lead. It is not easy to come into a position with experience and listen to how things are done "here", likewise a teacher needs to be familiar with that situation as they may very well be the one who is giving the "run-down" to a new colleague (whether its in regards to a committee or school community).
By far the hardest part about leadership is understanding that every is human, has emotions and doesn't "live to work". In some cases leaders may be just cognizant enough to understand that people need a lunch a break, but might overlook when a colleague needs a colleague with compassion. "How are you today?" being said often and wholeheartedly, rather than in passing and while looking at their feet.
Its proven through many personal anecdotal experiences as well as narratives that leadership is best reflected through the phrase made famous by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko "With great power comes great responsibility.""
Feedback,
"I appreciate your module 1 posts! You were able to share wonderful information and I appreciate the collaboration! Keep participating fully in course readings, lessons and activities. I can see that you enter each lesson with an open mind. You will find lots of different strategies and resources in this course to meet your goals. Your posts were great and you have made many connections to OCT's Standards of Practice and leadership, as you reflected on your own qualities and personal leadership. Continue to further develop your own personal leadership philosophy. Thank you for developing positive connections with colleagues within our online learning community and for sharing your leadership understanding. I can see you digging into the characteristics of effective leaders, and reflecting on your own leadership skills! Remember that an effective leader is one that can lead those around you, motivate, inspire and instill enthusiasm in the staff. You will acquire more skills to lead with a vision and infuse that vision into the culture of the school. Being adaptable to what is necessary for any situation and the individual or individuals in front of you is so important.
Your posting about the challenges of leadership was well written and highlighted some strong connections to the ideas in the readings. I encourage you to continue to ground your course tasks in the practical, realistic approaches!
You are off to an amazing start in our course and you have modelled many of the qualities of a great leader so far in our learning community. Keep Going!
Your posts showed that you have a deeper understanding of what makes an excellent leader, what skills and practices demonstrate effective leadership, and to gain a better understanding of yourself as a leader and what you need to change or continue in your leadership journey.
Some areas to focus on moving forward:
Remain engaged in the course, posing questions of your peers. Pursue rich conversation to foster a deeper understanding and to make change in your practice.
If you find a website, book, article or video share with colleagues.
Continue to make connections between the current course work and previous discussions, personal experiences or those of other colleagues.
Thank you for your efforts to be part of our professional learning community. You are posting in a meaningful way to the discussion board. You are engaging, professional and friendly. I feel you have demonstrated understanding of the concepts presented.
Module and Reflection Mark: A
Cheers,
Robin"
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