Implementing Chromebooks and Sharing Leadership

This semester the students at our school recieved Google accounts and began using Chromebooks for the first time. I know many schools have been implementing technology on a larger scale for a much longer period of time than ours, but a new wireless network and a cart of Chromebooks created a buzz of excitement for our kids.  It was exciting for me as well, as an expansion of technology was an important part of my vision for the school. 

For me the process of implementing Chromebooks was a great opportunity to learn to share leadership. We went through five steps along the way, and collaboration produced better outcomes at each. 

1.) Selection of devices: As an iPad fan, Chromebooks weren't my first choice, but it became clear to me the staff who were most committed to implementing technology were more interested in Chromebooks. 

2.) Budgeting: No new money was available for purchasing the devices. Our staff worked together to figure out what we could do without to purchase devices from our building's budget. 

3.) Policy: I'm not the most patient person, and I would have been content to copy another district's policy and replace the name at the top with ours. In fact I did this. However, our tech committee worked together to write an AUP that was consistent with our board's policy. 

4.) Professional development: Here is another place I had to let go. While I had a clear vision for iPads in classrooms, I was not the most knowledgeble person on staff when it came to GAFE. A teacher led the training, and that training has made its way into classrooms. 

5.) Putting devices in students hands: As the accounts were set up, teachers took control over account settings. One question we had to decide was should all teachers have access to student passwords or just the account administrator? The teachers wanted to be able to help students when they forgot their passwords and that's what we did. I wanted to be more involved in setting up accounts, but it turned out I didn't have to. The first time the devices were used in a class, I was at the board office in a meeting. 

Our students have a richer learning environment because of the devices. Our staff has a stronger culture because of the collaboration.