Even though the study of technology leadership is relatively new, we can see some common traits or skills that IT leaders need to acquire to impact their organizations. Skills such as strong IT literacy, a sense of collaboration with stakeholders, trusted advisors, team empowerment, effective communication, and data gatekeepers (guarantor of responsible use of data), among others. IT leaders follow a transformational leadership style. It is essential to mention that some specific skills are more critical, depending on IT leader's stage—for instance, master communicators and relationship builder skills for senior positions.
The Digital Revolution and Digital Transformation (DX) have permeated all aspects of our lives, including the way we learn and teach. The importance of Instructional Technology is critical in our education system from K-12 to higher education institutions. The government (federal, state, and local) and international organizations have created guidelines for technology implementation plans and standards. These guidelines and standards are a good start for all constituents (students, educators, parents, coaches, leaders) to amplify the learning and teaching experience and the organization's mission. We see common denominators such as digital citizenship, collaboration, connection, and innovation in these guidelines. For educators, coaches, and leaders, some common traits are empowering teams, designers, data analysis.
Embracing instructional technology is a global effort. We can see this in several organization portals such as EDUCAUSE, CoSN, or ISTE. For instance, EDUCAUSE presents research, recommendations, and trends about the impact of IT in education. These portals cover essential skills for current and future IT professionals, such as leadership and vision, ethics, professional development, team building, business management skills, and data management.
In conclusion, having instructional technology leadership allows organizations to fast pace DX. Of course, we need to remember that instructional technology is a way to reach our educational goals, not to be the goal itself or the use of technology for its own sake. DX is not the destination; it is the journey.
September 2020