Information Society And Digital Leadership In The Globalized Educational System: Political Approach (original) (raw)

Educational Leadership and Digital Culture

Social Science Research Network (SSRN), 2019

Digital culture is a new multifaceted notion that it is embedded with culture and arts, linking different aspects of cultures, media and information technologies. The emergence of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has created a connection between people through networks and challenged our traditional ways of comprehending culture and eventually digital culture. Therefore, culture today must be seen as a dynamic process rather than an enclosed system because ICT has given these associations a new facet. With it comes a change in economy and education in all levels including leadership. In line with this, the current global economy is changing due to the advancement of technology, and with it its leadership capacities. Moreover, innovative technology has the ability to change the distribution of power and the development of associations in today´s organizations. In the same context, some authors debate the following critical question, i.e., "how can educational leaders keep up with the daily onslaught of information when new literacies rapidly outpace traditional literacies, and access to technology and information expands exponentially?". This question would have a wider implication if we consider other educational means which are called Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Based on that, this study examines different perspectives in this topic to determine what kind of educational leadership is emerging in the current new age of digital culture, and whether it is appropriate for the values and goals of education. In addition, it suggests and discusses the type of leadership needed in the digital culture using MOOCs as active dynamic examples. This study is structured into three interrelated sections. The first focuses on what digital culture is and examines a number of definitions and approaches. The second concentrates on leadership theories that are mostly associated with digital cultures, and examines whether they are appropriate for education based on another scholars' work. The third section focuses on the author's experience with Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) where the leadership style of the professors was observed and evaluated. The instrument used for this purpose was careful observation. And the theoretical framework was based on Ebrahim, Ahmed and Taha's (2009) four aspects of effective virtual leadership, i.e., a) communication, b) understanding, c) role clarity, and d) leadership attitude.

The Challenges for Digital Society: Education and E-Leadership

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, 2018

The way in which digital technologies have transformed our everyday lives is before our eyes. Such technologies now appear to be physical and cognitive prostheses that give meaning and continuity to our daily work, radically redefining the times, the spaces and the ways of our daily living. These changes pose new challenges in training leaders able to lead the socio-economic changes. This process of general increase of complexity in our society is leading to the emergence of a new socio-economic and organizational model that we are not able to understand and govern yet, opening up scenarios of profound inequalities and new risks. We are in the middle of a crossroads of opposing tensions which do not find explanations in univocal interpretations but demand a collective effort to understand the renewed role which university can have in advanced modernity. What are the great challenges of the future? How can human development be pursued in the context of the changes and uncertainties t...

A practice based approach to theorising digital education leadership

Pan-Commonwealth Forum, 2016

This paper conceptualises a holistic approach to digital education leadership, presenting the argument that digital education leadership is grounded in the practice that it seeks to foster (digital literacy practice) and the processes involved in teaching that practice (digital education). In other words, digital education leadership cannot be viewed in isolation, separate from digital literacy or digital education. The foundational dimensions of the digital in this framework are premised on understandings of literacy as social practices. In brief, we understand that literacy involves sets of practices which are tied to domains of practice (e.g. learning). Furthermore, because literacy is about being able to participate in social practices, and because the contemporary world is technology saturated, then in order to create a life for oneself, one needs to be capable of participating (living, learning and working) in this evolving digitally mediated society. The paper presents a new conception of digital literacy, digital education and digital education leadership, and the relationship between them. The conceptual framework presented arises from a collaborative project across eight Commonwealth countries; it will be used as the basis of a curriculum to be implemented to support digital education leadership. The paper will also discuss the challenges faced in terms of conceptualising digital education leadership in the Commonwealth context and the processes used to address these challenges.

Unpacking the Drivers and Barriers of Digital Leadership Practice in Education: A Study of High School Leaders' Experiences

Journal of Education and Learning Technology (JELT), 2024

In the age of digitalization, technology has become a driving force, transforming various sectors, including education. This study investigated the barriers and drivers influencing high school leaders' engagement with digital technologies in high schools. Through a quantitative research approach, 220 high school leaders from Oyo State, Nigeria, participated in the study, providing data through structured questionnaires. The study's theoretical framework is anchored on Lewin's Three-Step Model of Change. Findings revealed significant barriers, such as inadequate training, resistance to change, and budgetary constraints, hindering the seamless integration of digital tools. However, despite these obstacles, leaders are motivated by potential benefits like enhanced communication, improved student outcomes, and future readiness to embrace digital leadership. The study underscores the critical role of leadership in fostering innovation, leveraging technology for strategic decision-making, and driving transformative change in educational institutions. Recommendations include prioritizing continuous professional development, proactively addressing barriers, fostering innovation, and developing clear digital strategies that align with organizational goals. These are crucial for successfully implementing digital leadership initiatives in high schools. This study provides empirical evidence on barriers and drivers influencing digital leadership practices among high school leaders, enriching existing literature on digital transformation and guiding effective strategies.

The Role of Pesantren Leaders in the Digital Age

JOURNAL OF MULTI-DISCIPLINES SCIENCE (ICECOMB)

Pesantren leaders must be able to play an active role in responding to speedy technological developments in today's digital era so that pesantren can produce students who are not only technologically literate and have intellectual intelligence but also social piety and spiritual stability. This article aims to provide an overview of the role of pesantren leaders in facing the digital era. The method used in writing this article is the literature method with a descriptive analysis approach. The results of the study show that the role of pesantren leaders in the digital era can be demonstrated through the leadership's ability to oversee change and the use of technology that is developing rapidly at this time by revitalizing the curriculum, providing supporting infrastructure, providing training on matters related to digitalization to teachers and students to improve the competence of teachers and students related to technological developments, as well as actively communicate w...

Gurr, D. (2004) ICT, Leadership in Education, and E-leadership, Discourse, 25(1), pp. 113-124.

Discourse: Studies in The Cultural Politics of Education, 2004

Advances in information and communication technology are changing organisations, includ-ing those in educational settings. Old practices are being altered, and new practices, spaces and possibilities created. The changes are such that it is timely to consider whether our ...