Leadership and Vision in a High School 1:1 iPad Innovation in Practice

• In Event: Roundtable Session 24
  In Roundtable Session: Beyond Technology Integration: What Other Variables Matter?

Abstract

This research explores a school-wide innovation in practice: the distribution and adoption of iPads in Hilly High School. This case study examines how school and district leaders set direction, develop people, and make the organization work in support of the iPad innovation. The leaders envisioned “transformation” of practices but the prevailing vision focused on the iPad as a “tool.” The lack of specificity regarding “tool” appeared to undermine the “transformative” hopes because it lacked content-specificity and overlooked ways the innovation could solve problems of practice. The professional learning activities and organizational practices supported the iPads as a general “tool,” represented through focus on hardware and apps. The results contribute to research-based technology leadership practices underlying school-wide iPad innovations.

Authors

• Joan E. Hughes, The University of Texas - Austin

• Audrey De Zeeuw, The University of Texas - Austin

• Minwook Ok, The University of Texas - Austin