Şirin Karadeniz&Özge Hacıfazlıoğlu

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

TURNING DYSTOPIAS into UTOPIAS: STORIES on ICT INTEGRATION

Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Turkey

INTRODUCTION: ICT INTEGRATION AND BARRIERS

TURKISH CONTEXT

This study focuses on accounts of school administrators who are trying to make significant changes at their schools.

In other words, administrators who are struggling to turn their schools from dystopias into utopias.

THE PURPOSE

The study design was based on a narrative inquiry.The study aims to reveal the “lived experiences” and successful strategies used by school administrators when coping with ICT integration barriers as well as socio-cultural factors.

Two administrators who work at socio-economically low schools in Istanbul were interviewed during 3 months .

METHOD

School A School B

CONTEXT

District: migration, low socio-economic status and high fertility rate

High teacher turnover rateSBS exam achievement is low There is no ICT coordinator teacher at the schools.

There are security cameras all over both schools.

School A

2648 students 60 students per class 1 principal, 4 assistant

administrators and 60 teachers

2 pc lab. (20 student pcs and 1 teacher pc) and 20 classes with one desktop pc and a projector.

Kaan, 5 years teaching experience and 7 years of school administration experience.

School B

1920 students 45 students per class 1 principal, 4 assistant

administrators and 50 teachers

1 pc lab (20 student pcs and one teacher pc), 24 classes with a projector and 5+1 sound system and smart boards at the classes

Mete 7 years teaching experience and 6 years administration experience.

CONTEXT

FINDINGS

(MoNE) has established pc labs and internet connection, no money has been allocated for the hardware to be

used in the classrooms.

Finding funds Sponsor Mayor Parents

Purchasing

Installing

FINANCING AND ESTABLISHING ICT INFRASTRUCTURE

When the guarantee period of the hardware elapsesby themselves or getting help from a teacher or an administrator who has technical skills.

Security cameras are very important for maintaining safety of the hardware.

MAINTENANCE OF ICT

Young teachers

Administrators as technology mentors for older teachers

In-service training

Lack of time for developing materials Educational software

TEACHERS’ PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Enriching technology integration

A positive school culture

Technology plan

Etiquette of leadership

TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP

They can be seen as role models for community leaders as well as technology leaders trying to transform their schools. It seems that the administrators created opportunities to

overcome these constraints through their own means.

In both stories Mete and Kaan revealed the way they turned dystopias into utopias in their schools.

This study showed us that beauty and idealism is “in the eye of the beholder”.

CONCLUSION

Şirin Karadeniz&

Özge Hacıfazlıoğlu

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