Educational Leadership Theories Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Educational Leadership Theories - Research Paper Example Educational leadership includes the process of establishing teams, as well as a united staff. Transformational leadership discusses how new levels of energy and commitment which the educators show can also lead to a general transformation of the organization. In the study, Robinson, et.al., (2008) demonstrated how transformational leadership improved the capacity of the workers to collaborate with each other and to assist each other in overcoming challenges in the fulfillment of their goals (Robinson, et.al., 2008). The study also discussed that the more teachers were actively involved in applying transformational leadership and in participating in collegial discussions, the better the impact they had on their students. With active transformational leadership, there was also an oversight and coordination of the general instructional program (Robinson, et.al., 2008). Applying transformational leadership has also been apparent in good performing schools with teachers adhering to clear performance standards in their teaching. With these applications of transformational leadership, it is apparent that it is a strong leadership theory to apply in teaching. McCormick (2009) discusses the essentials of transformational leadership and he cites how this leadership is defined in terms of its idealized influence and individual considerations. McCormick (2009) also discusses that transformational teachers are those who help students consider the bigger view of education by establishing idealized influence. These teachers often communicate with their students and point out to them how important education is and how it can provide a good vision for their future. In applying this leadership, the students have to be exposed to different lifestyles; and in the process consider various opportunities for their future (McCormick, 2009). This type of leadership has also been able to encourage frequent trips for students in order to view the bigger world, and to seek strong solution s for the problems they witnessed during these trips. Through transformational leadership, educators have been able to teach their students how to view themselves as leaders. Teachers applying the transformational leadership approach were able to get their students to read Romeo and Juliet as early as their sophomore year. These teachers were able to encourage the students to narrate the story in their own in way. In effect, the students were actually able to gain much depth in their understanding of Shakespeare and his poetry. By setting high standards for their students and by encouraging them to be more active in the learning process, the students were able to gain more skills and knowledge (McCormick, 2009). Transformational teaching also involves challenging assumptions about the school system. Where students were considered ‘unteachable,’ the transformational leaders were able to prove such concept wrong by teaching their students new ways of learning, as well as and new knowledge. Alger (2008) discusses that building an organizational culture which highlights stable improvement in educational programs can be a significant challenge. The leaders can be challenged in advocating strong leadership in these instances. Transformational le

Online Course VS. Traditional Course Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Online Course VS. Traditional Course - Essay Example Keywords: online course, traditional course, learning When it comes to learning a course whether online or in traditional format, there are many things a person can actually compare or contrast. In this essay, the proponent tries to elaborate the actual experience obtained in taking an online course versus that of a traditional course acquired in a brick-and-mortar classroom in the presence of an instructor. Compared with an online course, a course taken in a classroom with a teacher requires more complex interaction including but not limited to verbal communications. At some point, non-verbal communication could somehow add to the quality of learning. For example, in the actual setting, learning in a classroom provides ample opportunity for students to have maximum lively interaction with each other and primarily with the teacher who would efficiently facilitate the discussion. However, this is just a specific case one could use for comparing online course and traditional course. Th ere are other important issues that one needs to critically consider. In the actual online course, and based on experience, it is implied that a student needs to substantially come up with strategies for effective online learning. These include but not limited to setting objectives, spending time wisely, maximizing effective words and being adept with technology-integrated curriculum (Pankhurst, 2007; Forsyth, 2010; Adair, 2011; Information Resources Management Association, 2010). The major points of contrast in this case are the actual environment where to facilitate learning and the maximum capacity or potential of the student to apply competitive strategies in acquiring maximum learning advantage. In classroom learning and traditional course, it is the teacher who most of the time would find it for the students to lively initiate how to acquire the entire plan for learning. In other words, as a facilitator, the instructor or teacher would ensure that there is an actual applicatio n of planned lessons and even strategies how to facilitate and make sure effective learning on the part of the students. There is a sort of spoon-feeding in this area knowing the fact that at the end of the class, the facilitator or instructor would see to it that everything should turn out well as planned. The instructor would make sure that everybody is able to grasp the main concepts or ideas embodied in the lesson or discussion. Thus, in traditional course, students will be able to feel the personal touch of the instructor. In fact, after the lesson there is still another ample time for the students to interact with the teacher may it be either for some sort of clarification or additional learning and insights. On the other hand, the technology-integrated curriculum via online course may be a bit complicated, but it ensures experiences for the students suitable for the prevailing advancement in the 21st century (Ornstein, Levine & Gutek, 2010). In online course, the nature of le arning therefore may be a bit different from the traditional course because the instructor in the first place needs to make the necessary adjustment due to the kind of environment involved in the learning process. For example, the instructor needs to maximize the time and the effective use of words in this environment because there are constraints when it comes to initiating a two-way communication process. Based on experience, one constraint may be the