Research showed that although schools may offer a different
curriculum and different approaches to teaching and learning there remains
common characteristics among schools that nurture student achievement and personal
development.
When technology changes, it impacts the kinds of things we
want and need. Updates to technology change what we desire; as we desire new
things, technology changes to seek to provide them. The same goes for–or should
go for–education. To educate today’s students, schools have to adapt to this
and provide a modern education, that is infused with technology. To be
successful, schools need to change how they do business, and their teachers
have to add new skill sets to their repertoire. In this article, we will
discuss the attributes of successful schools in the digital world.
1.
Leadership
The first attribute is quality leadership. Students perform
better when the principal and school board members provide strong leadership.
Effective leaders are visible, can successfully convey the school's goals and
visions, collaborate with teachers to enhance their skills, and are involved in
the discovery of and solutions to problems.
2. High
Expectations
The second attribute is having high expectations of students
as well as teachers. High expectations of students have repeatedly been shown
to have a positive impact on student performance. Students are somewhat
dependent on the expectations placed on them during this period of their lives,
as they are still shaping their personal sense of ability and esteem. Teachers
who are expected to teach at high levels of effectiveness can reach the level
of expectations, particularly when teacher evaluations and professional
development are geared toward improving instructional quality.
3.
Ongoing Evaluation
The third attribute of a successful school is the ongoing
screening of student performance and development. Schools should use assessment
data to compare their students with others from across the country. Effective
use of assessment data allows schools to identify problematic areas of learning
at the classroom and school levels, so that teachers can generate solutions to
address the problems.
4. Goals
and Direction
The fourth attribute of a successful school is the existence
of goals and direction, according to research, the successful school principal
actively constructs goals and then effectively communicates them to appropriate
individuals (e.g., students, teachers, and the community at large). School
principals must also be open and willing to incorporate innovation into goals
for school processes and practices. So it's important to invite input from all
stakeholders in the process of developing school goals. Student performance has
been shown to improve in schools where the entire school community works toward
goals that are communicated and shared among all in the learning environment.
5. Secure
and Organized
The fifth and final attribute of a successful school is the
extent to which the school is secure and organized. For maximum learning to
occur, students need to feel secure. Respect is a quality that is promoted and
is a fundamental aspect of an effective and safe school. Successful schools
also have a number of trained staff and programs, such as social workers, who
work with difficult or troubled students before situations get out of hand.
