In Activity 3: Leadership Reflections, we have been tasked with reflecting on the literature and our own leadership perspectives, and consider which leader attributes are essential in digital learning environments (DLE).
I am currently teaching in the television-broadcasting program at Humber College in Toronto. One of the courses I am facilitating this semester, camera and lighting, is presented in a hybrid format, which can be challenging for students who thrive in hands-on learning environments. During the weeks that the course is online, it is essential for me to use the synchronous sessions and tools within Blackboard (Humber’s learning management system) efficiently. In addition, as the course professor, I must be active in the DLE and provide students with a positive learning experience.
When reflecting on my experiences in digital learning environments and the literature examined in the LRNT525 course, the most important attributes of a leader working in a DLE are communication and support. Due to the evolution of technology, leaders can now communicate with students and provide them with important information using different devices in real-time (Shenigner, 2019). In the context of my hybrid camera and lighting course, communication happens within synchronous sessions and discussion forums, where I share my knowledge and experiences in the industry, and students reflect on their learning and can ask questions. Moreover, a supportive leader in a DLE involves attending to the needs of the students (Alotebi et al., 2018). In the course I teach, this generally includes providing content in multiple formats (PowerPoint, video) and setting up a time to meet virtually with students who require extra support.
Communication and support are both qualities that are present in transformational leadership. Alotebi et al. (2018) explain that transformative leadership ensues when leaders and followers engage in a way that raises their motivation, performance, and morality levels. Transformative leaders focus on “communicating a strong vision for change and building supportive relationships with followers” (Castelli, 2015, p. 218). This type of leadership can offer students the inclusivity and connections essential in these digital spaces. Research found that transformational leadership can “effectively enhance virtual students’ learning and group performance, and it is associated with students’ satisfaction and affective learning” (Alotebi et al., 2018, p. 159). It was interesting to discover that the attributes I believe are essential in a leader of a DLE coincide with those of the transformational leadership model, which has been proven in the literature to be effective within DLEs.
References
Alotebi, H., Alharbi, O., & Masmali, A. (2018). Effective leadership in virtual learning environments. International journal of information and education technology, 8(2), 156-160. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijiet.2018.8.2.1026
Castelli, P. A. (2016). Reflective leadership review: A framework for improving organisational performance. Journal of Management Development, 35(2), 217-236. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-08-2015-0112
Sheninger, E. (2014). Pillars of digital leadership. International Center for Leadership in Education, 1(4), 1-4. https://www.hmhco.com/blog/pillars-of-digital-leadership-in-education
February 5, 2023 at 5:01 pm
Thanks for your personal and informative post, Giulia.
I can see how communication would be essential for you as you work in a hybrid learning environment. Would you say that you also see this trait in your organization’s leaders?
I like your connections with transformative leadership as well. Although I am unfamiliar with this leadership framework, your quotes added context and explanation. Particularly the last quote, which suggests transformative leadership “…is associated with students’ satisfaction…”. I am curious, do your students fill out a survey regarding your course? If so, have you thought of adding questions that pertain to leadership as part of the survey?
Thanks again,
-Terry
February 6, 2023 at 6:42 am
Thank you for reading my blog post, Terry. Since the course I am teaching is in a blended format, I feel as though sometimes students rely on communication even more when we shift to online. I think this is an area that our organizational leaders need to continue to work on. As a part-time instructor, I certainly get left out of some of the essential conversations being had and wish I could be more involved in this communication.
In regard to student satisfaction, students fill out Student Feedback Questionnaire’s (SFQs) at the end of the semester. I have never added to the additional questions at the bottom of the SFQs, however, I believe that may be a great spot to see students’ perspectives on the level of leadership from the organizational level and within the learning environment.
Thanks for interacting on my blog! -Giulia
February 5, 2023 at 8:56 pm
Hi Giulia,
Your post makes some thoughtful connections between transformative leadership and virtual teaching and learning. Thanks for sharing it.
Interesting to learn more about your camera and lighting course and to learn that you teach. As a film grad and former digital journalism instructor, I have to say I find it quite fascinating you are able to teach it as a hybrid course since these are such a hands on skills to develop. That would be challenging! We had to guide our students in creating audio and video pieces via Zoom during the pandemic and both students and faculty found it difficult.
How have the students responded to the course? How is this course helping you reflect on leadership as an instructor?
I really enjoyed working with you on our first task and I’m looking forward to our next one! 🙂
February 6, 2023 at 6:52 am
Thank you for your comment, Alex! I was excited to find literature directly connecting digital learning environments and transformative leadership.
It has been extremely difficult to transition the course to a hybrid format, and it is something that I continue to try to improve. Students connect better to the material when presented in person, using the equipment and putting the theory to practice. However, I am finding ways to make the online content more interactive and find ways that the students can collaborate online and then apply what they learn to our in-person classes. Initially, I felt a lot of pressure to shift the content online as I feel in-person is more beneficial for the students. However, through trial and error, I’ve used the feedback from students and made adjustments to the course and will continue to do so. Thanks again! -Alex
February 7, 2023 at 11:31 am
Hi Giulia,
Thanks for sharing your experience! I always find your job teaching television-broadcasting fascinating. It must be difficult to teach hybrid when it is such a hands-on learning environment. I can resonate your case to a new technology tool implementation project I did during the pandemic. Besides switching all training contents to online, we had to communicate and remotely train almost 2000 employees across the province. We had people who were reluctant to change and expressed frustrations and concerns at that time. How did you balance the communication and support in your hybrid model so that you were not over or under-communicating to your students?
Thanks,
Megan
February 12, 2023 at 7:38 am
Hi Megan,
Thank you so much! Pivoting my camera and lighting course to online was extremely difficult. I have only recently been able to appreciate the flexibility that it allows students and some of the opportunities for reflection that it has also allowed. I was discussing with a colleague just this week about people’s resistance to change. I am one of those individuals who have a tough time adapting to change, never mind initiating it. In regard to communication and support, I send out weekly reminders to the cohort, have a forum where they can ask questions, and also encourage students to reach out through email if they require some one-on-one support.
Thanks for engaging!
Giulia
February 7, 2023 at 6:11 pm
Hi Giulia,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and like others have shared, I am also fascinated with your teaching area, and how you share hands-on skills with your students in hybrid learning environments. One of my favourite projects was figuring out how to do our first year chemistry lab through distance delivery – we really needed to break it down to what the essentials were, and then provide activities students could do with minimal equipment at home. Would love to hear more about your courses! Thinking also about leadership – your point that you are often not consulted on decisions that are made or miss out on communication is so relevant to many contexts. I have noted that now that many are back in the office at least part of the time, that we are back to more hallway conversations. And these are great, but it means not everyone gets the information they need, or are involved in providing input. It was an issue that never was solved during remote working (coming up with a good way to communicate to all), and I think that this is something we really need to work on – having more open communication. Similar to Megan’s question above, how do you get to the balance where you are not over or under communicating to ensure that everyone is involved?
February 12, 2023 at 8:01 am
Hi Michelle,
To be completely honest, transitioning a highly hands-on course to a hybrid format was not enjoyable for me initially. I had a difficult time designing material that was engaging for the students. Since students do not have cameras and lighting equipment while online, I had to find a way that would demonstrate their understanding of the techniques they were learning. For example, when learning about camera composition, I have them use digital cameras or their phones to achieve various techniques and send a paragraph to speak further to their knowledge of the techniques. Regarding communication, recently a colleague of mine (who is also a leader in our space) and I were discussing finding the balance in effective communication. Our department is now using Microsoft Teams, and have different threads for different topics, which definitely helps with sorting the information that is relevant from the information that does not apply to me.
Thank you for your comment!
Giulia