TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION AND TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP IN SCHOOLS AS LEARNING ORGANIZATIONS

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate technology integration in primary schools from the perspective of leadership in learning organizations. To that end, the study examines two groups: school administrators who play effective roles in technology integration in schools and computer teachers who are mainly responsible for schools’ technology integration. In particular, this research focuses on the administrators’ attitudes towards technology and the computer teachers’ awareness of technological developments. Thirty-eight school administrators and thirty-five computer teachers who work in primary schools in Amasya, Turkey, participated in this study. The administrators completed a questionnaire regarding their attitudes towards technology integration, while the computer teachers were asked about their awareness of Web 2.0 technologies. In addition, interviews were conducted in order to thoroughly understand school administrators and teachers’ opinions about technology integration and technology leadership. The questionnaire results showed that, although administrators’ attitudes towards technology were largely positive, they gave negative responses for some items. On the other side, although teachers are aware of Web 2.0 technologies, few think to use such these technologies in the classroom.