Introduction
So, you're about to start a new job as leader or manager of educational ICT. Just over a year ago we published a list of things you could do in order to make an effective start. This tied in with a series about making a good impression, by Alison Skymes.
Here's a new two-parter on the same theme, with 21 suggestions. There are ten new suggestions today; the next eleven will follow in two days' time.
Ask for some space on the staff noticeboard
Having an ICT section of the staffroom achieves two things. Firstly, it's a very practical way of making information available to your colleagues. Secondly, it serves as a reminder to everyone that ICT exists.
Write an entry for the staff bulletin
How often you do this, and what sort of entry, will be determined by the nature and frequency of the bulletin. If it's a weekly sheet informing staff of current things they need to know, an occasional entry like "The printer in room 4 has been replaced. If you'd like any help with using the new one, please see the ICT technician, Freda Bloggs" would be appropriate.
However, if it is more of a magazine-type publication that comes out once a term, offer to write a regular piece under a heading such as "Computer Corner" or "Tony's Tips".
Get to know your team
You don't know them, and they don't know you, so in your first team meeting ask each person to say who they are and what they do. For example, one of them might be the Child Protection Officer, or in charge of the stationery cupboard.
I would advise against giving anyone more than 2 minutes at the most -- including yourself. Quite frankly, nobody is interested in your career history: they will assume that, as you have got the job, you must be able to do it.
Find out who's doing good stuff in ICT
Not just in your team, but in the school in general. Ask your team. Maybe, for example, one of the science teachers has a penchant for databases. That was my experience once, and she not only promoted the use of ICT in science, but also ran staff in-service training sessions for me on how to use the database application we had in school.
Find out about technical support
Who does it? Are you in charge of them, or is a completely separate department? What do you have to do in order to get technical support?
Depending on the answers to these questions, you will not only find out some useful practical information for yourself, but they may flag up some issues that you may want to take up at a later time.
Start or streamline an equipment loan system
I've been into quite a few schools where non-ICT staff were either not aware that they could borrow equipment, or the system for borrowing equipment was either noon-existent or convoluted. If part of your job involves promoting the use of educational technology across the curriculum, this is something that will need sorting out.
Wall displays (1)
If you're allowed to, use the wall space outside the ICT rooms to display useful information and pupils' work.
Wall display (2)
As above, but inside the rooms. Don't take the easy way out by using some poster that appeared in an educational magazine 7 years ago.
(Check out the 5-part series published in the Leading & Managing Educational Technology section of the website. Search for "the importance of display". Alternatively, purchase the ebook entitled "A PRACTICAL Guide to... The Importance of Display".)
Start a review of the scheme of work
Does it reflect your aims for the students? Does it need updating? Is it so dated that it needs replacing altogether? You don't have to answer these questions straight away, of course -- the important thing is to start asking them.
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