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When you are the technology coordinator, you wear many hats. One of those hats is peacemaker. There are often so many opinions on what technology should be added to a school community. As the technology coordinator, it is your job to not only research and find what will work best in your school, but also deal with administration who may have their own, different opinion. So what do you do when you encounter conflict with an administrator on technology acquisition?
Research
The first step in dealing with differing opinions with your school’s administrator, is to first research as much as you can! You need to be aware of the network configurations, what devices work effectively on the network, what the cost analysis is for different devices, etc. Frazier and Hearrington, (2024), state, “Regardless of the network type, it is critical that a technology coordinator work with experienced technical experts to design and install the most appropriate network for a particular location.” (p. 150). Wang, C. (2009), states, “A practical technology plan can prevent the budget issue from interpersonal conflict because it can be the key reference for how the budget should be spent instead of arguing who has the right to make the decision. This case reveals that technology implementation can be hindered if the principal did not take up the responsibility for managing resources effectively.” (p. 53). Just like generals need to be prepared in battle, so too do you need to be knowledgeable about what you are talking about.
Understand Their Point of View
When having to begin a difficult discussion, it is very important to understand the person’s viewpoint and choose the best way to facilitate your frank answer of no. You want them to feel like you value their opinion and are not just pushing it aside because it is different from your own. Research their ideas, try to understand where they are coming from, why they chose the device(s) they chose, etc. to ensure their opinions feel valued and respected.
Face to Face Discussion
When having to begin a difficult discussion, it is very important to understand the person’s viewpoint and choose the best way to facilitate your frank answer of no. Hilkemeijer, M. (2018) states, “Choose the situation carefully in order to predispose the listener to being receptive. For example, wait until they are back in their rooms before school or if in a larger school, they may have their own department rooms. Avoid trying to give them advice on initiatives if they are on the way to the staff room.” (para. 7).
A private, face to face discussion would be a safe choice when meeting with the administration. Starting with a positive note is a great place to begin the honest and difficult conversation. I would commend the administration on their choice of new technology and how they are taking an active role in the technology acquisition process. I would then calmly and without too much emotion or frustration, explain how their idea would not be feasible in our school setting. I would lay out the reasons why, trying to be aware of their feelings when explaining why their idea wouldn’t work. I would have the budget handy, and provide the cost analysis of their idea. Having all of this information on hand will be beneficial in explaining why their idea wouldn’t work, while also making the administration feel like you truly researched their idea and tried to make it work. When dealing with a difficult conversation, it is always important to show respect and that you are not dismissing their ideas without first truly listening to them.
Compromise
Yes, compromise. You have to work with this person for awhile. You do not want to burn this bridge by dismissing their ideas quickly. This doesn’t mean that you have to purchase half of the devices they requested and half from your list. But instead, you should compromise on WHAT you purchase. Offer similar alternatives to their suggestions that would work on the school’s network and make sense cost-wise. This shows that you are willing to listen to the administrators and will try to find a way to make their suggestions work as best you can with the technology parameters given for your school.
In justifying your recommendation, you should explain the importance of following the network guidelines and ensuring that the devices would be a practice purchase for the school. If a school adheres to implementing devices that are reliable and connect to the network already in place, connectivity would be more efficient and the technology would be more effective in the school.
Put Your Foot Down
What happens if the administration still won’t budge on their suggestions and attempt to purchase the technology even when given a firm no from you? Adhering to the budget and network requirements when purchasing new technology equipment should always be first and foremost. This means that you may have to put your foot down and repeat a strong “No!”
A good administrator knows the importance of a balanced budget and should understand that purchasing the new equipment should fall under these guidelines. A technology coordinator’s job is to not only do their own research and purchasing, but must provide good reasoning for their decisions. The purchasing of technology falls under a technology coordinator’s job description, not the administration. So although the administration may believe they know what is best for the school, it is your job as tech coordinator to guide the decision making process and be confident in your abilities to research the best practices and devices for your school.
References
Burnett, J. [Counseling with Mr. B]. (2021, Oct. 27). Resolving student conflict:
Strategies and techniques for educators [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6WR8taYXXc
Frazier, M. & Hearrington, D. (2024). The technology coordinator’s handbook (4th ed.).
Portland, Oregon: International Society for Technology in Education.
Hilkemeijer, M. (2018, July 16). How to communicate effectively as an educational
leader and tech visionary today. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-communicate-effectively-educational-leader-tech-hilkemeijer/
Wang, C. (2010, Jan.). Technology leadership among school principals: A technology
coordinator’s perspective. Asian Social Science 6(1). 51-54.
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI agree that the technology coordinator has a lot of responsibility. Depending on the size of your district also plays a crucial role in how much the technology coordinator does. Erickson (2025) states that a technology coordinator is "responsible for setting up and managing school devices, ensuraing a secure internet network, and troubleshooting and fixing school technology for students and teachers". Not only are they in charge of devices within the district but they do research and assess every device and program to make sure that it fits the networks infastructure. Frazier and Hearrington (2024) highlight the importance of having a working relationship with experienced experts to ensure the schools network performs to the best of its ability (p.150).
References:
Erickson, J. (2024, April 16). How is an Educational Technology Coordinator Different from an Instructional Technology Specialist? — IntegratED Teacher. IntegratED Teacher. https://www.integratedteacher.com/blog/technology-coordinator-vs-instructional-technology-specialist
Frazier, M., & Hearrington, D. (2024). Technology Coordinator’s Handbook: A Guide for Edtech Facilitators and Leaders. International Society for Technology in Education.
Great post. Part of understanding another persons perspective is being an active listener. Active listening allows us to escape our own echo chamber and consider differing ideas and opinions that often conflict with ours. Some ways of being an active listener is to Make good eye contact. pause our own inner conversations, and ask open ended questions. (Maryville University, 2023) This allows us to consider how someone feels and what there opinion is. People have a tendency to surround themselves by like minded people, and technology only makes this worse by the use of Algorithms. Active listening can open us to better ideas and different perspectives.
ReplyDeleteMaryville University. (April 2023) The Value of Different Perspectives in Professional and Learning Environments. Accessed on 4/7/2025. https://online.maryville.edu/blog/gaining-understanding-different-perspectives/