Educational leadership in the digital age

Technology is not the future of education; it is the present. It’s clear that technology in schools is no longer optional. Now the real question is which technologies truly benefit students and teachers.

This is where strong educational leadership comes in. In the digital age, school leaders must be savvy and strategic, choosing the right mix of software, devices, and teacher training that will genuinely enhance learning. The goal is to prepare students with essential skills while avoiding technology that might become obsolete just a few years later.

Navigating this rapid change and making effective decisions for students and staff is now a core part of what it means to be an effective educational leader. The online Master of Science in Education (M.S.E.) in Educational Administration from the University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences prepares graduates to offer transformational and inspirational leadership in the digital age.

This post explores the challenges facing educational leadership today, as well as the benefits that ed tech brings to the modern classroom.

Embracing technology in education

Integrating digital tools into the curriculum is essential. Education specialists have identified multiple benefits to using technology to enhance learning experiences:¹

• Boosting classroom engagement: A 2023 study demonstrated that classroom tech and gamification through the use of technology makes school more fun for students²
• Preparing students for a digital world: Most jobs will involve digital apps and devices
• Personalizing learning experiences: Ed tech apps facilitate a more tailored approach to learning, allowing students to move at their own pace 
• Aligning with student expectations: Students are immersed in technology during their daily lives, and the classroom should reflect that
• Improving collaboration: Apps like Flip and Google Classroom encourage collaboration and sharing
• Connecting to the world: Tech-enabled classrooms allow students to use interactive learning methods and connect to other cultures in ways that previous generations couldn’t

Encouraging institutions to embrace the benefits and advantages of ed tech is one of the key roles of educational leadership in the present age. New methods and tools may not be universally beneficial, but if educators do not maintain an open mind about technology and digital tools, they risk losing touch with the generations they are aiming to inspire.

Developing digital literacy in students

Fostering digital literacy in students can be a challenge for educators. Teachers must instruct students on how to use apps and devices, as well as help students focus their minds on the substantive skills these tools are designed to develop.³ This is part of preparing students for a technology-driven world. Increasingly, life in the 21st century requires us to use a new app or digital tool to access resources or information we need, whether for work or for day-to-day tasks.

Schools also have a role in teaching good habits to students regarding media balance, mental health safeguards, and critical and creative thinking. Setting boundaries around the use of digital tools and media helps students establish balance in their lives, which in turn lets them save time for exercise, hobbies, and time with friends and family. School administrators should also develop clear policies on cyberbullying to deter abusive online behavior.

Adapting leadership styles to the digital era

School administration in the digital era increasingly requires teachers to adopt new techniques and tools, such as moving from traditional classrooms to remote and hybrid learning environments.

Training programs and qualifications such as KU’s online PK-12 Certificate in Educational Administration prepare administrators by promoting leadership styles adapted for modern requirements. This program provides learning techniques associated with transformational leadership, which focuses on ways to inspire and generate positive change in institutions.

Challenges in educational leadership

The digital divide might be the most pressing issue facing education—and, by extension, educational leadership—in the US today. Part of the divide involves access to technology. Common Sense Media’s 2020 study found that only 63% of children below age eight in lower-income households had home computer access (compared to 95% in higher-income families).⁴

However, according to a 2024 report from The Center for American Progress, the digital divide also describes what is happening in classrooms. At some schools, students are developing apps and publishing e-books, while at others, technology use is limited to more passive activities, such as sending emails or watching YouTube videos.⁵

Effective school leadership is challenged to be transformational on two fronts: to overcome institutional resistance to change in traditional educational systems, and to inspire students to engage fully with the potential of the technology available to them.

The future of educational leadership

Technology has transformed education and educational leadership. Today’s educational leadership needs to have a clear digital strategy, including digitizing and automating processes. Leaders must also be able to adapt from traditional classrooms to hybrid learning environments.

Adapting to digital transformation requires more than ensuring there’s Wi-Fi in the classroom. Best practices include having a meaningful policy regarding the use of AI as a learning tool, leveraging data analytics to monitor and forecast student performance, and automating enrollment and communications processes to make better use of staff time and energy.⁶

Advance your career in educational leadership with KU

Technology is moving fast and will continue to evolve quickly. This requires educational leadership to be able to inspire institutions to embrace change and remain agile in the face of the constantly shifting tools and apps developed to aid the learning experience.

KU's master's in educational administration and the online PK-12 certificate in educational administration are qualifications designed to prepare the next generation of leadership in school administration.

If you’re passionate about education and want to develop your leadership skills to be part of the ongoing digital transformation of our schools, take a look at our curriculum and admissions requirements online. When you’re ready to discuss the next steps in your career, schedule an appointment with one of our admissions outreach advisors.