It is no longer questioned that the school leader has a significant influence on both
what and how students learn. From their review of available evidence, Leithwood et al.
(2004) determined that classroom instruction is the only school-related factor that has a
greater impact on student learning than the school leader. As school administrators
begin to retire in large numbers, it is imperative that educational leadership programs
assist in creating a qualified pool of applicants filled with trained professionals
who know how to envision and implement the necessary functions of a school (Bottoms
and O’Neill, 2001).
A key component of educational leadership and preparation programs in the USA is
the administrative internship, an experience in which aspiring school leaders
assume roles at school sites to gain hands-on leadership experience. Despite the crucial
nature of this phase of preparation for educational leaders, there is much disparity both
between and within states as to the requirements, implementation, and evaluation of
the internship experience for students. Further, Fry et al. (2005) criticized internship
programs for a lack of active and direct leadership opportunities, stating that current
internships focus mostly on passive and observational activities.
understanding.
Second, the quality of ICT use in informal learning must be examined for a better
understanding of ICT use and learners’ performance. Sometimes, individuals use ICT in
personal contexts (home, cafe´s and pupils’ houses) more than in schools, and then those
experiences can affect ICT use in schools in some ways. As noted by Wittwer and
Senkbeil (2008), however, the frequency of ICT use outside of schools may not be
sufficient to explain its impact on educational performance. In-depth investigation is
needed to clarify the best way to use ICT in informal learning contexts. Most activities
in school settings might be pre-determined by teachers and through national standards,
but all experiences and activities outside of schools cannot be known precisely. ICT
change”, TechTrends, Vol. 46 No. 1, pp. 21-3.