UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA

SGDU5024 - LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION

Nazzir Hussain Bin Haji Mydeen

(814066)

LECTURER
Prof. Dr. Abdul Moqim Rahmanzai

Table of Content:

1. Project Name 2. Background 3. Transformational Leadership 4. The Components of Transformational Leadership 5. The Problem and Solution 5. Project Aim and Objectives 6. Implementation Strategies 7. Evaluation and Contingency Plans 8. Bibliography 9

3 3 5 6 7

10 10 11

PROJECT NAME Basic Computer Engineering Course for Computer Technicians.

BACKGROUND Students nowadays are interested in information and communication technology (ICT). This tendency should be nurtured with the provision of and access to ICT, in line with the government's desire to produce students who are proficient in the field of ICT in the face of global competition. The government has equipped the schools across the country with a School Access Center.

School Access Center serves as a catalyst for ICT culture in schools. It is a learning space provided to enable students to make self-access learning available and diversify their learning style. Used effectively School Access Center is expected increase students' ICT skills for learning.

School Access Centre operates like a cyber cafe but more focused on learning. Students can search for and select their own learning resources according to their own rate and speed, self-directed and self-accessed.

With every School Access Center, the school is also provided with a computer technician to assist the teachers and students in using the ICT equipment and accessing the internet. The technicians are also expected to service and maintain the ICT equipment in good working order.

In Manjung, out of 101 schools in the district, 38 have been to date equipped with School Access Centers. In each school, a computer technician was also assigned. The technicians were fresh hires, aged between 21 to 25 years of age and come from various training environments. While there were a few who were quite adept in discharging their duties, there were some who were quite clue-less. The clue-less ones, would have accumulated a backlog of un-serviced equipment. This equipment would then be useless to their respective users. The local PKG would have to organize a workshop to gather the nearby School Computer Technicians to assist that particular school in servicing the equipment and bringing them back to full working order. These workshops would be resource limited and time consuming.

To address this problem, PKG Beruas has undertaken to form a smart partnership with INTAN, a Malaysian Governmental Training Agency to organize a training module to each School Computer Technician to provide them with the essential skill to discharge their duties.

Transformational Leadership Transformational leadership is a type of leadership style that leads to positive changes in those who follow. Transformational leaders are generally energetic, enthusiastic and passionate. Not only are these leaders concerned and involved in the process; they are also focused on helping every member of the group succeed as well.

According to James MacGregor Burns, transformational leadership can be seen when "leaders and followers make each other to advance to a higher level of moral and motivation." Through the strength of their vision and personality, transformational leaders are able to inspire followers to change expectations, perceptions and motivations to work towards common goals.

Later, researcher Bernard M. Bass expanded upon Burns original ideas to develop what is today referred to as Bass Transformational Leadership Theory. According to Bass, transformational leadership can be defined based on the impact that it has on followers. Transformational leaders, Bass suggested, garner trust, respect and admiration from their followers.

The Components of Transformational Leadership

Bass also suggested that there were four different components of transformational leadership.

1.

Intellectual Stimulation Transformational leaders not

only challenge the status quo; they also encourage creativity among followers. The leader encourages followers to explore new ways of doing things and new opportunities to learn. 2. Individualized Consideration Transformational

leadership also involves offering support and encouragement to individual followers. In order to foster supportive relationships, transformational leaders keep lines of communication open so that followers feel free to share ideas and so that leaders can offer direct recognition of each followers unique contributions. 3. Inspirational Motivation Transformational leaders have a

clear vision that they are able to articulate to followers. These leaders are also able to help followers experience the same passion and motivation to fulfill these goals. 4. Idealized Influence The transformational leader serves as a

role model for followers. Because followers trust and respect the leader, they emulate this individual and internalize his or her ideals.

The Problem and Solution

As mentioned above, the Computer Technicians are young fresh hires with little or no training in the required field. The norm is for Computer Technicians themselves acquire the nesessary knowhow on the job as they carry out their duties. Moreover, as it is a new post within the goverment organization, there is no precedent or training structures to follow or rely upon.

It is well known that Transformational leadership is a type of leadership style that nutures rather than curse the shortcomings in the subodinates. The leader will guide and provide an avenue that leads to positive changes in the subodinate who follow him.

In the case of the Computer Technicians who are faced with the task of doing a job without proper knowhow, it is only logical as leader to provide proper training to equip the Computer Technicians to succesfully carry out theor duties. The basic training would also be a spring board or start off point for the Computer Technicians to further their studies and enhance their knowledge and skills.

The smart partnership PKG Beruas has undertaken with INTAN, a Malaysian Governmental Training Agency will address this problem, by running a training module for the School Computer Technician to provide them with the essential skill to discharge their duties. The training would take place in three stages as the training labotory in INTAN is insufficient to cater all the 38 School Computer Technician from the Manjung District. The groups of School Computer Technicians will travel to INTAN Complex in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur by bus provided by the Manjung District Education Office. The week long course would begin with a pre-test and end with a posttest to access the success of the project.

Project Aim: To enhance the technical capabilities of Computer Technicians in schools to be more effective in managing and maintaining the computer equipments in schools.

Project

Objectives:

This course is open to School Computer Technicians in the Manjung District. To provide basic theoretical and practical knowledge about ICT equipment maintenance and installation skills. To provide guidance in technical support and assistance To increase the use of ICT in teaching.

Target Group: The project would involve 38 School Computer Technicians from 38 out of 101 schools in Manjung district.

Implementation Strategies

Smart-partnerships will be forged between the PKG Beruas, Manjung District Education Office and INTAN. The proposed course would have to run in three sessions as the Computer laboratory in INTAN can only accommodate about 28 participants at any one time. Further discussions would have to be conducted with the Institute to set the appropriate dates for the three sessions.

Evaluation and Contingency Plans

Each project participant will be given a Pre Test to determine their skill level before taking this course. Post Test will help assess the effectiveness of the project in achieving the objectives of the set standards. If standards are not met, further action should be taken to address the problems mentioned above.

Bibliography

1. Retrieved at: http://psychology.about.com/od/leadership/a/transformational.htm 2. Retrieved at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformational_leadership 3. Retrieved at:

http://changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/styles/transformational_leadershi p.htm