The following report outlines the leadership development context for the 2010 Baillieu Myer Rural Education Leadership Scholarship winner, Mr. Gary Schultz. It aims to promote discussion about technology in education and blended learning in schools in particular.
The extension of leadership in rural education and personal professional growth made possible by the Baillieu Myer 2010 award took place within the field of blended learning. Blended learning refers to a learning environment mediated by technology where teachers use a mix of strategies in both synchronous and asynchronous modes of support and delivery.
This report draws on Mr. Schultz’s professional learning experience during 2010‐2011 – action research, study tour and use of research literature – to show how the meaningful inclusion of technologies into teaching and learning is creating new and significant possibilities for rural education. As Moyle (2010:5) states: “The challenges for educators in the 21st‐century can be summarised as requiring fresh thinking about what is taught, how it is taught and why it is taught”. A major outcome of the professional inquiry enabled by the Baillieu Myer Award and presented in this scholarship report is validation of the idea that blended learning is a viable and meaningful educational alternative for rural students and their teachers.
