Abstract:

In Sweden the digitalization of K-12 schools has been ongoing for more than 30 years. Several larger governmental initiatives targeting issues like for example the one-to-one classroom and teachers’ development of digital competence have been carried out but the outcomes have not been as positive as hoped for (Fransson, Lindberg, & Olofsson, 2018, Tallvid, 2015). In the research literature, there is growing evidence of the importance of long-term and well-anchored strategies, such as functioning ICT plans (Vanderlinde, Dexter & van Braak, 2012), as well as voices for a system approach for understanding the leadership needed for the digitalization of K-12 schools (Schrum & Levin, 2016). There is also research highlighting the importance to applying a multi-level analysis for understanding ICT implementation and educational change (Wong & Li, 2008). In autumn 2017, the Swedish Government suggested one such strategy for the digitalization of the Swedish schools (Swedish Government Decision, 20171019). One interesting aspect in the strategy is the aim indicating that students, teachers, school leaders, as well as other staff members working in the schools is to develop what is called an ‘adequate digital competence’. Departing from data gathered within a 4-year longitudinal Swedish research project investigating the advanced use of IT in upper secondary schools, this paper focus on educational IT-strategists/managers that work on a municipality level and their role in the process of developing the digital competence in schools. Using a semi-structured interview approach, three educational IT-strategists working in three different Swedish municipalities have provided their views about their work description, their function as strategists/managers and their understanding of digital competence. The first analyses shows clear variations regarding for example how the strategists formulate their own role in the ongoing digitalization of the school as well as within which conditions they can carry out their work.

Keywords:

Digitalization, K-12 school, IT-strategist, Research projects.