The Convergence of Educational Leadership and Technology Integration in Enhancing Teaching and Learning: A Descriptive Study in Public Secondary Schools in Isabela, Philippines

Abstract

In the digital age, the fusion of educational leadership and technology integration has emerged as a vital force in transforming teaching and learning. This study explored the role of educational leadership in nurturing technology integration within public secondary schools in Isabela, Philippines. It painted a vivid picture of respondents’ demographic and professional landscapes, evaluated school leaders’ self-reflections on technology integration, uncovered leadership practices and hurdles, explored teachers’ views on leadership support and its ripple effect on teaching and learning, and unearthed relationships and predictors of technology integration outcomes. Employing a quantitative descriptive-survey design, the study engaged 123 teachers and school heads, carefully chosen through purposive random sampling. Data collection was orchestrated via a researcher-adapted questionnaire rooted in the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) Framework and the National ICT Competency Standards for School Heads. The analytical symphony included frequency, percentage, weighted mean, standard deviation, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, and Multiple Linear Regression. The findings revealed that school leaders harbored positive perceptions of their roles and embraced leadership strategies that championed digital teaching and learning. However, challenges such as internet connectivity, technical support, funding, and teacher workload loomed large. The study uncovered significant positive connections among educational leadership, leadership practices, leadership support, technology integration, and teaching and learning outcomes, while challenges cast a shadow on educational leadership. Vision setting, professional development support, fostering a school culture of innovation, and resource allocation emerged as significant predictors of technology integration. The study concludes that effective educational leadership is the linchpin for cultivating sustainable technology integration and elevating teaching and learning in public secondary schools.