Escrito por Julieta Muñoz y Sabrina Resendiz Hoy en día, la tecnología es una herramienta esencial en todos los trabajos, incluso en educación infantil. Por eso, hemos diseñado un taller básico de Hojas de cálculo de Google (Google Sheets) para educadores, asistentes de salón de clase, coordinadores y directores de programas de la primera infancia que buscan mejorar su organización y el seguimiento y eficiencia administrativa. Este taller está dirigido a educadores, asistentes de aula, directores, personal administrativo y cualquier profesional en el área de la educación infanti l que desea mejorar sus habilidades digitales. Este curso virtual ofrece una introducción sencilla para quienes están empezando a usar hojas de cálculo. Durante el taller, los participantes aprenderán a: Navegar Google Sheets con confianza : aprenderán a usar la interfaz básica y a acceder a sus hojas de trabajo desde cualquier dispositivo con conexión a internet. Crear y organizar hojas de cálculo : aprenderán a crear documentos, nombrarlos adecuadamente y organizarlos en Google Drive. Ingresar y editar datos : cómo introducir información de manera ordenada y precisa, y cómo modificarla cuando sea necesario. Usar funciones básicas : como SUMA, PROMEDIO y CONTAR; ideales para organizar y dar seguimiento a información como asistencia, inventario de materiales, y desarrollo infantil. Aplicar formatos simples : para resaltar información importante, como cambiar colores, ajustar tamaños de texto y usar bordes para mejorar la visualización. Compartir y colaborar en tiempo real : cómo compartir hojas de cálculo con colegas o supervisores y trabajar en equipo de manera remota. Proteger la información sensible : conceptos básicos sobre cómo gestionar permisos de acceso y edición para mantener la información segura y confidencial. Beneficios de participar en nuestro taller Participar en esta formación y familiarizarse con las hojas de cálculo ofrece múltiples beneficios para los profesionales de la educación infantil: Mejor organización diaria : Mantener un registro de asistencia, listas de materiales, programación de actividades y seguimiento de niños será más rápido y eficiente. Ahorro de tiempo : Automatizar cálculos y organizar la información en un solo lugar reduce el tiempo dedicado a tareas administrativas. Facilidad de colaboración : La posibilidad de trabajar en tiempo real con colegas mejora la comunicación y el trabajo en equipo, especialmente en ambientes virtuales o híbridos. Fortalecimiento de habilidades digitales : Tener conocimientos básicos en Google Sheets es un paso importante para avanzar en otras herramientas tecnológicas educativas. Mayor autonomía y confianza profesional : Al desarrollar estas habilidades, los educadores pueden trabajar con más seguridad y fluidez en sus tareas digitales diarias. Si desea fortalecer sus competencias digitales, acompáñenos a este entrenamiento completamente gratuito. No se necesita experiencia previa en hojas de cálculo. El curso se ofrecerá en formato virtual con ejercicios prácticos y acompañamiento personalizado. ¡No pierdas la oportunidad de mejorar tus habilidades digitales y transformar tu práctica educativa con herramientas simples y efectivas como Google Sheets! Haga clic aquí para registrarse para este curso que se llevará a cabo el miércoles, 12 de noviembre de 6:00 a 7:30 p.m CST. ¡Lo esperamos!

By Emilie Austin Introduction: The Power of Scaffolding in Leadership Onboarding Starting a new role at any level can feel like stepping onto a treadmill already running at full speed. Between learning protocols, building relationships, and navigating new systems, leaders often experience both excitement and overwhelm. Yet, when orientation is intentionally scaffolded, the experience transforms from chaotic to purposeful. Materials are introduced in stages, checklists guide progress, supervisors encourage autonomy, and mentors offer timely feedback. These are components of an effective learning design that support confidence and competence. This approach, used at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University, reflects the backward design framework, emphasizing clear outcomes, alignment, and reflection. When applied to leadership onboarding, backward design ensures that new leaders quickly understand not just what to do, but also why their role matters and how it connects to the organization’s mission. Learning Through Design In the early weeks of transition into the manager of learning experience design and innovation role, I quickly observed that McCormick’s onboarding process mirrored principles long used in instructional design. Orientation sessions are sequenced with intention, each building toward a deeper understanding of institutional culture, values, and systems. Rather than rushing to master everything at once, new employees are encouraged to move through a scaffolded structure. This eased the learning curve and modeled a key leadership competency of creating the conditions for others to succeed through thoughtful, staged support. Leadership Insight: Observe Before You Act Many leaders are driven by passion and a desire to make an immediate impact. However, effective leadership, especially in a new environment, begins with observation. Maria Montessori’s “observe first” principle applies as much to leadership as it does to teaching. Observation allows new leaders to stand on the shoulders of those who came before, learning from their successes and challenges. It cultivates humility and respect, ensuring that decisions are grounded in the collective experience of the team. As in instructional design, intentional observation leads to intentional action, which builds trust, strengthens collaboration, and aligns innovation with purpose. When leaders approach orientation and leadership development through the lens of scaffolding, they model the practices they hope to cultivate in their teams. A scaffolded approach communicates respect, clarity, and care. It reminds us that growth takes time, learning is relational, and the path from newcomer to contributor is built one intentional step at a time. Practical Strategies for Leaders Leaders can apply scaffolding and backward design principles to their own teams through the following steps: Start with clear outcomes. Identify the skills, knowledge, and dispositions you want your team to build over time. Sequence for success. Break complex initiatives into manageable stages that progressively build mastery and confidence. Model reflection and feedback. Create opportunities for both giving and receiving constructive input. Encourage observation. Invite new team members to spend time learning the organization’s culture and rhythm before leading change. Balance urgency with intentionality. Move strategically, not reactively, ensuring that innovation aligns with shared goals. Resources for Deeper Exploration Bernstein, Ethan S. “Making Transparency Transparent: The Evolution of Observation in Management Theory.” The Academy of Management Annals, vol. 11, no. 1, 2017, pp. 217–66, Wiggins, G. P., & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by design (2nd ed.). Pearson. Talan, T., Masterson, M., & Bella, J. (2023a, April 4). Whole leadership: A framework for early childhood programs – 2023. Whole Leadership: A Framework for Early Childhood Programs – 2023 | McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership. https://www.mccormickinstitute.nl.edu/whole-leadership-framework

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