Peran Kepemimpinan Digital Kepala Sekolah dalam Membangun Budaya Sekolah yang Inovatif
Keywords:
kepemimpinan digital, kepala sekolah, teknologi pendidikanAbstract
The absence of strong digital leadership in schools can lead to various short- and long-term consequences. First, technological integration will remain superficial, limited to the provision of devices without meaningful transformation in pedagogy. This may result in low utilization of technology in learning, ultimately leaving students without the essential digital competencies required in the real world. Second, the digital divide will continue to widen. Students from underprivileged families or remote areas will fall further behind if school principals fail to implement policies that ensure inclusive and equitable digital access. Third, a culture of innovation within schools will stagnate. When leaders do not provide space for teachers and students to experiment and take risks in technology-based learning, creativity and competitiveness inevitably decline.
This study aims to explore how school principals fulfill their roles as digital leaders within the context of Indonesian schools. A qualitative approach is employed using the library research method. This approach is deemed appropriate for gaining an in-depth, contextual, and interpretive understanding of the phenomenon of digital leadership among school principals. It also allows the researcher to explore the meaning, values, and dynamics behind leadership practices in 21st-century education.
Digital competence is essential for school leaders to plan and implement technology-based policies effectively. This includes visionary leadership, pedagogical competence, digital literacy, strategic planning, and an ethical and systematic understanding of digitalization (P. A. Baldera et al., 2025);(Lindqvist, 2023). School leaders are expected to lead collaboratively and adaptively, manage resources strategically, and comprehend both the technical and organizational challenges involved in the digital transformation of schools (Håkansson Lindqvist & Pettersson, 2019); (Kirinic et al., 2023).
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