Neit2009+Open+Space+2I

Open Space2 - I-Suite 130

Main Topics: - Encourage/enforce adoption of IT/EdTech hardware, software, practices, procedures - Avoid/prevent reversion after adoption - Out with the old, in with the new

- Set up a Tech Institute, offering a stipend/door prizes etc to encourage attendance; during summer time or off-season - Avoid after work sessions, no one wants to stay - Provide time off (through use of subs etc.) for training to avoid schedule conflicts - It is essential to have 100% admin backing, implementation has to be top-down approach; Heads -> Deans -> Faculty - Position the IT role as being there to help meet expectations of administrators - Project will be undermined without 100% admin support - It's a good idea to have training from an outside source rather than internal IT dept members; use designated training integrators (not quite IT members, not quite faculty) - Hold training sessions off-campus - Use short (15 minute) sessions; consider drop-in style informal meetings without admin presence to avoid pressure - Provide food/drinks in sessions to encourage attendee comfort - Encourage users to suggest topics for sessions: what do you want to learn? - Use baiting: show a sample of intriguing functionality to draw attention - Follow up sessions - what did you learn? - Use internal experts (faculty, staff) to present on specific topics - Teachers should be self-motivated to master technologies before students; in this way students indirectly apply pressure - When suggesting new software/hardware tools, find one strong selling point and push that, rather than overwhelming users with many features. What is the single most attractive feature - attractive to the target audience - of the new tool?

- Expect implementation to take a very long time (2 yrs for school-wide acceptance) - Create a roll-out/expectation plan with reasonable goals - Proceed in small steps, don't encourage/enforce complete functionality adoption - Keep at the forefront: out with the old, in with the new (and better for you!)

- Set a fixed drop-dead date for old/obsolete tools, after this the tools are no longer supported; during the transition period provide training for replacement products

See: Atomic Learning: http://www.atomiclearning.com/

Joel Lowsky, North Country School, jlowsky@northcountryschool.org Chris Mulios Ethical Culture Fieldston School, cmulios@ecfs.org
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