NEIT2010-Mandate,+Motivate+or+Migrate+–+How+Do+We+Implement+Change?


 * Matt Lipstein - Mandate, Motivate or Migrate: How are we implementing change and innovation at our schools?**

How do we inspire innovation w/students, faculty & administration Switch (suggested reading for conference) Mindset by Carol Dweck • fixed mindset - cannot change • growth mindset - can learn and grow Hathaway Brown School, Ohio - Innovation Summit • theoretical • what is innovation and how do you do it? • The Secret Sauce of Innovation • Steven Johnson's Where Good Ideas Come From

CLICK - **C**onnecting **L**iteracy in the **I**ntegration of Technology with **C**reativity and **K**nowledge • how to empower teachers w/tech and learn 21st C skills • committee = tech team, US Head, academic dean • not a tech committe

**Mandate** - taboo • research shows mandating is counter productive • Drive by Dan Pink - mandating does not work b/c people do not see the purpose • idea of base line mandate (something that everyone can do) for lowest common denominator, such as mandating HW must be online • the mandate can spur motivation for some • no one right answer or approach; blended solution usually works • people need to see the reason for doing something (motivate the elephant) • our job to motivate, especially if we know a mandate is coming • show how it will not replicate but rather will extend what they are doing in their classrooms • mandating can get out of hand or back fire i.e. once someone checks a mandate off their list, they might not go any further with experimenting or trying • how you roll out a mandate, make sure you do it in the best way for all involved (timing, how you sell it, what else is going on in the school, etc) • Spence has a person who does a lot of 1:1 w/people; she begins w/the same question w/each – //What do you want to accomplish in your class?// (notice the lack of “technology” in her opening line)

**Migrate** - best foot forward and things will simply evolve (wishful thinking ;-) • on the other hand, some folks can have fine tech skills but not have an idea how to implement in their class • being a young teacher and/or fresh out of school does not guarantee knowledge of or desire to implement tech in the classroom • extract the tool and make it a pedagogy discussion - the tool can disappear but what is the vision • How do schools deal with time for PD? - someone who works 1:1 w/folks - Jim Foley’s teachers are mandated to meet w/him (alternates meeting w/groups one week and individuals the next) - issue of how time is divided equally vs most efficient use of his time; impact on just-in-time support b/c his time is so fully scheduled - Spence has Tech Shares time at fac mtgs - 5-10 mins of sharing what a teacher is doing, range from something simple to complex, teacher does the presenting - helps to have “interested & motivated” head of school

**8 qualities of innovative schools** (Peter Craft, Academic Dean at Peddie - The Secret Sauce of Innovation)) 1. dynamic trusted heads  2. polishing core curricula before embarking on change  3. performance-based learning and extended time on task a key part of programming (both for students and faculty)  4. community engagement and a new definition of service to others is an important element of school innovation (Tulane after Hurrican Katrina)  5. build on preexisting programs to broaden and deepen learning while being careful not to cannibalize existing initiatives - is this an add on???  6. willing to restructure their administrative aparatus and provide key leadership opportunities for classroom teachers  7. connect changes to their mission, history and traditions  8. foster a culture of acceptable failure and rigorous self-examination

how to keep conversation focused on value of the outcome rather than on the tool

empower teachers to be confident in their skills - screen literacy so they can transfer skills shout out to Summercore - @http://www.summercore.com/

**SWITCH** by the Heath Brothers, Chip and Dan Have a goal - and it needs to be concrete

//Direct the Rider// (the rational side) • the list maker, deals w/pros & cons, analytical side //Motivate the Elephant// (the emotional side) • emotion, feeling, eats comfort food ;-) //Show them the Path// (the steps to get to the goal)  Ways to Direct the Rider:  • follow the bright spots - what is already working and build on it  • script critical moves - keep the script simple and clear  • point to the destination - show the light at the end of the tunnel

Motivating the Elephant • show emotional appeal • shrink the change so it’s not such a big, complicated task • grow your people, rally the herd

Shaping the Path • are there changes you can make to go from A to B • tweak the environment • simple changes can bring much clarity

**Discussion around Emma Williard potential initiative** Initiative: ask a small group of faculty to spend 5 mins a day (with an egg timer!) looking at tech online, then meet to discuss it, hoping to have self-identified luddites in the group Discussion: • suggestion to start w/a group of administrators to get their buy in (although admins are already on board) • different goals for teachers and for admins, so maybe not combine them but keep as separate groups • at some schools having the admins present would be “the stamp of death” • perhaps “find the bright spots” to begin with or at least include in the group, because those faculty would be receptive - at Spence success w/cherry picking who is in the group • can turn a negative into a bright spot • what’s in it for the teachers who are already engaged w/this?

**PD options** • include kids in the discussion - very powerful voices - Montclair Kimberly Academy Student/Technology Leadership Group meets as a group w/faculty advisors • Rye Country Day Digital Wave summer week long PD that includes kids (grades 7-12) who assist in or teach sessions, then during the year they offer their services to faculty; they get in-house community service credit for their summer and school year efforts • Riverdale - head of school pledged $25,000 for $2,000 stipends (per person) for about a 40 hr committment - Pedagogy & Technolgoy Workshop - how to use tech to enhance what you are doing in the classroom - Bloom’s Taxonomy & 2004 revision of it to build a theoretical framework - use collaborative writing tools to facilitate the discussion along w/some other tools - goal to get participants to envision a project for themselves, create it and apply to their classes, then share in a future workshop - teachers had to submit a formal application w/a statement of interest - group has a range of tech skills

Process over Product

No right answer - bended solution for each situation

Everything starts with a conversation (Thanks Dan Pink :-)