digital school transformation - managing change with effective strategies

Digital School Transformation

Joseph Perkins

Manager

Digital Pedagogy Team

August 2010

Managing change with effective strategies

http://www.slideshare.net/geepatty/if-youre-riding-a-horse-and-it-dies

What the best strategies for school transformation? How do you get your ‘giddy up’?

What is it that we’re really talking about?

“Many reform efforts target the superficial aspects of schools, but disregard the values, beliefs, behaviours, rules, products, signs, and symbols which serve as the very foundation of the school – the culture.”

(Donahoe, 1997)

“Education, compared to many other professions, has been slow to focus on the “black box of instruction” in order to develop, identify and spread specific, high-yield practices that are known to get results.”

(Fullan, Hill & Crevola, 2006)

We know the ingredients…

… we know the cooks…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_of_innovations

… we know the cooks…

Trinidad, 2005

… we even know what the end product looks like…

… but what is the recipe?

Technology in schoolsis a change agenda

yet…

“Schools should be admired for their resistance to change”

Adam Brice on Twitter

“Steeped in tradition and reliant on practices that have long outlived their usefulness, many of our nation’s high schools are in dire need of reform, but so far, many efforts have proved unsuccessful at transforming this venerable institution. While there are numerous examples of elementary schools that have been turned around – from low performing to high achieving schools – there are relatively few examples of high schools that have undergone a similar transformation.”

Noguera, 2009

“The presence of change knowledge does not guarantee success, but its absence ensures failure”

Fullan, Cuttreee & Kilcher, 2009

Refreeze

Unfreeze

Compelling case

Examine the core – using data

Challenge TTWWADI

Manage doubts & concernsChange

Create urgency

Leadership coalition

Vision and Planning

Communicate often

Involve community

Empower action

Remove obstacles

Strategise to promote change

Anchor change in culture

Develop sustainability

Celebrate

Involve external parties

70% of change initiatives fail.

Why?

(Zigarmi et al in Blanchard, 2006).

Knoster, T., Villa R., & Thousand, J. (2000). A framework for thinking about systems change. In R. villa & J. Thousand (Eds.),Restructuring for caring and effective education: Piecing the puzzle together (pp. 93-128). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

Giddy-up!

Fullan, 2006

“If you take any hundred or so books on change, the message all boils down to one word: motivation.”

It’s hard.

“Whether positive or toxic, the introduction of change will serve to bring the dominant features of the school’s culture to the surface.”

http://www.usca.edu/essays/vol122004/hinde.pdf

“The sceptics are just waiting for a reason to NOT come on board. They are waiting for an excuse and as soon as one of your plans does not go smoothly they will jump on the opportunity to spread dissent amongst the ranks. Some of those who were just about climbing on board may now start to jump ship and it will be even harder to get them back”

(Ferris, 2004, p.2)

1. Denial ‘It is just another fad and it simply won’t happen’

2. Resistance ‘I haven’t got the time and anyway, we have always done things this way’

3. Exploration ‘OK – maybe I’ll listen, but what is in it for me?’

4. Commitment ‘I believe in this and I am with you.’

(Ferris, 2003,p.2)

Which stage are you at?

http://www.leanhrm.com/images/project_change.jpg

What needs to

change?

How will we do this?

Who will be responsible?

What could promote change?

What could block change?

Whole School Vision

Instructional Model

Learning Spaces

Curriculum

Professional Development approach

Rethink budget

Digital Resource ‘Packs’

Communication

Incentives

Community involvement

Mentoring

SupportAlignment

Pause and Reflect

Defining next steps.

Thank you.