presentación cercles 2012 managing technological change

managing technological change: meeting the challenge

what technology?

hardwareIWBs; computers and projectors in classrooms, multimedia room and teachers room; handheld devices, laptops, smart phones

softwareMicrosoft office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)Google Docs (Drive, Calendar, iGoogle)digital course material (iPacks, CDROMs) internet (Youtube, Vimeo)online applications (Dropbox, Vox, Box)online campus (Macmillan Campus, Moodle)online resources (Wikipedia, Word reference) webpages (BBC learning English, Listen a Minute)blogs (Tefltecher, Film English, Lesson Streaming)email (Hotmail, Gmail, Institutional emails) social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Ning, Wiki)

Cartoon by Dave Walker.

what changes? (apart from technologicalinnovations)

teaching culturenew activities, methodology, collaboration, perceptions, interest and motivation, CPD, new personal and professional skill sets, technological democracy, lack of fear, flexibility

management culturecommunication, explicit strategy, supportive institutional climate, freedom to experiment, learning organisation, open-mindedness, bottom-up initiatives, continual alignment of vision, flexibility

why bother?part of mission statement or strategic plan of the centretechnology is in the “real world”keeps centre in touch with realityimproves quality of serviceincreases learning potentialprovides solutionsrevitalisationnew skillsprofessional opportinitiesempowermentfreedommotivationvision of the futuremeans to an end, not the end in itself Cartoon by Inkcinct

what’s the plan then?

1. long term vision of the centre 2. key techno-savvy teachers (guides)3. project leader(s)4. draw up project plan (SMART objectives)5. communicate plan 6. bring teachers on board (empower)7. implement training & actions8. feedback9. consolidate short term gains10. tweak plan (as often as necessary)11. repeat steps 7, 8, 9 & 10 12. measure success (statistics)13. technology normalised (new culture created)

what did we do?

strategic plan & mission statement

“We offer quality teaching using a communicative approach whilst innovating, researching and continually improving our methodology.”

Cartoon by Hikingartist

project proposals

training

get feedback (Surveymonkey)

consolidate - teachers’ guide, job plan

new actions – creation of teachers’ social network

new actions - creation of teachers’ wiki

what could go wrong?

anxiety, stress & resistancecomplexitylack of informationtraining inadequatetime lag in systembar too highlack of communicationmindless implementationtechnical glitcheslow usage vs. unexpected usageperception of use vs. reality of usetrying to use all technology at oncemisconceived expectationsmemory loss

Cartoon by Hugh MacLeod

what makes the project succeed? (1)

simplicity & claritysufficient resourceslearning stageclear advantagessmall successeskeep momemtumopen door policypersonalisationtolerance of failureacceptance of initiativeslead the way but allow for deviationfollowers fans converts proselytisersluddites – accept them! lurkers – embrace them!

Cartoon by Dave Walker.

what makes the project succeed? (2)

training formalinformalpeer coaching70% / 20% / 10%back to basicshands on sessionsinternal vs. externalongoingset training goals

the webmaster is dead, long live thecollaborative worker!

Cartoon by Geek and Poke

how do we know ifchange has happened?

hold a conference or two

successful blogs

A couple of books on Change Management:

Our Iceberg is melting : Changing and succeeding under any conditions - John KotterSwitch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard - Chip and Dan Heath