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Pre1suf

How to Move Teachers Through

the Innovation-Decision Process

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Pre2sufKnowledge

Present an in-service to teachers on Active World at each elementary school

Survey Elementary schools to see which school is the most receptive to utilizing a Parent program through Active World

Whichever school has the highest percentage of interested teachers, create a team of innovators to train in the use of Active World

Work with team to get input on how to develop the project; create ownership of the project

Meet weekly for one semester prior to using the parental development strategy to grow knowledge in using the program

Team members will meet biweekly in small groups to present information, to answer questions, and to take suggestions on the program

Survey teachers monthly to find out how their knowledge is developing and provide training where there are questions

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Pre3sufPersuasion

Use the surveys to get a feel for the climate of using Active World in the school

Send out weekly emails on data and research that supports the use of Virtual Worlds

Set up opportunities for the teachers to experience the progress of the development and to have continued input into the process

Offer an incentive for trying out the site: Each teacher gets their name put in a drawing to have one of the buildings named after them each time they log onto the site

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Pre4sufDecision

Review the data to see if teachers are on board for diffusing the innovation

As a whole team, let the teachers know that they have been chosen to participate in the study

Allow teachers that are completely against the process to drop out of the study

Their parents will still have access to the site, however, they will be given another teacher as a facilitator

Work with teams to see what role teachers will play in the process; Stipends will be awarded depending on role

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Pre5sufImplementation

Implementation will be for a one year period to see if the parents involved in virtual parent involvement show an increased interest

Teachers from all over the district will have the opportunity to present on a topic that will be available in the virtual environment

High school students will be utilized to help build the virtual environment

Information will be sent to parents encouraging them to participate online

Computers will be available during the day at the school and a list of available computers (library, community center…) will be available to parents for evening use for parents that do not have a computer

Tutorials will be placed on the school website; they will also be available in hardcopy for parents that do not have computers and in other languages for non-English parents

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Pre6sufConfirmation

Data for parent involvement will be collected from all schools to see if the online environment is equal to or better than those with typical parents

Teachers and parents will be interviewed and surveyed to see how the program fits into the school and planning for teachers

Data will be presented to the Board A decision will then be made whether to continue the program or

to nix the program