This #5Tips4LMS blog series provides tips and tools for adopting and implementing a Learning Management System at your school. The leadership tips are based on Andy Stanley's books Visoneering and Making Vision Stick as well as John Kotter's book Leading Change.
Find links to these and other books here. Part 1: A Problem and A Solution Part 2: Create Momentum Part 3: Cast a Vision Cast a Vision: A golf ball Picture
You can see something that others can't yet envision. You have a picture of what a school incorporating technology meaningfully and impacting student learning looks like. You are the only one with this vision, so you have to be the one to cast it in all directions.
This video illustrates your vision - it is a TV commercial celebrating Jordan Spieth's FedEx Cup win. Take a minute to watch it before you keep reading. Watch it twice actually. The first time, take it all in. The second time, notice that it starts with only ONE golf ball and count how many seconds it takes for the image to come into focus. This video embodies these Truths about Vision:
The work behind the vision
There is a lot of work behind a vision. Since you are the Vision Holder you have to direct each person in their contribution to the larger vision. Just imagine how this mosaic artist got others to envision the Jordan Spieth image before it was created. Golf balls? In the shape of Jordan Spieth? You're crazy! But he told them what to do and where to put each ball. And the mosaic came to life. Bring your vision to life by crafting a framework for teachers to work in so that they are constantly contributing to the vision.
State it Simply
Andy Stanley names four stages of casting a vision and stage one is to simplify your vision until it is mobile, accessible, and clear enough to use as a filter.
Vision: Use technology to achieve learning goals Questions that drive the vision:
Once you have the technology integration vision simplified you can begin to communicate it to all stake holders. Casting the Vision Up and Down the Ladder
You are the only one who can see this vision that you have crafted. Remember the Jordan Spieth image - the others can only see the first golf ball. You have to find a way to communicate this vision to everyone around you - even those above you in the chain of command.
Communicate to Stakeholders:
One time is not enough
Remember: You are the keeper of the vision. Absolutely no one else can see it or articulate it the way that you can (it's not about being better than anyone; it is truly just about being able to envision something that others cannot yet see). So therefore, you can't just say it once and think you are done. You have to continually cast the vision.
This means that every time you have an opportunity to share your vision with a leader in your school, you do it. Yes, you will sound like a broken record. At least they will know that you are consistent and serious about this effort and change. You will get push back - from pretty much everyone in the stakeholder list. You keep that record spinning and keep sharing the vision. It will take months and even years before people can see even a few more golf balls in the vision. You have to embrace the leadership role of casting the vision constantly. Make your vision come to life
Nothing works better as a way to communicate your vision than concrete examples. You need to look for the bright spots as Chip and Dan Heath talk about in their amazing change management book, Switch.
Find examples of teachers in your school using technology to meet their learning goals. Find them and highlight them in every avenue you can. In a blog post, in a faculty email, in a staff meeting, in an article for the website. Find ways to emphasize what this change looks like when it is done right and how it transforms the classroom when it is used well. You create a win-win situation because you have praised a teacher for his hard work and encouraged him in his efforts toward making change in his classroom. But you've also shown the rest of the staff or community what success looks like. Find ways to celebrate your teachers and raise them up as exemplars and models for others.
This #5Tips4LMS blog series provides tips and tools for adopting and implementing a Learning Management System at your school. The leadership tips are based on Andy Stanley's books Visoneering and Making Vision Stick as well as John Kotter's book Leading Change. Find links to these and other books here.
Part 1: A Problem and A Solution Part 2: Create Momentum Part 3: Cast a Vision Create momentum: Pile on the pressure
Quarterbacks do their best work under pressure. There is nothing else in sports like the two minute drill -- when a team has under two minutes to score to win the game, they have to be focused and intentional and perform under the most intense circumstances. A good quarterback will get a team to a win because of the pressure and momentum around the must-win scenario.
You need to create this type of momentum and pressure around the need for a new Learning Management System (LMS) by establishing a sense of urgency. In the previous blog post, you read about Establishing A Problem and A Solution, but even if you make it abundantly clear that there is a need for a new LMS, there is no guarantee people will see the RUSH behind adding this new element to every other initiative you currently have at your school. John P. Kotter in his book, Leading Change, emphasizes the importance of creating a sense of urgency around the need for change. Without this new energy surrounding the change, complacency settles in and people revert back to the old methods without much concern. A momentum is needed to get people moving and the urgency is needed to keep people on task with the change efforts. 21st century learners
To create urgency and momentum, set the stage for the reality of the 21st Century. It is surprising how many teachers do not take into account the changing world around us. Only five years ago, there was no such thing as an iPad, now many house holds have one and affluent households have one designated for each child.
We have a new kind of student in front of us. The term "digital native" has taken on all kinds of meanings, but the truth is that we have a new kind of learner with new expectations coming to our classrooms, whether we are ready or not. This is hard to express to teachers so use concrete examples. I always use these two videos to illustrate the new kind of student we have coming into our classrooms now. I've also seen people reference social media posts from their friends' kids with iPads in hand. We will do these students a disservice if we continue to teach students in the traditional model and postpone changing the pedagogy around 21st century learning. Standards provide clarity
Nothing creates urgency like standards. I hate to say it, but because of the focus on standards in most schools, you may be able to use this one to your advantage. Have you or any of your leadership used the ISTE Standards as a base for evaluating teachers? Have you even told your teachers about the standards for students? Are these standards the driving force behind your search for a new LMS? Take a peak at the standards for leaders and coaches and ask yourself if you are doing enough in these areas.
Establish a truncated version of these standards to share with teachers. Looking at these documents can be very overwhelming, just like most standards documents. Take time to simplify them down to the three main ideas that are most relevant to your school and present them to leadership and teachers as another reason why your school needs to adopt a new LMS now. ISTE ESSential conditions
ISTE also provides a list of "Essential Conditions," which are the crucial pieces of implementation, engagement, and support needed to implement a technology rich environment like a LMS. ISTE provides this framework and tools for leaders to use when implementing large scale technology change. Use them as guiding forces for your planning.
You are not alone
Although you might feel like creating momentum around this huge change is a canon you will never be able to get across, know that you are not alone and there are resources for you. Other people have done this and done it well, so seek them out and use the tools available to you online.
Common Sense Media has 1:1 implementation tools that could easily transfer to a new LMS or any other technology initiative.
This #5Tips4LMS blog series provides tips and tools for adopting and implementing a Learning Management System at your school. The leadership tips are based on Andy Stanley's books Visoneering and Making Vision Stick as well as John Kotter's book Leading Change. Find links to these and other books here.
Part 1: A Problem and A Solution Part 2: Create Momentum Part 3: Cast a Vision Part 1: Identify the problem and bring a solutionYou Need A new Learning management system
The truth is, you just aren't sure why others don't see it. Your school needs a new Learning Management System - or it just needs one! You are trying to move your teachers into the digital age and 21st century learning, yet they don't have the tools to make that type of learning happen. They use this as an excuse - and they don't move forward and everything stays stagnant. How are you going to help them see the need? How are you going to help them see the way that a Learning Management System will change everything by giving them the tools to create collaboration in an online space?
Establish the problem
The truth is that without the vision in place people don't even know how a Learning Management System can change the classroom environment. You have to start by making sure that you establish the LMS as a necessary and vital element to learning.
Start by asking a lot of questions. To get to the root of the problem, you need to start with the teachers who are in the trenches of teaching. Asking questions like:
Realize that the problem might be the process, not the product. In my situation, I realized quickly that I needed to streamline the process for teachers. The current system we had (a combination of Moodle and our SIS) was not efficient, and therefore caused them not to use it. So I asked them, "Why don't you use Moodle?" It was the teachers who brought me reason after reason why the current system wasn't working for them. Gather Data.These questions led me to start gathering some concrete evidence I could share with the leadership through a needs assessment. I surveyed the teachers and gathered groups of teachers together to discuss the LMS and why it wasn't working. The quotes and data I collected through the online Google Form survey were the basis for establishing the problem and being able to articulate it to the school leadership.
Make a list of the needs. I took their complaints about the current system and asked them what they would prefer to see. Soon I had a list of needs. These were the driving focus areas for my research into looking for a new LMS to adopt.
Focus on workflow and easy of use. The above list of needs had very little to do with Moodle's capability. Honestly, Moodle is one of the more capable learning mangagement systems available. It all had to do with the workflow and ease of use for teachers. By asking questions, I was able to establish the true needs and then address them directly with the new LMS. Provide a solution to the problem
Change initiatives should start with the problem. Take the time to establish the problem from the feedback from teachers because it will help motivate them moving forward. Capitalize on their willingness to try a better way as the start to their intrinsic motivation to change.
Present the new LMS as a solution to a problem. You want the LMS to address and solve the frustrations that teachers face regularly and are ready to change. Answer these questions as your propose your solution.
Avoid the temptation to talk about the "once we have it, we will be able to" features that are not directly related to the problem. This is a tricky one. As the person doing this research, you know all the capabilities of a new program and what it can offer to teachers. But where we think those are amazing doors opening us to collaboration and global communication in the classroom, others may not feel the same way. Focus on selling the features of the new LMS that directly solve people's problems, and you will have more success in winning them over. TRY THIS TOMORROW: Start establishing the problem and making a case for needing a new LMS by conducting informal, causal interviews with teachers to hear their thoughts on the tools you currently have in place. Write down things you hear people saying and start to establish your list of needs. The Next Step? Help the leadership to see why this is needed now and cannot wait. Read the next installment of this adoption and implementation blog post series here: Part 2: Create Momentum Part 3: Cast a Vision |
About AllisonAllison is an K-12 Instructional Coach. Her goal is to empower educators to grow continually. Recent Posts#5Tips4LMS Series
Cast a Vision Create Momentum A Problem and a Solution HIGHLIGHTED POSTS Re-Center on Vision Letting Go of Control The Power of Positive Feedback Inspiring a Love of Reading Turning Ideas into Habits The Truth About Writing This I Believe Essay Quiet Leadership Qualities Thinking About New Ideas Goals Provide Focus The Power of Twitter Use Storify to Organize Tweets Build a PLN Categories
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