Embedding Innovation and Change
Making sustainable change involves repeated learning cycles before our new ways of working become embedded. Fullan (2005) reminds us of the need to rethink each stage as the strategies that bring success at the beginning of an innovation may not be the ones that are needed in later stages. This means doing much more than repeating what you did in the previous cycle. So what is needed?
When you move to innovation you leave certainty behind. You need to remain flexible so that you can manage new and emerging technology and as you adapt to new circumstances that may almost certainly arise. You need to take your learning to new levels and involve more of your school as leaders.
New cycles of action are informed by previous experiences and reflections and continue to grow collaboration and coherence with expanded teams across the whole school. The focus always remains on teaching and learning as you:
Most of all it is vital to:
Challenge
Your challenge at this stage is to embed innovation and change across the whole school.
Something to consider...
This module has been built on a number of assumptions:
When you move to innovation you leave certainty behind. You need to remain flexible so that you can manage new and emerging technology and as you adapt to new circumstances that may almost certainly arise. You need to take your learning to new levels and involve more of your school as leaders.
New cycles of action are informed by previous experiences and reflections and continue to grow collaboration and coherence with expanded teams across the whole school. The focus always remains on teaching and learning as you:
- involve 100% of the school community in the program so that it is driven by the energy and commitment of all teachers and students
- implement the findings from your previous cycle's assessment
- strengthen and deepen the communication so that the strategy and process is continually shared with the whole school
- continue to test strategies/processes in the school environment, especially collaborative processes focussed on the classroom and improved student learning
- build your personal leadership capacity
- build the leadership density and capacity in your school by continuing to provide intensive professional leadership learning for your teacher leaders
- continue to engage the whole school community in all phases of change thus overcoming barriers and blockages by using an open process
- ensure shared ongoing assessment and evaluation inform all future planning and actions
Most of all it is vital to:
- foster creativity,
- build trust, and
- encourage and support risk taking in the collaborative school environment that is essential for creating a genuine culture of innovation!
Challenge
Your challenge at this stage is to embed innovation and change across the whole school.
Something to consider...
This module has been built on a number of assumptions:
- You have already worked through the modules on vision, planning, implementing and assessing and so will not need additional learning to support these processes
- You have access to the earlier materials and your reflections if you wish to revisit your notes and thinking
- You will now be working as part of an experienced team that will be involved in all areas of this implementation. This team will have the skills and knowledge from the program combined with a deep understanding of context which is critical at this stage in a change process
- The support networks that you have established will continue to be available to you in the future
- You will keep quality communication as a critical consideration
- It is impossible to predict what research, policies, resources and support may be available to you in the future. The team should survey the educational environment and research available resources and support as they move forward.it is critical to keep looking over the horizon...
- This program is about innovation. When we are being innovative there is challenge and uncertainty because there is no right answer. If you are doing what you know works you are probably implementing change but it may not be an innovation.
- Your goal is to ensure that 100% of the school community is involved as you deepen the learning experiences for everyone