This is a presentation that I gave at the 2011 Middle School Conference at the Gold Coast. I was presenting about how to create sustainable change within a school. It using the diffusion of innovations as a framework and focuses on getting the teachers involved in the process of deciding on the relevance of the innovation and implementing the innovation.

1. Creating Sustainable Change

2. Creating Sustainable Change Shane Mason Head of ICT Cleveland District State High School www.clevdistshs.eq.edu.au www.shane-mason.com shane.mason@eq.edu.au @shanemason

3. Our journey

4. 21st Century Education It breaks the mould. It is flexible, creative, challenging, and complex. It addresses a rapidly changing world filled with fantastic new problems as well as exciting new possibilities. http://www.21stcenturyschools.com/What_is_21st_Century_Education.htm Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jiscinfonet/291373032/in/set-72157600082017535/

5. This is the time between timesfor educators working with technology. Beforemobile, ubiquitous and ‘everywhere’ computing become the visible norm, but aftera time when educators could sit back and wait for the digital revolution to pass on by - John Nalder http://ulearning.edublogs.org/

6. technology is no longer a choice

7. ICTs bring with them a whole wealth of engagement and educational opportunities but we can’t blindly accept them without challenging their role within education.

8. Technology is merelya Tool for Learning http://www.flickr.com/photos/51159953@N00/189670488

9. Cleveland District SHS eLearning Vision Our teaching and learning drives the use of technologies in the classroom where we engage students in a rich learning environment that draws upon an international perspective. As a school community we value safe and ethical use of technologies.

10. Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1182265 Are our students satisfied with… how often they use computers for learning in class? the opportunities to make use of online learning environments? the way they are using ICT for learning at school?

11. Are our teachers satisfied with… the opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills in making ICT integral to learning? their access to appropriate ICT to do their job? the school enhancing eLearning opportunities for students by providing additional infrastructure, devices and/or software?

12. We needed to develop a model to shift ICT practices within the school

13. The FIZZER Model Humanities Mathematics Science Business Man Arts / Home Ec Student Support HPE Creative Arts

14. Whole School Professional Development Humanities Mathematics Professional Development 21st Century Education Science Business Man Arts / Home Ec Student Support HPE Creative Arts

15. Whole School Professional Development Humanities Mathematics I really thought you had some good ideas. It really makes you think. Science Business I wish I had the skills to do that. Man Arts / Home Ec Student Support Well it’s easy for you, you are the Head of ICT. HPE Creative Arts

16. Focused Hands-on Professional Development Humanities Mathematics Small group ICT Professional Development Science Business Man Arts / Home Ec Student Support HPE Creative Arts

17. Focused Hands-on Professional Development Humanities Mathematics It was really good to see different technologies. It doesn’t really suit what I am currently doing. Science Business I haven’t got the time to implement this. Man Arts / Home Ec Student Support Well it’s easy for you, you are the Head of ICT. HPE Creative Arts

18. Faculty Specific ICT Professional Development Humanities Mathematics Faculty Specific ICT Professional Development Science Business Man Arts / Home Ec Student Support HPE Creative Arts

19. Faculty Specific ICT Professional Development Humanities Mathematics It was really good to see how it might work for us. It was fine. But not for me. Science Business I haven’t got the time to implement this. Man Arts / Home Ec Student Support Well it’s easy for you, you are the Head of ICT. HPE Creative Arts

20. All of these models seemed to lacked sustainability

21. What were we doing wrong? Staff were willingly coming to Professional Development Some staff were actively using the ICTs in their classrooms (a bit) However, any small changes and innovations were very localised and “once offs”

22. What were we doing wrong? We were making decisions about technology based upon what we thought the school needed We were trying to be innovative “on behalf” of the teachers The teachers needed to be involved in the decision process

23. “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.” Bill Gates Chairman of Microsoft

24. We needed a new model for creating sustainable change.

25. We needed a new model that included the teacher in the decision process.

26. Diffusion of Innovations is a theory that seeks to explain how, why, and at what rate new ideas and technology spread through cultures. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_of_innovations

27. Diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system (Rogers, 1983. p. 11)

28. Diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system (Rogers, 1983. p. 11) Innovation: an idea, practice, or object that is perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption

29. Diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system (Rogers, 1983. p. 11) Innovation: an idea, practice, or object that is perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption Communication Channels: the means by which messages get from one individual to another

30. Diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system (Rogers, 1983. p. 11) Innovation: an idea, practice, or object that is perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption Communication Channels: the means by which messages get from one individual to another Social System: a set of interrelated units that are engaged in joint problem solving to accomplish a common goal

31. Fivestep innovation process

32. Fivestep innovation process Knowledge In this stage the individual is first exposed to an innovation but lacks information about the innovation.

33. Fivestep innovation process Persuasion In this stage the individual is interested in the innovation and actively seeks information/detail about the innovation.

34. Fivestep innovation process Decision In this stage the individual takes the concept of the innovation and weighs the advantages/disadvantages of using the innovation and decides whether to adopt or reject the innovation.

35. Fivestep innovation process Implementation In this stage the individual employs the innovation to a varying degree depending on the situation. During this stage the individual determines the usefulness of the innovation and may search for further information about it.

36. Fivestep innovation process Confirmation Although the name of this stage may be misleading, in this stage the individual finalizes his/her decision to continue using the innovation and may use the innovation to its fullest potential.

37. Fivestep innovation process

38. Fivestep innovation process  Innovation implementation process

39. Fivestep innovation process  Innovation implementation process ☐ Key staff members to drive change within their faculties

41. These “innovators” would be given access to resources and spaces to learn in.

42. These “innovators” would be responsible for sharing their ICT journey with others.

43. Adopter Categories

44. Selling it to the Admin Team We outlay some money and support

45. Selling it to the Admin Team We outlay some money and support We give the innovative/early adopters the tools and let them explore the possibilities

46. Selling it to the Admin Team We outlay some money and support We give the innovative/early adopters the tools and let them explore the possibilities We give them a space to collaborate and interact

47. Selling it to the Admin Team We outlay some money and support We give the innovative/early adopters the tools and let them explore the possibilities We give them a space to collaborate and interact They move the “early majority”

48. Adopter Categories

52. willing to engage in a Professional Learning Network

53. required to meet to discuss classroom practices, eCurriculum, eLearning and engaging 21st century learners

54. willing to mentor other staff in BOTH classroom practices and their Smart Classroom professional development journey

55. not entitled to any reduced teaching load because of this program

57. ICT Innovators Shane

58. ICT Innovators Catherine Shane Steph Chris Dan Di

59. Fivestep innovation process  Innovation implementation process  Key staff members to drive change within their faculties

61. Had a chat

63. Had a chat

64. Informally discussed my goals for the Innovative Teacher Program

67. Had a chat

68. Informally discussed my goals for the Innovative Teacher Program

69. Created a website to blog on

71. “91% of Australian teachers report that if they are more innovative in their teaching they would not receive any recognition in their school”

73. Second Meeting Fivestep innovation process

75. Elmo L-1EX Document Camera

79. How do we measure success?

80. innovation is only innovation if it is adopted

81. innovation is only innovation if it is adopted The rate of adoption is defined as: the relative speed with which members of a social system adopt an innovation (Rogers 1962, p. 134)

82. innovation is only innovation if it is adopted Within the rate of adoption there is a point at which an innovation reaches critical mass. This is a point in time within the adoption curve that enough individuals have adopted an innovation in order that the continued adoption of the innovation is self-sustaining.

84. Recording dissections and adding them to a virtual classroom

85. Student time-lapse experiments

87. innovation is only innovation if it is adopted Innovation: Bringing outside experts into the classroom Virtual classrooms used so students could get feedback from University Researchers in Canada Virtual tour of a University Research lab Next step: Video conferencing with overseas classes

88. innovation is only innovation if it is adopted Science English

89. http://www.flickr.com/photos/94058312@N00/4383221264

90. innovation is only innovation if it is adopted Using Personal Video Recorders (PVR) to analysebody movement

91. innovation is only innovation if it is adopted

92. How do we deal with failure?

93. Some innovations may seem like a good idea at the time… http://www.flickr.com/photos/67853403@N00/50177989

94. “If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative.” Woody Allen

95. Innovation is not only about technology It is about changing the way we think about teaching and learning

96. “We must become the change we want to see.” Mahatma Gandhi

97. “Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” William Pollard

98. go on… adopt an innovation today http://www.flickr.com/photos/77436208@N00/4261606838