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4DX
There are a plethora of factors that go into blazing a new innovative trail. The four disciplines of execution are necessary when incorporating change. Chesney et al., (2012) argue that if we want to accomplish goals and produce results, as influencers of change, we must identify a strategy, and our ability to execute that strategy. While we feel our plans may be airtight, we must effectively execute this plan in order to see results. The infographic to the right gives a brief explanation of what the four disciplines of execution consists of.
1. Focus on the wildly important: The wildly important goal for implementing a blended learning environment is to get students in pilot classrooms to get accustomed to learning outside of the four walls of their classroom. The key to blended learning is to provide ample opportunities of learning for students, no matter the time or place. Once we accomplish this goal, we can work on other ways to implement blended learning.
2. Act on the lead measures: The first lead measure will be to provide one to one devices and resources for students to sue outside of school. This is critical, because if they do not have the technology or others resources available to them, it will be impossible for them to achieve the wildly important goal. The second lead measure will be participating in daily communication with parents on work that was completed at home. This is imperative because it will develop a routine at home that students must engage in every night, with their parent or guardian's supervision. Parents and guardians are also identified as influencers in this change, so we must involve them to increase our chances of success.
3. Keep a compelling scoreboard: Implementing this discipline will require our classroom to utilize a program that will acknowledge what students have accomplished in their off campus learning. Recently, I was trying to get my students to read and test on more Accelerated Reader books. So, I bought a chart, put all their names, and explained that each time they made a 100%, they would get a sticker. After I implemented this routine, my class took over 400 AR tests in a nine week period, and previously, they were only averaging about 120 books per nine weeks. Keeping a compelling scoreboard works, and they have proved this to be true. Now, we will incorporate a new scoreboard to give them the motivation they need to complete their home assignments.
4. Create a cadence of accountability: This discipline helps create leaders in our classroom. To create this accountability, students will choose a reliable accountability partner in the classroom. We will engage in using checklists everyday to observe what their partner completed the night before. The will also have discussions regarding the previous night's lectures or readings, because their collaboration may clear up misconceptions before they are met with teacher led instruction.
5 Stages of Change
The five stages of change will also impact how well change is adapted in innovation. It will be crucial to track these changes to measure success in our blended learning environment.
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Stage 1: Getting Clear- We have identified our need for change being blended learning, because there is an immense amount of time wasted on lecture and relaying the same information. Instead, we should be focusing on how to close students' academic gaps and improve their learning ability in any capacity.
Stage 2: Launch- The launch stage will require me to initiate contact with my resisters, which are usually the parents. This would be a suitable time to remind parents and guardians of the "why" regarding our desire for innovation. The models and potentials consist of the students in the classroom, and they may not want to engage in blended learning, especially outside of class. Meeting with students and parents initially, may help prepare them better for this transition.
Stage 3: Adoption- This will require students and parents to be consistent and diligent with frontloading assignments and come to school ready for discussion. Adoption is crucial to the livelihood of my innovation plan and will have stages 4 and 5 help support it.
Stage 4: Optimization- Students will have opportunities to collaborate with their peers and identify other ways they can creatively learn at home, or on the go. Giving students this responsibility will make them more independent and confident in their learning.
Stage 5: Habits- Once we have accomplished our first wildly important goal of learning outside of the classroom, we will utilize the same process, but we will move onto a new goal. The next phase will be focused on how we can reconfigure how teacher-led instruction, small group, and individual time will be presented and rotated through in our classroom.
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INFLUENCER + 4DX
The influencer and 4DX strategies will work hand in hand with the innovative plan I am implementing. Many of the aspects in each of the strategies are present in the other, As previously stated, to act on these disciplines, each influencer must possess the will to execute. This is why sources of influence are critical. Each influencer must possess motivation and ability, in order to successfully incorporate new change. Implementing blended learning in the classroom will require many moving parts, but that gives us a greater chance of being successful.
References:
Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer:
The new science of leading change. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
McChesney, C., Covey, S., & Huling, J. (2016). The 4 disciplines of execution: achieving your wildly important goals. Simon and Schuster.
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