iPad Opportunities Execution
Achieving Wildly Important Goals In Spite of a Whirlwind
In Spite of the Whirlwind
Daily lives of teachers are busy. There seems to always be another task or duty that they are expected to do, on top of making sure that every student is being successful in their classroom. The daily pursuit of all of these is the “whirlwind” as described in the book 4 Disciplines of Execution, by Sean Covey, Chris McChesney and Jim Huling (2012).
It is the whirlwind that makes the progress of school continue, but it is getting outside of the whirlwind that makes student learning better.
It is the whirlwind that makes the progress of school continue, but it is getting outside of the whirlwind that makes student learning better. In spite of constant pressure and directive to move from the status quo of student learning, one must determine one or two wildly important goals, “WIGs” (Covey, S., McChesney, C., & Huling, J., 2012), to effect change in the student’s learning environment. The authors write that by following the four disciplines, an organization can break out of the whirlwind and achieve these wildly important goals. By using the Influencer model to influence organizational change, as described in this previous post, and installing the 4 Disciplines of Execution as a method of breaking from the whirlwind and focusing on one or two wildly important goals, we can increase the educational opportunities for our students with the use of iPads.
Getting Clear Stage
Developing a clear, wildly important goal is key to a successful implementation of the four discipline of execution (4DX). The WIG demonstrated in the presentation above is an example of the product that could be created by a collaborative team. It will be utilized as an outline of the WIG that could be but adapted after input and discussion with the school administration and team leaders. This work session is focused on the key actions to implement 4DX; focus on the WIG, determine high-leverage lead measures, create a player’s scoreboard, and schedule and hold weekly WIG sessions (Covey, S., McChesney, C., & Huling, J., 2012, p. 108). After developing the WIG and defining the most influenceable lead measures that will move the lag measures, it is time to launch.
Launch Stage
On the day of the launch, the leadership team prepares for the whirlwind to override our clear goal and determined focus is done. To counteract this, a series of proactive, precautionary actions are taken. First, a WIG huddle will take place the first Monday of implementation. In this huddle team leaders will quickly, orally recommit to their team’s weekly commitment one more time, reinstating an action of accountability to the team as a whole. Secondly, there are those that have the potential to succeed and those that will fully resist the model. To the potentials, an extra amount of mentoring and coaching from me, knowledge of the technology and pedagogy, and their peers, those that know the content and pedagogy (TPACK Explained). Bringing about success from support with additional training and mentoring. This mentoring and training will continue when shifting into the “Adoption” phase.
Adoption Stage
Once 4DX has been launched, it must be adopted by all teachers and administrators. Adherence to the weekly WIG sessions is key to this. As these are held every week, on Tuesday mornings at 7:40 AM in the T.H.I.N.K. Tank, it is a part of the standard routine. As shown in the preceding presentation, there will strict guidelines followed during these WIG sessions to limit the focus and drive away the whirlwind from disrupting the success of the WIG. Drawing in the resistors and continually supporting the potentials is also key. It is a focus of mine, and the initial adopters, to answer any questions or discuss any concerns with the resistors. In doing this, I plan for the resistors to become potentials as they adopt the iPad into their classroom. Potentials will be continued to be coached, celebrated for their success and developed toward making a more student-focused classroom with the adoption of the iPads.
During this time the six sources of influences will also play a major role. During weekly WIG sessions, my commitments will focus toward the ability influencers with teacher determined training, the creation of a socially supportive and accountability space, and strong technical support for implementation. Also, personal motivation is accessed by giving teachers the choice of apps deployed. Administrators and opinion leaders will model to provide social motivation. The structural support of faculty meeting celebrations, extrinsic motivators of goodies for top performing teams, and images and videos of iPad implementations in classes around common areas and teacher workspaces will all be accessed to increase adoption of 4DX.
Optimization Stage
new ways to optimize the initiative are encouraged and awarded
There is a shift toward optimization as the teachers and administrators are adopting 4DX. As described in the initial plan, a community of learners is established. It is this community that will steer the plan to optimization. The community is developed through an online resource and discussion site. Here, new ways to optimize the initiative are encouraged and awarded. Exemplar lessons and resources are shared to increase success for all teachers. Potentials that are now adopters are celebrated for their continued work and commitment toward their students. Encouragement of teachers and administrators to clear the path for others will also be encouraged. Path clearing, removing issues that are causing lead measures and weekly commitments not be successful, are given large celebrations. It with this clearing that can be the final support resistors will need to become potentials and eventually adopters. When optimization is occurring, habits will form. These habits evidence true change.
Habits Stage
It was not the original goal of this plan to just get students to use the iPads, but to make the use of iPad as an educational environment changer. The “Habits” phase is the point of fruition for this goal. When 4DX is optimized the WIG is achieved, but in order for 4DX to become a habit new WIGs will constantly be added as WIGs are completed. When a WIG is completed, a celebration is held, recognizing those that were initial adopters, emphasizing those that are no longer a potential but a success, and celebrating the effect it has on students. A continuation of the focus on lead measures drives teacher, student and administration performance. Focusing on goal driven, accountable performance will improve the student learning experience.
to make the use of iPad as an educational environment changer
References
TPACK Explained. Retrieved October 29, 2016, from http://www.matt-koehler.com/tpack/tpack-explained/
McChesney, C., Covey, S., & Huling, J. (2012). The 4 disciplines of execution: Achieving your wildly important goals.
