Project Zero Day 5

David Perkins spoke on the last day of the institute about how to take these ideas back to our schools.  He mentioned the 5-year effect: new ideas get implemented, get traction, then slowly lose that energy and eventually die off.  So, how do we make sure the energy does not fall away, and that key ideas and frameworks can have a long life?  One thing that many schools do use is what Perkins calls the "installation model" of implementing change.  Some training happens, maybe posters and brochures are made, teachers implement it, but then over time things begin to change back to the way they were.  How do we combat this and ensure longevity?  David talks about the "ecological model" of introducing change which has 4 main "legs": 

1. Frameworks - pick a few strong frameworks; don't overload with frameworks because that will cause chaos
2. Leadership - have two leaders: the political visionary and the practical visionary.  The political visionary approves budgets for the change, sells the change to parents and the staff, is a champion for the cause, and most likely is the principal and/or assistant principal; the practical visionary has a deeper role - they manage the program "on the ground", talk about it with the teaching staff, and is usually a teacher or group of teachers.
3. Community - this is the community of educators and leaders in the building; start with a small group of people invested and let the group slowly grow; ensure that all staff members are welcome to join at every step along the way; you don't want to alienate staff that isn't ready or is resistant - make sure that they have options to hop on board at all times; you don't want it to turn into an 'in-group' and 'out-group' situation
4. Institution - this does not have to be looked at until you have made it to about year 3 or year 4; once you have made it this far, the innovation has to get written into the DNA of the school;  what has to happen is an explicit effort to ensure that if principals or teachers leave that have been part of the innovation, the new teachers and leaders are brought up to speed

Please check out the full article on "Giving Change Legs"

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