After the previous lecture regarding barriers it was good to hear about the social theories that allow us to explain how change within institutions might be able to occur. I have to admit that I still feel like it isn’t concrete enough for me, I was hoping for a quick fix list. Of course I know that a quick fix list doesn’t work though because it doesn’t take into consideration the environment and the coupling within it individuals partake in, which in turn has built a specific culture. The solution to creating change will be different in each culture or environment.
I think that one of the difficulties for teachers in creating and initiating change is that it gets harder and harder to decipher the culture (environment) the higher up in the organizational structure that you go. I feel that I might have a chance of initiating change at my school level because I know all of the members of the community well and I can devise a plan based on their anticipated reactions. However approaching the District level with ideas of change feels much more difficult because I don’t have the same knowledge of what role each member plays and how the environment is in other parts of the institution. Even harder to make change would be at the ministry level. I have no knowledge of the environment or language that they use there, let alone who the key players are. I think that to make changes at these higher levels would require some degree of participation in them first in order to better understand the culture and devise a matching strategy for change.
This is advice I have to remember for myself. This past year I participated in District level committee where I had voiced my ideas several times about some improvements that I thought might be possible. For each idea I presented the administrator running the meeting had a reason for why it wouldn’t work. I returned to my school and told my colleague who also has an interest in the committee that I didn’t plan on attending any more of the meetings because they aren’t interested in hearing what we have to say. Now that I think about it this may not be a wise choice because in not attending meetings I won’t learn more about the culture of the District and the opinions and communication styles of those who sit on the committee. At least by attending I can make observations and know about the context and history of decisions that are being made. Perhaps if I stick with it I will be able to figure out the right language needed to communicate the need for and means for, the changes I am proposing. Stay tuned for future developments I guess…….
“I think that one of the difficulties for teachers in creating and initiating change is that it gets harder and harder to decipher the culture (environment) the higher up in the organizational structure that you go.”
As far as my understanding, administrators (vice principal, principals, etc) were once teachers weren’t they? I guess the administrators have been used to doing things the “traditional” way and haven’t gotten onto incorporating technology into classrooms. But I don’t think you need to worry. As newer teachers who share a similar vision with you progress and become administrators, I believe that change will occur at one point or another. I don’t think you need to see administrators as opponents, in which you need to “devise a matching strategy for change” but rather understand that these administrators were educated in “traditional” ways and expect the education system to remain the same as when they were going to school.
That sounds like it was a really tough situation with the district committee. It might be worth it to give it a try again, but this time spend your time learning how the committee members speak to each other. Notice how they address each other and what their issues or interests are. The next time you bring your own idea forward, link it to ideas and issues they have already been talking about. Use phraseology that you have heard them use. In this way, you can meet them on their terms, and then broaden their perspectives or deepen their understanding by building out your connections.