Influencer Model
Every single one of us has the unique opportunity to create awareness and influence change.
- Gretchen Bleiler
Influencing Change
Change is hard. Any change. Big or small. So when my coworkers, Veronica Balli and Ileana Reyna, and I are promoting our innovation project, Blended Learning: Personalizing the Future of Education, we need to target it in a very specific way. By using what we have learned from our readings and videos in class, specifically the book Influencer: The New Science of Leading Change by Joseph Grenny, et al (2013), we can promote and motivate the change we seek.
According to Kotter (2011), we first need to “win over the hearts and minds” of people in order to promote change. This same strategy applies when we advocate for change in our organization. If we win over the hearts of our administration, staff and students, they will be more motivated to embrace the change. So, how can we win over their hearts and minds? We start with our WHY, as Simon Sinek recommends in his video, Start with Why (2009). According to Sinek (2009) by starting with our WHY, our purpose, our belief, we can inspire change.
After capturing their hearts we must use Grenny’s Three Keys to Influence in order to ensure that the change is real and lasting (2013). First, we must define our desired goal and establish clear measures. Then, we must identify the vital behaviors we wish to change. Lastly, we must engage all six sources of influence, personal motivation, personal ability, social motivation, social ability, structural motivation, and structural ability, in order to make a “learnable path to success” (Grenny, 2013).
Below you will find our Influencer Model which is the foundation to promoting and leading change in our organization.
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References:
Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: the new science of leading change, second edition (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Kotter, J. (2011, March 23). John Kotter - The Heart of Change [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NKti9MyAAw&feature=youtu.be
Start with why -- how great leaders inspire action | Simon Sinek |TEDxPugetSound. (2009, September 29). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ZoJKF_VuA&list=RDLVu4ZoJKF_VuA
As we worked to create our Influencer Strategy, we focused on the four key strategies to create our vital behaviors.
Influencer Strategy
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Desired Results
By May 2023, K-5 reading and Dyslexia teachers at Victor Fields Elementary School will have implemented a blended learning instructional model with personalized and targeted instruction that will lead to higher engagement and student achievement in order to create self-directed, lifelong learners.
Measuring Results
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The Blended Learning Implementation Team will monitor student engagement by checking usage reports weekly.
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The Blended Learning Implementation Team will monitor student achievement every grading period, by tracking growth and progress using the data collected from the personalized learning platforms.
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At the end of every grading period, surveys via Google Forms will be used to gather feedback about the quality and effectiveness of the Blended Learning program.
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During weekly PLC meetings, the Blended Learning Implementation Team will share feedback from surveys, usage reports, growth, and progress with reading and dyslexia teachers.
3 Vital Behaviors
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Teachers will implement a blended learning model at least three times a week, incorporating a personalized learning path using self-paced, adaptive programs such as i-Ready, Education Galaxy, Khan Academy, and/or Lexia CORE5 in order to measure student growth and achievement.
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Teachers will analyze data from self-paced, adaptive programs collaboratively every week and after every grading period in order to create small group lessons based on students' specific needs and provide differentiated and personalized instruction.
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Students will collaborate with peers while given choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning opportunities, such as real-world projects, research-based learning, and peer-to-peer learning in order to raise engagement and motivation.
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Influencers
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Principal
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Assistant Principal
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Student Learning Facilitator
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Reading Coach
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K-5 Reading Teachers
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Dyslexia Teachers
References:
Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The new science of leading change. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill
The Six Sources of Influence
References:
Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The new science of leading change. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Horn, M., Staker, H. (2015). Blended: Using disruptive innovation to improve schools. Jossey-Bass A Wiley Brand.