Why Adopt Blended Learning?

Imagine a time when you have wanted to influence others to change or shift their way of thinking. In my career as an elementary school educator, I frequently implement new strategies in my efforts to grow and improve in my craft. I often share these new strategies with co-workers but am sometimes met with opposition. Kotter (2011) shares that we should remember to win over hearts and minds of people. Too many times we work on trying to convince people to follow our ideas by sharing what it is we want to change and how we can change it. The most successful leaders initiate change from others by getting them to feel differently which then changes their behavior (Kotter, 2011). Sharing why we need a change helps to ignite movement and motivation from those around you.

 

By sharing with my colleagues that my innovation project will empower learners by engaging in meaningful and personalized learning experiences, they will feel a greater sense of urgency. After teachers and other leaders see that there is a need for change, we can reduce complacency (Kotter, 2013). Introducing new strategies and initiatives are often followed by groans and comments like, "Here is another strategy that I'll be expected to implement on top of everything else on my plate." Educators are working in a time where we are burned out, and the expectations keep piling on. With that said, we still want what is best for our learners. We are in this profession because we want to make a difference in the lives of children. Showing my fellow educators that we already have the means to create a significant learning environment for our learners to engage in rich, meaningful learning while also showing that we are not leveraging technology to its potential, we can see that we have a problem that requires our action. No longer is this another action item to add to this list of boxes we need to check. Instead, this is an invitation for others to believe what I believe. Sinek declares that "People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it" (TED, 2009, 4:49). After inviting my peers to believe what I believe, we become a team who can work together to create elevated learning experiences for our students because now we have a purpose for doing so.

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We have removed the roadblock of complacency now that we have buy-in. With a shared purpose, then we can move to develop the "how." Our team can now work together toward building goals and learning activities which allow for collaboration while giving students choice, ownership, and voice of their learning while allowing them to experience authentic learning experiences. Our learners are now set up to take charge of their learning and become critical thinkers which empower them in the classroom as well as in their future. In order to make change in our environments, we must lead with our "why," and I am ready for a change. 

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References

Kotter, J. (2011, March 23). John Kotter - The heart of change [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NKti9MyAAw

Kotter, J. (2013, August 15). Leading change: establish a sense of urgency [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yfrj2Y9IlI

TEDxTalks. (2009, September 28). Start with why -- how great leaders inspire action | Simon Sinek | TEDxPugetSound. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ZoJKF_VuA