In his Diffusion of Innovation theory, Everett M. Rogers identified the characteristics of groups of people based on how rapidly they embraced an innovation. Though his research was based on agricultural innovation, his theory holds true across disciplines. Rogers’ five groups of adopters, from the most enthusiastic to the slowest to adopt included: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards.
Yes, there are laggards in school administration, though I don’t particularly like the connotations associated with that word. In most cases, those who are slow to apply new educational technologies have been so not because of any lack of skill or talent, but simply because in the complex world of educational administration, competing demands for time can place technology skill development well down the priority list.
Go with what you know…?
“Go with what you know“ can be a comforting concept. It frequently occurs that we rely on our tried and true skill set. Ironically, setting aside a portion of the day to become more proficient at exploiting technology for educational administration has the potential to free up valuable hours for the very functions that school administrators often feel they do not have enough time for.
Email overload, and what do do about it.
Take the wonderful world of email. How often to school administrators rely on this as the sole means of communication with staff and colleagues? While email is an effective tool, it is woefully inefficient as a means of fostering dialogue amongst a group of people. Yet because it is the tool we all know, it is frequently over utilized as a means of communication.
Ask a group of school administrators if they would like to reduce the volume of incoming email they face each day. The majority would likely indicate a desire to do that. Show that same group how to use a discussion board however and only a handful, if any, will embrace and enthusiastically exploit this tool. Whether it be the anxiety associated with trying something new, the comfort that comes with simply using what you already know, or a combination of those two factors, people will generally resort to their current practice unless the new practice is seen as simple and the advantages are made clear. Unfortunately, not everything is presented in such a manner.
One highly underutlized resource is the above mentioned discussion board. This tool is far superior to e-mail communication when the focus is on discussion or collaboration. In a discussion board, all members can see the contributions and replies of all members. A question posted on the board has the potential to generate multiple responses which frequently build upon each other to create a rich dialogue.
Discussion boards are also the place to post “information only” items. I am in the practice of posting all in school memos on a discussion board that is accessible only to school staff. It is my experience that such items frequently generate questions that I did not forsee. One can be sure that if one person poses a question or seeks clarity about an information item, others were likely thinking the same thing.
We are frequently sent emails from the school district office with the directive to “forward to Science teachers”, or “forward to staff that you feel may be interested in this topic”. I don’t have the time to do that, and neither does anyone else in my school need to take time to selectively redirect such messages. We simply place them on the discussion board where the people that need to see such items may do so.
Also underutilized is the simple tool of instant messaging. This is effective when you are seeking a quick answer to a direct question. Whether it is by using a web based system that is frequently built in as part of a school district’s communications system or by text messaging with a cell phone, it is one of the most efficient ways to exchange a dozen or so words with someone with whom you need to connect. It is immediate and avoids placing yet another email in someone’s inbox – an email that may or may not receive the time sensitive attention it deserves.
I realize that discussion boards and instant messaging are neither new nor cutting edge. Yet I am frequently surprised to observe the extent to which people continue to rely on what they know and fail to use such simple yet effective resources such as these. Email is a great tool, but if it is the only one in your toolbox, you are likely not exploiting readily available communication technology resources as efficiently as you could be.
It takes more than a single hammer to build a house. Likewise, a variety of tools are required for effective workplace communication.
Take time to make time.
School administrators should not be afraid to try out new resources as they become available. One needs to critically analyze how any particular resource can impact on the task at hand and to understand that exploring the resource will take time. However, investing that time has the potential to pay off in the long run. Developing a repertoire with regard to technology resources will ensure that regardless of the situation, you will have the right tools for the job.