Source: Globe, Clker, http://bit.ly/1CVSonk; Thinking Person, Clker, http://bit.ly/1EmDSQV; Burger, Pixabay, http://bit.ly/1KpNnY1; Pizza, Pixabay, http://bit.ly/1LRrIVW; Chicken, Pixabay, http://bit.ly/1Hu8DeI; Word Art, Provided By The Author, Smartsheet Icon, Smartsheet.com; Google Sheets, http://bit.ly/1GAUvK5
Hello, and welcome. My name is Gino Sangiuliano. And I will be your guide as we navigate through this unit on implementing site-based initiatives. Over the past 20 years I've been part of many initiatives, some successful, and some not-so-much. And I look forward to sharing some of those experiences with you. So let's set the stage by taking a sneak peek at what's in store for you in this unit.
In many of my videos I like to start with an anecdote, or an analogy, to get you thinking about the topic from a different point of view. I know for me, it helps me to connect content to something I'm familiar with. When I think about implementing initiatives, for some reason my mind immediately goes to marketing and advertising. I'm always intrigued when a company decides to give its image a face-lift, and either changes logo, slogan or decor. For instance, McDonald's became Mickey D's, Domino's Pizza is now just Domino's, and Kentucky Fried Chicken became KFC. I know nothing about business, but I'm sure that people sat around the room to discuss the best way to unveil these changes, putting that plan into action, then looking back, and making any necessary adjustments.
In this unit you will learn about best-practice strategies, and gain a better understanding of how to use them when implementing site-based initiatives within the total quality management framework. Some of the leadership theories we will cover include Albert Bandura's social learning theory. Which essentially states that learners evolve over time based on their interactions with one another. We'll also learn about Peter Senge's systems theory, whose premise is that in any organization, the whole is the sum of the parts. Success of the organization is defined by how each member works together. And also action research, which is a cyclical process of defining a problem, acting upon that problem, assessing the impact of the action, and adjusting accordingly. This theory is attributed to the work of Kurt Lewin.
So as the basis of these theories encompass such traits as ethics, integrity, trust, training, teamwork, leadership, recognition, and communication, they're very versatile, and can be used in any organization. These theories can support your work whether you are a classroom teacher trying to integrate technology, or a manager of a retail store responsible for training new employees.
We'll also cover the implementation of an action plan in a site-based management system. We'll look at examples from the perspective of a team, school, or an entire district. And we'll also examine two models that will support this work as well. They are the Dolan model, and the PLC or Professional Learning Community model. You will learn that both are all about continuous improvement and growth, ultimately leading to student achievement. They support reform, and work toward achieving school-level goals.
Good planning is not only important in education, but is an essential practice in all fields. Whether you're building a house or building a lesson, a solid plan is needed. But even with the best laid out plans for implementation of an initiative, you will be presented with roadblocks and barriers. I'll also provide you with tips that will help you avoid them, or at the very least recognize and address them when they occur. Learning about these strategies will help you, the adult learner, as well as the children and families that you serve.
In this age of technology, it's wise to use many free, online resources and tools. In this unit we will look at how to choose and use the right tools for the job of keeping track of progress of your SMART goals. Google Sheets and smartsheet.com are two great ways to do that. A common thread you will find throughout many of these lessons is reflection and revision. You will see how the two go hand-in-hand. When you look back at a SMART goal or an action plan, it's incredibly important to capture the information and act upon it. That's why we will introduce you to such tools as the plan, do, study, act. Or a plus/minus/delta chart that will help you do just that.
Reflection and revision are truly at the core of learning. Even the world's best musicians or athletes know that to be true. Which is why they watch hours of video, and have coaches help them hone their craft. In schools we have our colleagues to lean on for this type of support. But often, the most honest and critical feedback will come from you. You will see why it's so important to build time for reflection and revision whenever you try something new.
I wind down my videos with a quick summary of the learning that took place. In this preview we identified four key learning objectives, which were using best practices, implementation of action plans, using smart tools, and reflection and revision. At the end of each video I would like to leave you with something to think about, I call it food for thought. And since this is a preview to the unit you're about to embark on, I would like to first wish you luck. And next, ask you to think about a school-based initiative that you witnessed or were a part of. Consider how it was implemented. At the end of the unit we will come back to that example. Thanks so much for joining. I look forward to working with you. Have a great day.
(00:00-00:22) Intro
(00:23-01:10) A New Look
(01:11-02:24) Best Practice
(02:25-03:27) Implementation
(03:28-03:44) The Right Tools
(03:45-04:33) Reflection and Revision
(04:34-05:17) Food For Thought/Summary