Innovative ideas are often abandoned or ignored because they require an uncomfortable journey into the unknown. This is often the case when it comes to education. Many teachers alter lesson plans, resources, and other aspects of their classroom each year, but they avoid large scale change because it leaves too much to question. Although most teachers agree that practices need to be updated, few teachers have the courage or ability to truly alter their teaching style. However, I hope to enlist the support and participation of my colleagues in my Blended Learning Plan over the course of the next two years. Hopefully, by the beginning of the 2021 school year, (depended on the pandemic circumstances), this will be set in motion and by the 2022 school year, at least 50% of the teachers within the Health and Physical Education Department will be utilizing blended learning in their classrooms to support and enhance student learning. 

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          As you scroll this post, you will see the change I wish to bring to my school district. Change can be difficult because people fear the unknown and are usually comfortable in their everyday teaching routines. However, I have spent the last couple of weeks learning about how to influence change within an organization and I believe it will help motivate others to want to join. One of the first steps I took to influencing change was to determine my desired results. My goal is to have at least 50% of the teachers in the Health and Physical Education Department utilizing blended learning in their classrooms by the 2022 school year. The next step was to come up with three vital behaviors which are actions that will lead to the desired result. I believe my three vital behaviors in the graphics below will lead to teachers using blended learning in their classrooms. 

 

Desired Behavior:

 

          By 2022, 50% of the Health and Physical Education Department will implement blended learning into their classroom to support and enhance student learning. 

 

Measuring Results: 

 

          Implementing blended learning will greatly affect how Lifeguarding and other Health and Physical Education classes will operate between the Middle School and the High School. It will be important to monitor progress with each teacher during the implementation process so that the desired result is able to be achieved. Google Classroom will already be in use by all teachers, allowing teachers to not only share how they are implementing blended learning into their classrooms but also, to send google forms to all of the students in their classes, at the end of each marking period. Students will answer questions on the Google Form about how they think their experience with blended learning can be improved, what they thought helped, and what they struggled with during the course. Teachers will also answer questions like, how often they implemented blended learning into their curriculum each week, if they felt more inclined to participate in implementing blended learning when others held them accountable, and what they felt those in leadership positions have done to help further promote blended learning. By using google forms and collaborating with students and staff, teachers will be able to create a blended learning environment where students can excel.

 

Vital Behaviors:

 

          In order to successfully achieve this desired result, three vital behaviors will need to be implemented. First, Health and Physical Education Teachers in the Middle School and High School will focus on implementing a blended learning strategy into their curriculum. Secondly, Department members will hold each other accountable in weekly meetings where they will share their ideas and incites gained while incorporating blended learning into their curriculum. Finally, Administrators, Academic Coaches, and Team Leaders will support weekly department meetings to provide assistance to new teachers or teachers that are new to incorporating blended learning into their curriculum. These three behaviors will ensure that teachers are utilizing blended learning throughout the school year and have the support they will need if there are any issues or questions. 

 

Vital Behavior #1

Teachers will focus on implementing a blended learning strategy into their curriculum.

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Vital Behavior #2

 

Department members will hold each other accountable in weekly meetings where they will share their ideas and incites gained while incorporating blended learning into their curriculum.

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Vital Behavior #3

 

Administrators, Academic Coaches, and Team Leaders will support weekly department meetings to provide assistance to new teachers or teachers that are new to incorporating blended learning into their curriculum.

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Organizational Influencers: 

 

          Organizational influencers at Owen J. Roberts School District are the Superintendent and School Board, Administrators, Academic Coaches, Department Heads, and the Health and Physical Education Department (HPE). However, with this initiative, the building administrators and the department heads will have the most influence. With support from the building principals, the department heads will have more authority to encourage the use of blended learning to all Health and Physical Education Teachers between the High School and Middle School. Once the support is visible within the two buildings, HPE teachers will be more accepting of the idea. 

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References

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          Granny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The new science of leading change (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.