Continuously Curious

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Identify Key Influencers:
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Identify key influencers within a school/district who are enthusiastic about project-based learning (PBL) and blended learning.
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This could include teachers, instructional coaches, administrators, or other staff members who can serve as advocates and mentors
Build a Community:
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Create a community of practice or a professional learning community (PLC) where influencers and interested educators can collaborate, share resources, and exchange ideas.
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Utilize online platforms, such as social media groups or learning management systems, to facilitate discussions and provide ongoing support.
Training and Professional Development:
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Offer targeted training and professional development sessions for influencers to enhance their knowledge and skills in PBL and blended learning.
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Provide opportunities for influencers to attend workshops or webinars led by experts in the field.
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Encourage influencers to share their learning and expertise with their colleagues through presentations, workshops, or informal coaching sessions.
Model Best Practices:
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Encourage influencers to implement PBL in their own classrooms and invite others to visit their classroom and show their projects and successes to peers.
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Provide platforms for influencers to share their experiences, lesson plans, and student work with the wider educational community, such as blogging or presenting at conferences.
Peer Mentorship:
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Pair influencers with educators who are interested in adopting PBL in their classrooms but may need additional support.
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Establish a mentorship program where influencers can provide guidance, share resources, and offer feedback to their mentees.
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Encourage regular check-ins and opportunities for mentees to observe influencers' classrooms or virtually connect with them.
Recognition and Incentives:
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Recognize the contributions and achievements of influencers through awards, certificates, or public acknowledgments through website, social media, staff meetings, etc.
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Provide incentives, such as additional professional development opportunities or leadership roles, to encourage influencers to continue their engagement and support for PBL and blended learning.
Amplify Success Stories:
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Share success stories and testimonials from influencers and their mentees to inspire other educators to adopt PBL and blended learning.
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Utilize various communication channels, such as newsletters, school websites, social media, or staff meetings, to highlight the positive impact of PBL in the classroom.
Leveraging Influence for Change
Research shows that by effectively utilizing six different sources of influence, influencers can significantly increase their chances of success (Grenny & Patterson, 2013). It is crucial not to overlook this aspect, as any of these six sources has the potential to either make or break a change strategy.
The objective of my innovation plan is to develop a project-based blended learning in K-12 classroom environments. The ultimate goal is to enhance student engagement, foster learner-centered instruction, and increase the use of authentic instructional technology tools with both students and faculty that help achieve the desired growth in learning outcome performance.
This strategy aims to harness the influence and expertise of key educators to establish a supportive network that advocates for and implements project-based blended learning across the entire school or district.
Reference
Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The new science of leading change. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Jobe, A. (n.d.). Influencer Strategy. MY SITE. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://www.pblblog.com/influencer-strategy.html