 Email… Class Dojo… Google Drive… Seesaw… Small Group… Greenscreen… Makerspace… Growth Mindset… Throughout my teaching career, I have learned about tools that have led me to be a successful teacher. I know that I have had to change each year because I have a new set of students (with different personalities.) Change is hard, and it can be very uncomfortable. These last five weeks have to lead me to four different tools that I can not only use to change my organization, but I can use them in my life, classroom, and personal conversations.  What drives people? What gets me out of my bed in the morning? It starts with why... For me, it is teaching my students. Sinek (2009) tells us that the “why” causes leaders to inspire others to believe in their ideas. After introducing the “why,” it is easier to tell others the “how” and the “what.  After thinking about the “why,” we need to think about how I will be influencing change so my teacher friends will get in line to be part of my innovation plan. Grenny, Patterson, Maxfield, McMillan, & Switzler (2013) explains to be successful, you have to have three keys: focus and measure, vital behavior, and six sources of influences. This helps us target our audience to get our ideas out.  Now comes the execution of the plan. This is not for me, but it is now “Team Makerspace.” I have to remember that I am not alone with this plan. As a team, will focus on a WIG (like the “why”), act on the lead measure, create a compelling scoreboard and then create a cadence of accountability (with WIG sessions.) We will remember that there will be a whirlwind out there, but we will try not to let it control us.  In our WIG sessions, I might start to become uncomfortable with some of the talks that we have. I will be able to use the eight steps from the “Crucial Conversation” book. I will remember that even with opposing opinions, strong emotions, and high stakes, we can move the path to action. Instead of having a silent treatment, I will make a safe environment so the plan to have a makerspace room can continue. Change is hard, but with these tools in our pocket, we can be more successful. References
Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The new science of leading change. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. McChesney, C., Covey, S. & Huling, J. (2012). The 4 disciplines of execution. New York, NY: Franklin Covey Co. Patterson, K., Grenny, J., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2012). Crucial Conversations: Tools for talking when stakes are high. New York, NY: McGraw Hill. Sinek, S. (2009, September). Start with why: Simon Sinek TED talk. . Retrieved fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPYeCltXpxw
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Everybody has opinions that are close to their heart. In the last couple of weeks, I have realized that I have conversations with certain people when I feel wronged. My emotions are up (and I am usually tired.) I assume the worse and do not give that person the benefit of the doubt. I sometimes just clam up and avoid the talk. Why do I do this??? It is because I am not prepared to have a conversation.
Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, and Switzler’s (2012) book on Crucial Conversations gives me the steps on how to have talks when stakes are high. They highlight eight steps on what I should do to have tough conversations. I have made a slide show that explains the steps.
I know that I will be having conversations in the next couple of months about my makerspace innovation plan. I am starting with my “heart,” and I now know how to “check my emotions.” I will not have to walk on “eggshells” and discuss the facts! Silence will not be the answer anymore for me!!! I will be able to talk to my co-workers effectively (and maybe even family and friends.)
References
Patterson, K., Grenny, J., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2012). Crucial Conversations: Tools for talking when stakes are high. New York, NY: McGraw Hill. 
I have written a plan- Makerspace for my school. My principal is excited about this plan because it will be celebrated in an applied learning center. I know it is a good plan and I have thought about all of the influencing strategies from Grenny’s Influencer book. Then I think of all the things that teachers and students have to do in the whirlwind: data, lesson plans, more data paperwork, and more plans. Is this worth it? I just don’t know.
Back up… I, I, I… This is not about me. This is about the students. Also, I don’t have to do it alone. “I” becomes a “we” in a team. McChesney, Covey, and Huling (2012) discuss in their 4DX book that to achieve your wildly important goal (WIG), some of the players need to come together to decide on a target. This takes off much of the pressure of the person that wrote up the plan (that one letter word will not be in this post again.) We are able to share duties and can be accountable to each other.
Click on the enlarge square to see the 4 disciplines, 5 stages of change, and examples for the innovation plan.
When you look at the Influencer plan and 4DX, the reader can see similarities. The “desired results” are like the “WIG.” The vital behavior #2 is the committee which turns into the WIG session. We have to realize that we are not alone in getting the players to buy into a wonderful plan. The six strategies of influences motivate people, while the WIG sessions carry out the goal.
At the beginning of this post...it was about me, me, me. Now it is about Team Makerspace!
So... Who would like to join us in the makerspace?
References
Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The new science of leading change: 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education. McChesney, C., Covey, S. & Huling, J. (2012). The 4 disciplines of execution. New York, NY: Franklin Covey Co.  When is the last time that you were influenced by someone? It was probably in the previous hour. It could be from a television commercial or your child trying to get your attention. For my birthday, I had students influence me by giving me things that I like- my favorite color, drink, and number. Either from the advertising group or family or friends, people want you to change your mind or just get a smile. Last February, I went to a one hour workshop about makerspaces in the district. I thought that the things they presented were cool, but I did not want to change too much in my classroom to make a makerspace area. My district has a technology incentive program where they will give different technology for the school if you attend workshops face-to-face or online. They know that teachers want “extra things” and this influences them to attend these classes. One of these classes was a makerspace one, and the Technology Learning Coaches showed us the district makerspace room. I then realized that I could change my room by adding a makerspace area and have the students create as a station. I never really had thought about makerspace before last February, and now I want one for my whole school. WHY, is this? I was influenced by people that I respected, and they started my thinking that it was important for learners to have the time to tinker or create. For my first assignment of all my master classes, I learned what growth mindset was and created a first-week lesson plan that ended with the students doing their own projects. The students were able to use the concepts of the growth mindset that they learned about during that week. The reader of this blog might be thinking- “why is she talking about how she put makerspace in her classroom?” My answer would be- “I was influenced by the students’ excitement and experiences that I have witnessed in makerspace!” When I needed to pick an innovation project in the third master class, I knew that a makerspace room was a great one. Vital behaviors are actions that essential to have, so people will know what will be happening to get a project going forward. The next chart will show the reader what behaviors and influencers need to get “ball rolling.”   In the last couple of weeks, I have been learning about how to influence people to change. I know with my project, people will have to change some of their own mindset. When you start something else for teachers, they think that this is just something else to do in their hectic schedule of teaching. I will be using the “Influencer strategy” that focuses on motivation and ability in personal, social, and structural level. I will need to use at least four of these strategies to have a victorious makerspace room.     References
Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The new science of leading change. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. I am a passionate person. When I talk about certain things, like learning, family, and teaching, I usually tear up. Why do I do this? It is because I love this part of my life. As I was watching Sinek’s “The Why is born out of pain” (2016) I found it interesting that he mentioned that it so important to have a WHY, a HOW, and a WHAT in your job. He goes on to say that you should “share, give, and inspire.” This is why makerspace is fantastic...It might just change students’ visions in their life.     What makes the why so critical? I believe it pushes me to really dive deep into what I want for the students. As I move along in my master classes, I know that I am becoming a leader. I have to think about what is most important in sharing my plan for Makerspace. Sinek (2009) mentions that when leaders start at the 'why' (inside out,) they are able to get the trust and loyalty from their workers. At the beginning of the year, I started a Makerspace area in my room. This year, I have witnessed students being inspired to create things out of their imagination. Asacker (2014) reminds us that our visions and personal narratives are what motivates us to “keep us lit up.” So why not, let’s have a makerspace?These words were at the end of my innovation video. Each year, my students inspire me to do more for them that year, and I want to continue to add to their learning. The makerspace room will do this for all students!!! References
Asacker, T. (2014, June). Why TED Talks don’t change people’s behaviors. TEDxCambridge. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0jTZ-GP0N4&feature=youtu.be Sinek, S. (2009, September). Start with why: Simon Sinek TED talk. . Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPYeCltXpxw Sinek, S. (2016, December). The origin of the why. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRaqe9M2DYc |
AuthorCindy Kohn is a teacher who learns by reflecting from her growth. Categories
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