I was surprised, excited and a little disappointed when I found out that Malcolm Gladwell was going to be a keynote speaker for NECC this year in Washington D.C. Surprised because I was just finishing his book, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference; excited because I was becoming more familiar with his work and disappointed because I don’t think I will be fortunate enough to be able to attend NECC this year.
Lately I have been thinking, planning and attending meetings concerning teacher development in regards to technology. How can we most effectively help teachers consider their practice and try to use technology to enhance their classrooms. We have multiple solutions and are still very much at the thinking, talking and planning stages. However, after reading Gladwell’s book, I think that one of the things we might want to consider is how might we most effectively use the people who are most directly impacting kids — teachers who are in the classroom. So, as a part of our planning process, maybe we need to look at the Connectors, Mavens and Salesmen so that we might create our own “epidemic” of technology integration. According to Gladwell, each of the groups has their own strengths and roles in the spreading of an idea or concept. If we could identify and harness the potential of these people, would an epidemic follow? I’m not sure. However, from my time in the classroom, I do know a few things when it comes to teachers.
1. Connectors are vital to spreading the word. Teachers talk to each other about practice, about students, about challenges and about successes. As educators, we come to our classrooms to help students. That help takes on many forms, but overall, we have the same goal. We spend countless hours being developed but until a connection is made and it’s something that has been proven to work, we are reluctant to change our approach. If Connectors can see results in their own practice, the word will spread about what is happening in their classes.
2. Mavens are also vital to spreading the word, but they look for ways to help their colleagues. When Maven teachers finds something that works, they will learn as much about it so that they might help others. I would consider myself a Maven in that aspect. As a classroom teacher I was often called upon by my fellow teachers, administrators in my building and at the district level and even parents and students to help them work through technology problems that they might be having. I wanted to help make their lives easier and knew enough about technology to help them. What this prompted was a learning revolution for me as I attempted to solve their technological woes. It was fun for me but it also had a greater purpose in that I was helping others for the betterment of education. There are Mavens all over the district that want to help just as I did, but I think we need a method in which to identify them so that we can give them the support they need as they help their colleagues.
3. Finally, we need Salespeople to help “sell it” to our teachers. To create an “epidemic”, we need to have buy-in from those who are reluctant.
We are all at different places in our learning and have different needs, but I have made a commitment to help teachers (not just in my district) use technology in their classrooms. I just wonder what the little things are that can help us reach that tipping point and where can we find them. Do we want an instructional technology epidemic? Is that even feasible with the amount of content that is crammed into the curricular offerings of our public schools? Can we afford not to have technology in the hands of our students?
As I continue to think about the plans in my own district, I will continue to think back to and make connections with this book and Gladwell’s ideas. Is there something there? I’m not sure, but maybe as I follow my Twitter friends and find a backchannel for the keynote, I’ll find some clarity.
21st Century Education, Education, Reflections, Technology, authors, leadership, projects
