There are two kinds of organizations. One kind likes to be on the cutting edge . . . to embrace the new. The other kind fears that, and holds back. . . . [Organizations] that are good at being edgy will always find a way to thrive. . . . What do you do when the [world] is moving away from you, not toward you? If you wait too long, it'll be too late to do much of anything at all. Instead, recognize that change is coming, that the reality you operate in is dying out, and start practicing how to do the next big thing. Betting on change is always the safest bet available.
- Seth Godin, The Big Moo, pp. 90-91
Hi Scott,
I hope you don't forget MY favorite quote about change:
Change is good. You go first.
I think this was written by the same person that writes all the other bumper stickers and t-shirt slogans.
Enjoying the change.
Doug
Posted by: Doug Johnson | June 05, 2007 at 08:50 AM
Hi Scott,
The trick is to convince administrators who don't even know where change begins to follow the path you are trying to lead them down.
I was leading a group of people experimenting with a moodle deployment at my school (I am not an admin. yet...). We installed moodle, tested it and shared it at an admin. meeting. The very word Moodle scared them, especially when we began by telling them that it was a course management tool that would allow online learning.
I envy those schools who have the support for a research and development team. Administrators should lead by allowing for experimentation by trusting those who do the experimenting. And the only way to develop that trust is to keep in contact with the researchers.
Posted by: Chris Shively | June 10, 2007 at 06:38 AM