Transformational Change via Moodle

Michelle KowalskyWhippany Park High School

Whippany, NJ

• Tell the story of our school’s Moodle implementation (4 – 8 years in the making)

• Discuss ingredients for transformational change and situate them in our story

• “Good news” and the “Bad news”

Good to Great by Collins• “Good to Great” companies think

differently about technology. . . In every case, he found technological sophistication

• Technology was an accelerator -- not a creator -- of momentum

p. 148-161

Improving Organizational Effectiveness through Transformational Leadership

by Bass & Avolio

• Idealized influence (followed by others)• Inspirational motivation (enthusiasm)• Intellectual stimulation (group solutions)• Individualized consideration (coaching)

p. 8

Leading Change by Kotter• Establish a sense of

urgency• Create a guiding team• Communicate the

change vision• Empower employees

• Generate short term wins

• Tell vivid stories of success

• Anchor new approaches in the culture

p. 21

Leading Change by Kotter

• To make change stick, don’t rely on the boss, PIP hours as rewards, or anything but the culture to hold a big change in place.

• Tradition is a powerful force.• Crossing over challenges our identity.

p. 177

Leading at a Higher Level by Blanchard

• Leadership is a transformational journey.– Self-leadership (know thyself)– One-on-one leadership (trust)– Team leadership (build community)– Organizational leadership (lead more than

one team, value relationships and results)p. 199

Leading at a Higher Levelby Blanchard

Task Power

Relationship Power

Position Power

Knowledge Power

Personal Power

12 Reasons why change efforts fail:1. Announcing change is not implementing it2. People’s concerns with change are not

addressed3. Those asked to change are not involved in

planning

Leading at a Higher Levelby Blanchard

12 Reasons why change efforts fail:4. No compelling reason to change5. Vision of the future not communicated6. Didn’t include resistors in conversation7. No pilot or beta testing8. Systems, initiatives not aligned w/ change

Leading at a Higher Levelby Blanchard

12 Reasons why change efforts fail:9. Leaders fail to prioritize (death by initiative)10. People not enabled or encouraged to build

new skills11. Leaders not credible, mixed messages12. Progress not measured

Leading at a Higher Levelby Blanchard

p. 199

Innovation by Carlson & Wilmot• Organizational alignment (shared vision,

strategy, values & goals)• Commitment to delivering the highest

customer value• Commitment to continuing improvement

processes• Transparency in staff communication and

knowledgep. 258

Innovation by Carlson & Wilmot

• Create innovation organizational structures and processes with the appropriate staff

• Shared recognition and rewards• Commitment by the CEO and senior

management team

p. 258

Michelle KowalskyWhippany Park High School, NJ

michelle.kowalsky@gmail.com