Invitations   Goals/Participants  Definitions/Issues  Tools/Media
Principles/Structure  Practices/Techniques  Implications/Next Steps

WORKING DRAFT
Practices -  Change, Collaboration
Collaborative Change

Change, Collaboration, and Matching Teaching, Learning, and Technologies
How much time, effort is reasonable to match Teaching needs/abilities with Learning needs/abilities with Technology options? 
Without going crazy?

Portfolio of Strategies for Collaborative Change
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Institutional strategies and programs for establishing, achieving, maintaining, modifying/growing a “foundation” of: 

Institutional educational vision:  Vision Worth Working Toward (e.g., “Nurturing Communities”;  “Connectedness” – see work of Edward Hallowell)

Infrastructure:  Decision-making processes, assessment programs, as well as technology.   Process for establishing, modifying, agreeing upon, disseminating, embracing, implementing, strategies.

Conceptual Framework/Knowledge/Skills   (includes but is not limited to “information literacy”)

1. Wide/Shallow Approach

      Low-Threshold Approach

      LTAs – Low-Threshold Activities/Applications

      LTPDAs – Low-Threshold Professional Development Activities

3. Narrow/Deep Approach

How much change, how fast? 
How much collaboration, how fast?

• How important is being a leader, pioneer? 
• How much (money, time, stress, …) can you afford – relative to other priorities?  How much can you afford relative to current and anticipated financial resources?  How much can you afford relative to people’s TIME available for change?
• How much consensus is necessary, sufficient, tolerable?  To whom?  Who MUST be included in consensus?
• How much diversity of opinion, belief, vision, practice is tolerable, necessary, sufficient? 
• Big leaps vs. Incremental growth
• Institution vs. Sub-Units (Colleges, divisions, departments, offices) vs. Individual (faculty, courses)

Teaching, Learning, and Technology Roundtable (TLTR)
(Click here for more)
Diverse advisory group for exchanging ideas and information, planning, and managing expectations)

 1.  Requirements

      PRIORITY:  Top-level support (at least one very senior administrator who will always listen to recommendations from this group and – at least sometimes -- accept and implement recommendations). 

      ADVISORY/AUTHORITY:   May NOT need any staff, budget, authority INITIALLY.   Clarity about “advisory to whom” is very important.  Is  “influence without authority” enough?  For how long?   Note:  Some actions, results will be made possible simply by new synergies.

      TIME:  Commitment and availability of large, diverse group

      LEADERSHIP:  Skillful co-leaders from different areas (May need a “steering group” or “planning team” initially or permanently – depending on size);  Capable of leading decision-making by consensus?

 2.  Procedure and Decisions

      [Revise TLTR Guidelines, definitions, practices to fit local culture & local politics]

      Limited Variety of Functions:  Showcase (open events, demos), Forum (exploratory discussion), Formulating Recommendations (reports, discussion, building consensus in response to work of subgroups, action teams)

      Initial priorities (set as soon as Roundtable group is launched) – short-term and long-term;  Always include some “low-hanging fruit” (easily, quickly accomplished).

      Membership optional, mandatory, elected, …?  Members attend all regular full-group meetings?  Participate in at least one sub-group or Action Team per year?

      Composition:  Some included based on their professional roles;  Some included based on their knowledge of local politics and history, etc.;  some non-pioneers essential

      Meetings open/closed?  FOOD! 

      Offer “free trial offer” – invite some to attend 3 meetings before deciding whether to join?

      Recognize need for BOTH “visionaries” and “doers”

      Standing sub-groups:   e.g., Vision & Leadership;  Curriculum (Information Literacy, Information Technology & Society);  Disseminating recommendations;  Deconstructing Instructional Tools;  Technology Supporting Connectedness (in courses, in classes, on campus, with alumni, …);  Acceptable Use Policy (role of honor code, etc.);  Accessibility & Disabilities;  Adjuncts

      Action Teams (sub-groups that are set to dissolve upon completion of specific goals or reaching specific deadlines:  Laptops for everyone?  Student Technology Assistant Program?

      Schedule and agenda for three meetings in advance (begin each with faculty demo?)

      Institutionalization plan (terms of office for members, co-leaders)