Blended Learning Six Sources of Influence

The six sources of influence are structured effectively.  It really does assess any future obstacles and how to provide direction back to the primary goal.  In the next few months, I will be implemented my blended learning initiative. Through the personal section, I have developed ways for teachers to understand how this benefits their classroom and teachers specifically.  Many times, we are making changes and hearing about this through a campus-wide meeting, but don’t see the relevance to our specific classroom and the needs of our students.  In the social section, I have addressed how to provide an effective culture for administrators to model the use of this technology and provide a support system for teachers to interact and problem-solve.  The structural section provides an opportunity for teachers to receive praise and awards for effectively using technology effectively.  Also, this is a crucial section because without structural ability the whole goal falls apart.  Teachers need to have access to use of properly working technology, or blended learning will not be possible.

The Washed Up video was eye opening and gave a clear explanation of the significance of using at least four sources of influence.  To see how one source of influence alone had little to no effect on change, but when at least four were combined results ensued.  So often we combat a problem or create a solution with only changing one thing.  And it has little effect, and we feel as though time has been wasted.  However, when we come at change at all directions it makes an enormous impact.  At the end, it was interesting to see that they all were impacted to wash their hands for a different reason, but without a presence of the other sources, they still would not have followed through with the hand washing.
Peer pressure can be a great motivator, sometimes to an excessive degree in young students.  As an educator, I try to allow for positive influence.  I strategically pair students together that work well together because of peer pressure.  I have found that just one positive peer motivating another student, can make a considerable influence.  This, of course, is applicable to everyone.  I have found that when more co-workers are involved with a specific change or teaching method, more teachers will feel confident and comfortable to jump on board.  Which creates a specific school culture, good or bad.  With my blended learning initiative, the peer pressure will occur within teams during PLC meetings.  This direct checking-in to see what every teacher has implemented and how it has positively affected students learning will lead to positive pressure.  If everyone in a specific department is working together to instill opportunities for students to learn beyond the classroom, this will bring about an important source of influence.