🧑🏫Plan for Introducing Staff
For any large changes in process or tools, it's a good idea to have a thoughtful communication plan that anticipates and addresses concerns, and provides a shared vision for the future.
The ADKAR model is a powerful framework for managing change, that focuses on five key outcomes: Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement. For onboarding teachers to the ManageBac+ software in a school environment, each element of the ADKAR model should be tailored to address the specific challenges and needs of the teachers. Here’s how a school can approach each section:
Awareness
Vision & Leadership Communication: The school’s leadership team should consistently and visibly support the implementation, articulating how ManageBac+ aligns with broader educational goals.
It will be important for your leadership team to speak with a common voice across all school levels and departments.
When creating your vision, clearly communicate to staff why ManageBac+ is being introduced. Emphasize how it will simplify their workflow, improve student tracking, and enhance communication with students and parents.
What shifts in curriculum process, technology, teams, or responsibilities will teachers experience?
What have we been eager to get rid of?
At what grades/levels will these changes occur?
What has held us back or hindered our progress?
How impactful will these changes be to our day?
What problems will be eliminated by these changes?
Address Concerns Early: Acknowledge that teachers are busy and use multiple software programs. Explain how ManageBac+ integrates or complements existing tools, reducing redundancy.
Prepare to answer any additional questions or concerns you can foresee
Why can’t I continue to use what works for me? Why ManageBac+? Why now?
How will ManageBac+ integrate with [current software]?
How will ManageBac+ affect the way I teach, plan, assess, or manage my classes?
What are the risks in not changing our curriculum process?
How will my day be impacted? How will ManageBac+ make my workflow smoother?
What’s in it for me? For us?
What will success look like?
Desire
Highlight Benefits: Focus on the specific benefits for teachers, such as time savings, easier access to student data, and improved communication channels. Show quick wins or testimonials from other schools.
Core Team Identification: You may wish to identify a “core team” of staff and teachers from different disciplines to receive additional ManageBac+ training and become your ambassadors for this new curriculum initiative.
Include key core team staff in the planning and decision-making process, particularly those who are influential among their peers. This can help build early buy-in.
Your educators will appreciate being informed and included in the process earlier rather than later. Make a plan for a curriculum leader to present and reinforce this message to educators at each ManageBac+ training opportunity.
Address Resistance: Recognize potential resistance and address it empathetically. Offer solutions for common concerns, such as additional support for those less comfortable with new technology.
Knowledge
Tailored Training: Offer training sessions that are specific to teachers’ roles. For example, subject-specific use cases or how to streamline daily tasks with ManageBac+.
Flexible Learning Options: Provide various formats for training, including in-person sessions, webinars, on-demand videos, and written guides. Ensure materials are easy to access and use.
Just-in-Time Learning: Allow teachers to access help at the moment they need it, whether through quick reference guides, a help center, or responsive support from the global support team.
Ability
Practice Sessions: Encourage hands-on practice during and after training sessions. Teachers will be given access to the ManageBac+ Demo account to test and explore the software without impacting live data.
Peer Support: Establish a network of ‘champion’ teachers who are proficient in ManageBac+ and can provide peer-to-peer support.
Ongoing Support: Offer continuous access to support, whether through regular Q&A sessions, office hours with the implementation manager, or a dedicated support line.
Reinforcement
Regular Check-ins: Schedule follow-ups with teachers to address ongoing issues, share updates, and gather feedback. This helps identify and resolve any persistent barriers to full adoption.
Celebrate Successes: Recognize and reward teachers who effectively use ManageBac+, perhaps through formal recognition or informal praise. Sharing success stories can reinforce the benefits and motivate others.
Iterative Improvement: Continuously gather feedback from teachers to refine the training, support, and use of the software. Adjust the implementation based on their experiences and suggestions.
Sample E-mail Template for Teachers
Subject: Exciting News: Introducing ManageBac+ - Addressing Your Questions and Enriching Our Educational Experience
Dear [School Name] Staff,
I hope this message finds you well.
We are thrilled to announce the introduction of ManageBac+, a comprehensive learning platform that aims to elevate our teaching and learning experiences. ManageBac+ wil be used for students and parents from Grade __ to ___, creating a standardized and integrated experience across the entire school community.
ManageBac+ is a longstanding standard in the industry for managing curriculum, assessment, and reporting. ManageBac+ is used by over 3,000 schools worldwide, spanning more than 120 countries. These schools include both local and international schools that adopt ManageBac+ for its robust features tailored to supporting multiple curriculum.
As we begin this exciting journey with ManageBac+, we want to provide insights into the reasoning behind this transition and the benefits it brings to our educational community.
Key Features of ManageBac+:
Centralization: ManageBac+ allows us to centralize various tools and resources, making it easier for both staff and students to access everything they need in one place.
Integration with Existing Tools: ManageBac+ is designed to work harmoniously with tools our school is already using, such as Turnitin, IBIS, and IB eCoursework submission. This ensures a smooth transition and minimizes disruption to current workflows.
Efficiency and Accessibility: With ManageBac+, we aim to streamline administrative processes, reduce manual work, and enhance accessibility for all stakeholders. This platform will enable a more efficient and collaborative teaching and learning experience.
Enhanced Communication: ManageBac+ fosters improved communication between staff, students, and parents. Announcements, assignments, and feedback can be easily shared, creating a more connected learning community.
Collaboration: ManageBac+ supports collaborative planning by allowing teachers to create unit plans, lesson plans, and assessments collaboratively. Teachers can work together to develop curriculum materials, share ideas, and align their teaching strategies
Parental Access: Managebac+ provides parents with access to their child's education and fosters a supportive learning environment that enhances student success and well-being.
We understand that embracing new technology may raise questions, and we are committed to supporting you during this transition. To facilitate a smooth onboarding process, we have scheduled an initial training session for [Date and Time].
Please join the training session by clicking on [Meeting Link] at the scheduled time. You will also receive a Welcome Email from ManageBac+ shortly. Please click on the link to set your new password and login by navigating to [Insert your school’s ManageBac+ URL].
Moving forward, you will also have ongoing access to additional resources, support from both the internal school administration and ManageBac+ Support teams, as well as further professional development opportunities.
We believe ManageBac+ will play a crucial role in furthering our collective success. Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to [School Administrator Contact Name], at [School Administrator Contact Email].
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards,
[Your Name]
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