How can we implement change?

“Change is difficult but often essential to survive” Les Brown.

Very often we find it very hard to adapt to a change and keep on resisting till we are restricted by force to implement such transformation in our lives. Some people prefer their lifestyle to follow a particular routine. These same people experience confusion and turmoil when faced with a change. Little do they notice that a change can bring about positive outcomes. Saying this, I am inclined to believe that a change has to be implemented well and with caution especially when the change involves transforming people’s mentality. There has to be a specific phase whereby all the necessary analysis of the current situation is carried out and discussions are conducted with each stakeholder affected with the change. Indeed the keyword of change management is stakeholders. In order for a change to be successful, one has to refer to the people‘s attitudes and make sure that every transformation is implemented positively.

Having said this, in order for the phenomenon of e-learning to be implemented in all Maltese schools, a change management has to take place. Some may think that this simply involves transforming face-to-face lecture style lessons into digital content. In some cases, teachers are also literally forced to put their material online without being re-assuring of the enforcement of the copyright laws. However, e-learning involves more than this. Educators should be encouraged to trust and share their resources with others and not limit them to their own use only.

In a particular journal of Stoltenkamp & Kasuto, which I read in relation to change management, a Learning Awareness Campaign was initiated as part of the change management. What interests me is the idea of having a committee made up from a number of different stakeholders who discuss with each other every issue concerning the transition from traditional teaching to e-learning. I am also in favour of providing a training phase for all of the stakeholders who make a fundamental part of the change management. It is to the interest of each person involved in the educational system to experience the e-learning system as a progressive tool for teaching and learning in an interactive and interesting way as possible. Motivation is the key principle of everything in the educational system. In this case, however, it is not only the students who have to be motivated in order to engage themselves in such a new e-learning based system but also the educators themselves!!

References:

Stoltenkamp, J., & Kasuto, O. A. J. E-learning change management and communication strategies within a HEI in a developing country: Institutional organization cultural change. Research, Reflections and Innovations in Integrating ICT in Education.