How Teachers Adopt Technology Innovations A School-wide Perspective

Research on innovation diffusion Led by Everett Rogers News of new tools travels by interpersonal connections.

His discovery: Each person’s decision about whether to adopt a new tool is more dependent upon who shares the news of the tool than on how well the tools can actually assist the current non-user.

Technology Users  Fall into different categories:  Innovators  Early Adopters  Early Majority  Late Majority  Laggards

Innovators Are change-agents comprise 2.5% of the school Easily understand and apply technical knowledge Form friendships and communicate most often with other innovators Can live with uncertainty

But, Innovators… May not be either understood or respected by the majority of their colleagues. Committed, self-starting, and rich in resources

Early Adopters the next 13.5% of the district or school teachers Are well-respected by their peers More local viewpoint Are “the teacher to check with” when a new approach is considered

Early Adopters Whereas innovators are seen as a “breed apart,” early adopters are talented, but still “one of the folks.” Hold a leadership position in school, due to the talent they exhibit in technology use. Are: committed, interested, self-starting

Early Majority 34% of the school population Known for their very high frequency of interaction with colleagues. Don’t often hold leadership positions in the school, either formally or informally

Early Majority Primary role = provide connections between and among different interpersonal networks within the school system. Follow with deliberate willingness Their decision process is more often careful, conscious, and cautious than the innovators and early adopters.

Early Majority Once an idea catches on with this group, it spreads rather quickly … due to the interaction this group exhibits.

Late Majority the next 34% of the social system Are: skeptical of new ideas, methods, and tools  more cautious about trying an innovation Have scarce resources compared to the previous groups  have difficulty they do decide to adopt an innovation

Late Majority For them to adopt an innovation, most of the uncertainty must be removed and The norms for behavior and belief in the social system must also favor its adoption.

Laggards Last 16% of a social system Most traditional of all members of a social system Their point of reference is the past; they remember the history and provide continuity in the social system. Frequently interact with others like themselves.

Advice for working with the different groups

To work with Innovators: Stay out of their way! Keep them supplied with as many resources as possible. Try to shield them from bureaucratic red tape and others’ jealousy. Don’t force or coerce them to teach others, especially those who are less innovative in their approaches.

To work with Early Adopters Don’t push! Instead, offer to help them to explore rich, well-grounded, high-quality applications of innovations. More than any group, this bunch will sell the innovation for you to their peers.

To work with the Early Majority Encourage collaborative explorations and applications of new tools, ideas, and techniques. Be patient! Then, be fast to support once the innovation begins to spread.

How to work with the Late Majority Will adopt an innovation when it’s commonly used, so it won’t be hard to work with them. Don’t force, embarrass, or get frustrated with them. Be sure they have the resources they see as essential in using the innovation. Keep offering to help and one day, they will accept.

How to work with the Laggards Use techniques similar to those offered for the Late Majority.