Storyboard for Diffusion and Integration of Educational Technology (EDUC ) Ametha Williams Walden University Amar Almasude

Need We pursue the improvement of teaching and learning globally through the delivery of advanced technology and services. We believe an eLearning platform should not dictate your approach to teaching and learning. It should be tailored to your: Needs Desired look and feel Philosophy Vision Brand Pedagogical approach (Desire2Learn, 2009)

Desire2Learn is unwavering in our commitment to all applicable industry standards. We are proud to be the one of the first academic CMS/LMS to be SCORM certified. We believe in open enterprise architectures to ensure we have the ability to integrate with other tools and systems, and to ensure our clients' content is stored in a format that is portable and readable by other technologies and systems. (Desire2Learn, 2009)

Development Desire2Learn adheres to technological and educational based standards that set them apart from other online companies. Desire2Learn offers a fully-integrated, enterprise-level eLearning technology. Software is based on technological and educational standards.

Commercialization

Continued….. Provides the following…. Student Information Systems Repositories Authentication systems (e.g. LDAP, Active Directory) IT administration and human resource management systems (HRMS) eCommerce systems Single Sign-On Authentication into or out of systems such as Library Systems, Portal Systems and . (Desire2Learn, 2009)

Timeline of innovation Founded in 1999, offering online course and management software to schools and colleges. IN 2007 honored with the awards for Excellence in Training and in 2008 was honored with the Fusion Award 2009 : Presented portable service for blackberry and notebook users.

Benefits of Adopting this innovation (Desire2Learn, 2009)

Continued….. Adopting this innovation would provide your school with up-to-date technology to help in: Organizing state and local curriculum standards Setup classroom rosters and online courses Manage student records and provide easy accessibility to grades and organize financial records.

Attributes for adopting program Questions that may arise are: First, who would you expect to be (or who are) the innovators and early adopters in your field of work for the innovation you are exploring? What strategies are the most persuasive in convincing them to adopt the innovation?

Response 1 Principal and assistant principal and the school counselor and school office staff. These individuals as the early adopters and innovators are the ones who usually bring to the school all of the programs and services we use and implement each year. Some strategies: doing a presentation on is to provide workshops to demonstrate how the program would work. Do a trial run of the program for one semester allowing the school to see how it works before making the decision to adopt it.

continued Second, who do you think would be (or who are) the laggards in terms of rejecting the innovation? What strategies would be best to help move them toward adoption?

Response 2 The veteran teachers who have been there for many years and who often shy away from the use of technology in the classroom. This group normally is hesitant about going to workshops that help teach teachers how to use technology in the classroom and view it as a waste of time. One strategy that could be used to influence them to try the program is provide a workshop that offers free software and supplies for the classroom just for attending the workshop. Another strategy would be to have teachers who are comfortable with technology mentor teachers who aren’t and have them work together to learn how to use the technology in the classroom.

continued Finally, which combination of perceived attributes would be best for helping your innovation meet critical mass in your industry?

Response 3 The combination of compatibility and complexity. Compatibility is important because individuals need to feel comfortable and familiar with the tools they use in working. Teachers need to be able to relate to the program and understand how and why they are using it. Complexity is important because there needs to exist a degree of difficulty in something in order for learning to unfold and knowledge to be scaffold. If individuals think the program is too easy, they won’t bother to use it and this is the same idea for a product that is considered to difficulty. If there is a middle ground for learning and developing then individuals are more likely to consider giving a new idea or technology a chance.

Centralized vs Decentralized Approach for adoption of innovation Centralized approach: originate from a formal R&D source. Passed from experts down to certain lead users. Decentralized approach: new ideas spread horizontally through peer networks. Innovations modified by adopter with adopter making all the decisions. Adopters serve as their own change agents when diffusing their innovations to others. (Rogers, 2003)

Centralized versus Decentralized The best approach for adopting the service: Desire2Learn by the Board of Education in my school district would be a decentralized approach. The innovation should be introduced by technology supervisors of the school district who in turn would offer training to computer technology coordinators from each school. After training, each computer technology coordinator can demonstrate how the program operates to staff and lead teachers.

Recommendations of Change Agents Change agents for my district would be District Technology Coordinator. Technology Coordinator knows the technological needs of the schools in the district. The technology coordinator is also able to use the district Intranet and Internet to connect with all administrators and lead teachers. The technology coordinator is trained in troubleshooting and correcting problems in computer network and is able to communicate concerns or new implementations to all personnel in a timely manner.

Reaching Critical Mass in Society The online and software program Desire2Learn has reached critical mass in society. The company has over 250,000 clients in the United States and Canada and is vastly growing among high schools and colleges. (Desire2Learn, 2008) If the program were implemented into my school district, it would increase its appeal to the schools in surrounding districts as well as bring my school district closer to becoming technology savvy and up to date.

The Need for Desire2Learn Convenience and organization Helps to make inputting information easier. Instructors are able to differentiate learning and keep record of student performance both in and out of the classroom. Allows staff to keep up to date and clear records of students past, present, and future.

continued By adopting and implementing the Desire2Learn system, your district can: Stay organized and be protected against computer failure because the system offers a backup to save information in case of power failure or system crash. Help instructors and staff to provide feedback to each other and the student body in a timely and effective manner. The school district can offer online alternatives to classes taught on campus ushering in a new era of the correspondence courses that are available.

References Desire2Learn. (2009). Desire2Learn Innovative Learning Technology Inc. Retrieved on September 19, 2009 from Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations (5th ed.). New York: Free Press.