From Puzzles to Progress - A School Leaders Journey to 1:1 iPad

Slide 1: - Change Management Process 

Puzzles invite us in, allow us to test ideas, and build capacity. Today, I’m sharing with you a change management story - transforming Floreat Park Primary School from a ‘shared, mixed device’ to a ‘1:1 iPad learning environment’. Like all good puzzle strategy, it starts with the corner pieces.

Slide 2: Corner One - Engaging the Community 

Our first corner piece was engaging the community. Given the conservative nature of our parents, we formed the “Future Technologies @ Floreat committee” - A space for consultation between parents, teachers, and industry experts.

We deliberately invited individuals with diverse perspectives, including some “black cats,”. This diversity ensured our strategies addressed blind spots. Our consultation was a ‘slow burn’ taking 18 months from start to finish.

Slide 3: Corner Two - A Shared Understanding 

The next corner piece involved developing a shared understanding of technology’s role as an enabler for deeper, richer and better learning experiences. 

At Floreat Park, pedagogy comes first, and the technology is the tool that enhances it. Our 1:1 program needed enhance Inquiry Learning, and not simply be an ‘add on’. 

We started by developing a common vision - ‘students as creators not consumers’. 

Slide 4: Corner Three - A strong connected Leadership Team

Our strengths within the leadership team to drove the change process. My role was leading innovation in teaching and learning. I created a culture where teachers wanted to learn and enhance their programs.

Slide 5: Corner Four - Teachers learn best from teachers

My primary focus was on cultivating an environment where our teachers themselves - seeing the possibilities - asked for an iPad, rather than an initiative implemented from the top down.

Recognising that “teachers learn best from teachers”, I took steps to foster peer learning using Professional Learning Communities, introducing Tech Cafes and Apple Teacher.

By the end, teachers were driving the change to iPad from the classroom up.

Slide 6: boarder piece one and two - No bad habits

We started our program from scratch, so didn’t need to undo any existing bad habits or apps. There were no digital worksheets, games, ‘drill and kill’ apps or free time.

The apps we used were built into the iPad, aligned to our pedagogy and promoted creativity.

Slide 7: boarder piece three and four - Parent purchased but school managed

We looked out and saw where the pressure points where in other schools and decided to have School Managed iPads ensuring that the device was used as a learning tool only. It gave us access the Student Apple IDs and Classwork which improved workflow.

Slide 8: Boarder piece five and six - Parents talking to parents

Community Information Sessions were co-led by parents and staff. Parents as ‘change champions’ drove community by in, and captured feedback on the ground.

Slide 9: inside piece seven and eight - iPadsitioned

After three years of connecting the pieces, our puzzle was nearing completion. Our teachers had undergone a  transformation and our community was behind us. We were ready to pull the trigger.

Slide 10: The final piece

We launched our 1:1 iPad program in February 2022 from Years 3-6, with a 96% uptake. On reflection, the things that made our program work was combination of community, vision and school managed devices.

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