These are my reflections following the TLT Friday Live webinar on 14 Oct. 2011 entitled: “Change IS Possible” (counter-counterimplementation) Steve Gilbert

From Google Books: Computerworld, 11 June 1979, p.14. http://goo.gl/ZctCO In 1979, Peter Keen identified a collection of strategies that could be employed to squelch what he called “lousy” ideas.

There was no need to be overtly oppositional because “delay and tokenism” would do the job.(1) Thomas Dang Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0 valeriebb/2226587603, 24 Feb. 2007

In education change is inevitable, but this ‘counter-implementation’ can make improvement optional.(2) Kenneth Cloke Flickr CC BY 2.0 jesse/3661982220, 28 Feb. 2009

Inertia may smother imagination, creative energy, and initiative. Flickr CC BY 2.0 james_gordon_los_angeles/5900004023, 4 Oct. 2010

Outward acceptance can mask resistance stemming from fear, insecurity, uncertainty, dissatisfaction, anger, or … a general unwillingness to change.(3) Flickr CC BY 2.0 origamijoel/ 83474993 7 Jan. 2006

Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 pursuethepassion/ 3821202293 16 Oct. 2006 Conflicting ‘values’ messages will stifle risk- taking.

Roadblocks and ‘red herrings’ include: In Negotiation Law Blog , 2 May 2008 at http://goo.gl/thar1

raising issues of sustainability and scalability too early in the process - even before the idea is formed Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0 mannewaar/ 4924245682 24 Aug. 2010

waiting for research, data, formal plans, and best practice models to legitimize new ideas Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0 lordferguson/3104594495, 28 Oct. 2008

marginalising game-changers Flickr CC BY 2.0 trinitydigitalexhibition/ 3300713656 28 Oct. 2008

strengthening barriers to participation From shivaranjanv/ 5792028027 http://goo.gl/p41sr AWAITING PERMISSION

Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0 howcheng/10014772 20 Feb. 2003 lying low lying low

Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0 photos/11223807@N04/ 3699977215 8 July 2009 The deeper the change, the more powerful and committed the stakeholders. Kenneth Cloke

The more complex and transformational the change, the less it can be forced (4). Kenneth Cloke Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0 photos/11223807@N04/ 3699977215 8 July 2009

Change can create both opposition and unity (4). Kenneth Cloke Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0 photos/11223807@N04/ 3699977215 8 July 2009

For the educational landscape to be reshaped, it is imperative to collaboratively avoid such ‘train wrecks’ as: In Wikimedia Commons 1883 photo at http://goo.gl/6UBBu

technology without pedagogy community without connection teaching without joy learning without meaning In Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 egruen/55324330, 21 Oct. 2005

If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea… Antoine de Saint-Exupéry original photo

Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0 mprinke1205340638, 9 Jul. 2007 and light their way.

An object in motion will stay in motion, and an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted upon by an outside force. http://www.questforbalance.com/2009/01/27/balance-newtons-first-law/ Flickr CC BY- NC-ND 2.0 heymrlady/4006895113, 9 Oct. 2009

The trick is to give it just the right nudge.

Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0 /mike_miley/4485173653, 2 Apr. 2010 incubate innovation – give it time and space; protect it from premature scrutiny

Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 9422878@N08, 3 Mar. 2002 keep a true experimental orientation -- the purpose is to learn don’t assess experimentation on a pass/fail basis – it can be muddy and still contain the seeds of future success

Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 9 mtsofan/4627575995 , 20 May 2010 value the context/stories/experience of all participants become an insider by building credibility

Flickr CC BY-NA 2.0 9 yugen/2966490322, 22 Oct. 2005 distinguish thoughtful feedback from counter-productive disagreements

paint the ‘big picture’ so others can see it incremental changes can lead to transformation Flickr CC BY 2.0 qthomasbower/3470650293, 24 Apr. 2009

Every border & boundary is also a bit of common ground. Incursions will be resisted, but consensual crossings can be precursors to collaboration, problem-solving and reconciliation. Flickr CC presidents/4069031830, 32 May, 2008 AWAITING PERMISSION

What many educators don’t understand is that … Quotation in Aristotle at http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/176050 Image in Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 at egruen/2569038380, 24 Feb. 2008

So throw a little spaghetti against the wall and see what sticks.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Victor Frankl Flickr CC BY SA 2.0 marfis75/3512407702, 25 Apr. 2009

My thanks to Steve Gilbert and the other contributors to the TLT Group FridayLive webinar, 14 Oct. 2011, for their open sharing. recording & resources at http://goo.gl/L6cu4 line-up of future topics at http://tltgroup.roundtablelive.org/events Please contact Sue Hellman (fossils[dot]no[dot]more [at]gmail[dot]com) regarding permissions to use these images.