Navigating Change
Introducing change in schools is no small feat. The journey can seem overwhelming, when faced with the complexities of learning and implementing new ideas while providing staff with support and understanding to make the changes. Schools and divisions often grapple with the question, "Where do we even start?" This sentiment is familiar and we want to shed light on an approach that can ease the process – the value of piloting.
The Essence of Piloting
Piloting involves testing initiatives with a select group before full-scale implementation. It provides a controlled environment to work out the kinks, gain insights, and refine strategies. While whole-school adoption is the ultimate goal, there are times when piloting with a smaller, invested group can be incredibly valuable. A few years ago, we wrote about the value of piloting change for schools but in this blog, want to focus a little more directly on piloting in relation to Collaborative Response.
Strategic Insights from Piloting
When undertaking substantial change, the idea of unanimous buy-in across the entire staff may seem elusive. Leaders sometimes fall into the trap of waiting to move forward on an initiative until they have all staff onboard and ready to move forward. When in reality, this is a misnomer. Every member of your team has a jagged profile and embark on and adapt to change in different ways. The concept of early adopters and late adopters becomes crucial. Piloting aligns with this philosophy, leveraging the enthusiasm and investment of early adopters to build momentum.
Leveraging Piloting in Layered Collaborative Structures
Piloting can be strategically applied to the levels of teams that provide successful scaffolding of supports for all students. Here are a few examples of how we can pilot in the collaborative structures of Collaborative Response:
| Collaborative Planning:
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| Collaborative Team Meetings:
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| Case Consultation Teams:
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Data and evidence is gathered to flag the students we need to be discussing as well as informing the areas of development for teams. Choosing a screening tool that is aligned with school priorities can assist in moving a school forward in their school planning process. Piloting a universal screen can identify if you have chosen the right tool that provides the right information for your priority. It can also work through some of the dynamics around conducting the screen and can identify the best ways to gather the evidence that you need.
| Universal Screening:
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Piloting with Purpose
The key to successful piloting lies in having a clear purpose. Define the desired outcome and align the pilot accordingly. Purposeful piloting allows educators to gather meaningful insights, address challenges, and tailor strategies for broader success.
Share Your Piloting Experiences
We encourage you to share your experiences with piloting initiatives. What worked well? What challenges did you overcome? Did you use feedback tools to gather your teams experience and reflections? These insights can inspire and guide others embarking on similar journeys.
If you have resources developed related to this concept, we would love to see them! Email us at or if you have something you wish to share.
Scaffolding our Collaborative Response: Purposeful Layering of Team Meetings
