The e-pioneer avoids planning paralysis.
Thorough planning is required when establishing a computer facility at a school. Not only must the implementation of technology be planned – infrastructure preparation needs careful forethought too. And of course, you must plot a training programme for teachers. What about the unforeseen things that can bedevil your plans?
Great thinkers of the past give a helpful perspective on planning:
Albert Einstein said: “I never think of the future: it comes soon enough.”
Winston Churchill told an anecdote of an old man who lamented – on his death bed – the fact that he had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which never happened.
Does this imply that planning is not necessary? Not at all! The lesson is that the act of planning should not replace the act of doing. The tendency to work out every little detail before you move towards action must be avoided.
It is the task of the e-pioneer to encourage a balanced approach during technology adoption: whereas sufficient planning must be done to ensure orderly implementation, care must be taken that the process is not paralyzed by planning.
It is impossible to answer all the “what if” questions. Technology progresses at such a rapid rate that it is unworkable to plan for every eventuality. Rather than waiting till all questions are answered – and letting valuable time slip by – plan according to the facts known at present and get on with the job.
Click here for more food for thought for e-pioneers.
Although planning should be done….life happens despite having the best plans.
Another point. It is quite strange that when facilitators are asked why ICT is not being used? Almost the first answer is around the lack of planning. I don’t think that teachers do not plan. I just think that they just don’t/can’t implement what is planned. Planning looks ok on paper, but that is all its worth…paper. Facilitators don’t always mention the other problems that curb implementation of plans. The other problem around planning in teaching is that teacher’s have to plan the way their CAs, IMGs etc. see education no matter how unworkable it may be. They should be planning for the needs of the learners, themselves and the schoo, not for a system or hierarchy.