What is Implementation Science?

In the video, James Mannion, from UCL Institute of Education, Learning and Leadership, introduces the ‘implementation science’ approach to any kind of institutional change.

Implementation Science For All Sectors

The move to more online learning that we are seeing now across all education institutions means we have to think about how to manage that institutional change process. James offers a simple, well-researched approach, that can work at any level, department or whole institution, in any education sector.

Consider how a teacher, for example, can work towards new ways of teaching more successfully if they have some allies in their department or institution. One key issue for success here would be the involvement of the senior managers. You may find colleagues look to you for guidance, or you may wish to set about organising an institutional move towards more online teaching and learning. This video will help you think it through.

In the video, James shows how leaders can engage all levels of the organisation in system change, by creating a ‘vertical slice team’. The idea is to manage change through a team representing all types of role, including students, where each member takes issues back to their own group to interrogate and solve and bring back to the central team.

The approach acknowledges that leaders do not have all the answers and enables all staff to engage in creative solutions. James talks through the main elements of the process, which has been trialled and tested in schools over several years.

Exercise

Look at the Implementation Planning Template (see Downloads) that you could adapt for your own department or institution to come together to plan the move to online. It includes the list of prompt questions that each member of the vertical slice team can use in their exploration of colleagues’ views.

Comments

Would this be a feasible approach to switching to online learning in your own department or institution?