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Changing Lanes

A little more than 50 years ago, Sweden's legislature ignored the will of its people and voted to switch driving on the left side of the road to the right side of the road. This picture is from that day. One can imagine that a lot of chaos ensued. Indeed, from the picture, it sure looks like total gridlock.

When the Swedish people were polled in the plebiscite about the change, over 86% of the voters opted to continue driving on the left. Leaders ignored the results.

I don't want leaders ignoring the wishes of people. I want my bosses to listen. I want our politicians to listen. Yet, at the same time, what if the people are wrong? Sweden made this change to reduce traffic accidents and in the years immediately after the change- traffic deaths declined.

When should leaders of all stripes enforce change because they simply know more? People at my school are weighing changing from the iPad, our one to one device, to a different device. Will the change result in gridlock? Should we listen to the people? Should experts have the final say? After 4 years with the iPad, isn't it time to switch lanes?

As a tech integrationist, I just know more than others. My job requires and allows me to be more informed on tech issues than other stakeholders. I strongly favor making a change and find myself frustrated when this change doesn't happen. However, I try to put myself in the shoes of others. Here's my internal dialogue:

me: Put yourself in the shoes of your colleagues? Why shouldn't they have a voice?

me: Because they don't know everything the other device can now do!

me: If you want to get buy-in you have to let people feel that they are listened to.

me: Then why have experts? I defer to the reading specialist when she tells me best ways to teach reading. Best practices and informed opinion should inform decisions.

I go back and forth and around and around. I get it; buy-in is important. So is listening to experts.

BTW, Swedes prepared beautifully for H day, their name for day of the big switch. Despite the photo evidence above, the day went off with very few problems.

Created By
Alexander McDonnell
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