Overview

Welcome to lesson 4 of 13 in the Accessible Reading for Educators Course.

In this lesson you will learn about proven implementation strategies and how to apply them so that your accessible reading initiative using EasyReader Education Plan is a success.

Lesson Objectives

After studying this lesson, you will be able to:

• Identify key stakeholder roles necessary for successful assistive technology implementation in educational settings.
• Explain the components of an effective implementation plan, including goal setting and feedback loops.
• Develop measurable goals and objectives tailored to your student population and technology integration timeline.
• Evaluate strategies for gaining stakeholder engagement and maintaining ongoing collaboration.

This lesson should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.

Developing an Implementation Plan

The successful implementation of technology hinges on having a clear and intentional implementation plan. In educational settings where technology has been effectively adopted, common elements consistently contribute to that success.

While a plan does not need to be overly complex, having one is essential. And regardless of your role - whether you are an administrator, program coordinator, lead teacher, or classroom educator - you have the power to lead change.

In this lesson, you will learn how to build an effective implementation plan, foster engagement, and drive meaningful progress, no matter what your title or role.

Select your team

If you are a teacher thinking, “I don’t have the authority to create a team,” don’t worry - think of this step as identifying your key stakeholders instead. No matter your role, the successful implementation of Assistive Technology requires collaboration. You will need support from others to bring your plan to life.

In a school setting, you will need to engage with:

• Administrator – If you are not the administrator, gaining support from someone in this role is crucial. They are typically responsible for budget approval, including purchases like EasyReader Education Plan.
• Assistive Technology (AT) Professional – If you are not in this role yourself, connecting with your AT professional can be a game-changer. They often have a broader view of student needs and can help advocate for, and scale the use of, AT across the school.
• IT or Technology Coordinator – To ensure technology is correctly installed and maintained, you will need backing from your IT department. Their support is essential for successful integration.
• Teachers and Paraprofessionals – If you are not working directly in the classroom, it is vital to partner with those who are. Seek out innovative, open-minded Educators who are eager to try new tools that help students thrive.

Once you have identified your team, the next step is gaining their support. Here are proven strategies that others have found effective:

1. Make it personal – Show the impact of EasyReader on a student’s life. Share a video, invite stakeholders to your classroom, or arrange a demo. An emotional connection to student success can be the most compelling motivator.
2. Acknowledge their importance – Be clear about what you are doing and why. Ask for their support and recognize their contributions - both publicly and with leadership. Everyone appreciates being valued.
3. Build relationships – Especially when facing skepticism, find common ground. Whether it is a shared interest or a mutual goal, focusing on connection can turn a critic into a collaborator.
4. Offer a small treat – It might sound simple, but food is a surprisingly effective way to win hearts. A candy bar, baked good, or a coffee can go a long way in showing appreciation and creating goodwill.

And finally, once you have their support, make sure that everyone understands their role and responsibilities within the team.

Set goals and objectives

It is important to ensure every effective implementation plan is grounded in clear, measurable goals and objectives. These give direction to your efforts; help track progress and provide evidence of success.

Consider the following elements as you craft your plan:

• Number of students - Identify how many students will be impacted initially, and plan for potential expansion over time.
• Timed benchmarks – Establish timelines for key milestones (e.g., training completed by a certain date, student access within 30 days).
• Desired outcomes – Define what success looks like. Outcomes might include:
  • Reduced time to access or deliver instructional materials.
  • Increased reading stamina, volume, and comprehension.
  • Improved student engagement or confidence in reading.
  • Positive shifts in student attitudes toward reading and learning.

Establish a feedback loop

A strong implementation plan includes a formal feedback loop-an essential mechanism for communication, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Feedback loops provide a structured way for stakeholders to:

• Report challenges or barriers as they arise.
• Share successes so others can replicate effective strategies.
• Stay accountable to their roles and commitments.
• Monitor whether the implementation is positively impacting students.

Choose a communication method that fits your team and setting. This could include:

• Regular email check-ins.
• Weekly or bi-weekly virtual meetings.
• In-person team meetings or planning periods.
• Shared digital documents or feedback forms.

The format is not as important as the consistency. The key is to create an open, ongoing dialogue that keeps the plan alive, responsive, and aligned with your goals.

Summary

In this lesson you learned how to develop an implementation plan that leverages the key strategies required to successfully implement Assistive Technology in school settings. You identified how to create a practical, goal-driven implementation plan, identify essential team members, and foster engagement from key stakeholders such as administrators, tech coordinators, and teachers.

The lesson also covered the importance of setting clear, measurable objectives and maintaining a feedback loop to ensure accountability, continuous improvement, and positive student impact.

To assist in your implementation plan, Dolphin have created three templates:

• EasyReader Implementation Goals Template (Word document).
• EasyReader Feedback Loop Template (Word document).
• EasyReader Sample Feedback Questions (Word document).

To download the three Word documents as a zip package, click EasyReader Education Templates.

Quiz

Below are three sample quiz questions based on this lesson. Please spend no more than five minutes considering the answers to these questions.

1. Which of the following is NOT a recommended strategy for gaining stakeholder buy-in?
   1. Sharing success stories that show student impact.
   2. Offering clear communication and public recognition
   3. Assuming your plan will be adopted without input
   4. Building relationships around shared goals
2. What is the main purpose of establishing a feedback loop during implementation?
   1. To collect data for end-of-year evaluations only.
   2. To ensure consistent communication, accountability, and continuous improvement.
   3. To provide teachers with performance reviews.
   4. To report technical issues directly to software vendors.
3. When setting goals for an implementation plan, which of the following would be an example of a timed benchmark?
   1. Increase student confidence in reading.
   2. Complete staff training by September 15.
   3. Improve reading fluency.
   4. Encourage positive attitudes toward technology.

End of lesson

Thank you for completing this lesson. Please click the 'Next Lesson' option below to continue to the next part of the course.

If you want to revisit a previous lesson, please scroll to the top of this page and click the lesson you wish to visit in the Course Outline menu.

But before you move on, here are the answers to the quiz questions:

1. Assuming your plan will be adopted without input.
2. To ensure consistent communication, accountability, and continuous improvement.
3. Complete staff training by September 15.