Envisioning the Future of Education: Technical Success vs. Adaptative Success

As education continues to evolve, the distinction between technical success and adaptive success becomes increasingly important when it comes to creating effective learning environments. These concepts, rooted in the work of leadership experts Ronald A. Heifetz and Martin Linsky, are essential for understanding how educational institutions and leaders can effectively address the dynamic challenges they face.

I have spent much of my career studying, writing about and leading transformational efforts within school districts. With nearly two decades of successful superintendent leadership behind me, I recognize that mastering adaptive success is a key element to any transformational work.

Effective and tailored teacher professional development is one of the ways schools can become more adaptively successful. Let’s dive into what that looks like and how partnerships with forward-thinking higher education institutions can help drive the future of credentialing in an educational landscape that prioritizes adaptive success.

Overview: Technical Success vs. Adaptive Success

Technical success refers to the mastery of routine tasks and the ability to solve problems with established solutions. While these tasks can be considered “complicated” and require some former expertise to execute, there’s usually just one right answer, one way to solve the problem.

In the context of educational leadership, this might involve tasks such as developing a master schedule, adhering to discipline policies or ensuring compliance with state regulations. Technical success is crucial, as it forms the backbone of efficient school management and operations. Without technical success, you’ll be unable to find the time to address the other aspects of our work that are equally, if not more, important.

Technical tasks in education might include:

• Creating a master schedule that aligns with state requirements and student needs.
• Implementing a standardized discipline policy consistently across the district.
• Ensuring compliance with safety protocols and state education mandates.

While technical success ensures the smooth functioning of schools, adaptive success is where true transformation occurs. Adaptive challenges are complex, often ambiguous, and cannot be solved with a single, straightforward solution.

Note that the word “complex” stands in juxtaposition to the “complicated” of technical tasks. Complex challenges are inherently unknowable and there is never one right way to solve them. They require creative thinking, flexibility and the ability to tailor solutions to specific contexts. Adaptive success involves addressing issues that evolve over time, much like the whack-a-mole game where new problems continuously emerge.

Adaptive challenges in education might include:

• Addressing the diverse learning needs of students in an inclusive and equitable manner.
• Navigating the impact of technology on teaching and learning practices.
• Responding to the evolving expectations of parents, communities and policymakers.

Adaptive success lies in the ability to pivot, think creatively and develop tailored solutions that address the unique needs of each situation.

Leadership Development for Adaptive Success

For educational leaders, embracing adaptive success is both a personal and organizational imperative. Developing adaptive leadership skills requires a commitment to lifelong learning, flexibility and a willingness to engage with complex challenges in innovative ways.

Here are some strategies for building adaptive leadership:

1. Foster a growth mindset: Encourage leaders to view challenges as opportunities for growth and innovation. This mindset shift is crucial for adaptive success.
2. Invest in professional development: Provide leaders with access to professional development opportunities that focus on adaptive leadership skills.
3. Encourage collaboration and innovation: Create a culture that values collaboration and encourages innovative solutions. Leaders should be empowered to experiment with new approaches and learn from their experiences.
4. Build resilience: Equip leaders with the tools to build resilience in the face of challenges. This includes developing emotional intelligence, stress management techniques and a supportive professional network.
5. Leverage data and feedback: Use data-driven insights and feedback to continuously refine strategies and approaches. This iterative process helps leaders adapt to changing circumstances effectively.

By embracing these strategies, educational leaders can navigate the complexities of today’s educational landscape and drive meaningful change within their districts.

Tailored Professional Development for Adaptive Success

Just as leaders must equip themselves to embrace adaptive success, schools must help their educators stay informed and equipped to implement new practices, priorities and trends in their learning environments. The best way to do this is through professional development tailored to the needs of each individual school or district.

Higher education institutions often partner with school districts to make teachers aware of their educational offerings within the field. These offerings, however, are often generalized and aren’t guaranteed to focus on the areas in which a district wants to adapt. To help them address their specific adaptive challenges, school districts need organizations that able to provide teacher professional development designed to fulfill their specific needs.

American College of Education stands as an example of the future of higher education and online learning in that it partners with school districts to provide this exact service. Their approach to professional learning is highly customizable, aligning with the goals, needs and initiatives of each district. Through tailored professional learning bundles, districts can curate courses from an extensive program offering to create personalized learning experiences for both their educators and their leaders. These micro-learning opportunities not only enhance immediate skill sets but also serve as stepping stones towards advanced degrees, fostering continuous professional growth.

For example, a school district that wants to make their high school students more college ready could direct their educators to ACE’s Certificate in Content Area Instruction, which helps them strengthen their pedagogical skills and content knowledge in specific subjects like cognitive science, English, history and STEM fields. The certificate also provides the 18-credit hour requirement some states require to teach dual credit courses.

By partnering with ACE, districts can build their own tailored solutions to support the career development of their staff. This not only helps in retaining talented educators but also ensures a competitive talent pipeline that is ready to meet the future demands of education. The model is flexibly responsive for both the district and the educator who participates. ACE’s flexible, credit-bearing professional development programs are designed to be implemented at scale with high return on investment, making them an ideal choice for districts looking to invest in sustainable growth.

The future of education hinges on the ability to balance technical and adaptive success. Colleges like ACE, with its innovative and customizable programs, are uniquely positioned to support districts in this endeavor. By investing in tailored solutions and adaptive leadership development, districts can ensure they are well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of their students, educators and communities.