This document provides an overview of Diffusion of Innovation theory and its application to educational settings. It discusses key elements of diffusion including innovation, communication channels, time, and social systems. It also outlines Rogers' five categories of adopters and factors that influence the adoption rate of innovations in education. The document suggests strategies for implementing change, provides real-world examples, and discusses how technology affects educational communication through the lens of Diffusion of Innovation theory. Breakout groups are assigned to discuss applying this framework to implementing virtual reality in different educational contexts.

1. Diffusion of Innovation
Theory

2. Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S66TCK8
Lets see where you fall on the scale of
adoption!

3. An Overview of
the Theory

4. Diffusion of Innovation
Diffusion of Innovations was published by Everett Rogers in 1962
Key Elements of Diffusion:
1. Innovation
2. Communication channels
3. Time
4. Social Systems
Key Elements of Innovation:
1. Relative Advantage
2. Compatibility
3. Complexity
4. Observability
5. Trialability

5. 1. Innovators are highly cosmopolite and
open to new things.
2. Early adopters tend to be opinion
leaders.
3. Early majority provide “legitimization” of
the innovation.
4. Late majority are skeptical.
5. Laggards put trust in the status quo.
Overview of Diffusion of Innovation
(Wilson, 2015)

6. Where do you fall on the scale!

7. How does this
theory relate to
learning settings?

8. Factors Influencing Adoption Rate in
Education
● Positive impact on students’ academic performance
● Align with curriculum expectations
● Compatible with current pedagogy
● Relevant to latest theories
● Approved by administors
● Cost effective
● Multiple uses (over multiple grades/classes)
● Opportunity for assessment

9. Strategies for Implementing Change in
Education
● Identify and clearly communicate benefits
● Provide research
● Get innovators and early adopters on your side
● Get management support
● Create policies and/or frameworks
● Communication is key → clear, evidence based, highlight great
work/success stories

10. Real Example in Elementary Context
● Innovation → Dash robot
● Innovator/Early adopter → myself
● Early majority → my principal
● Early/late majority → teaching staff

11. Real Example in Post-Secondary Context
● Innovator → co-worker
● Early adopter → myself
● Early majority → college administration

12. How is technology
affecting educational
communication when
viewed from this
perspective?

13. Technology Affecting Educational Communication
● Technology
○ a design for instrumental action that reduces the uncertainty
in the cause-effect relationships
● Communication
○ a process in which participants create and share
information with one another in order to reach a mutual
understanding
● Innovation Decision Process
○ an information-seeking and information-processing activity,
where an individual is motivated to reduce uncertainty about
the advantages and disadvantages of an innovation

14. Communication Channels
(Reid, 2017)

15. Breakout Activity
Using Virtual Reality in Learning Settings

16. Kindergarten to Grade Six
Group Leader → Megan
You are a K-6 principal and are given the task of implementing virtual reality into
your school. Using Diffusion of Innovation and other theories discussed within
this course, how would you communicate with your team to ensure that it is
successfully implemented?

17. Grade Eight to Twelve
Group Leader → Delaney
You are a grade 8-12 principal and are given the task of implementing virtual
reality into your school. Using Diffusion of Innovation and other theories
discussed within this course, how would you communicate with your team to
ensure that it is successfully implemented?

18. Post-Secondary
Group Leader → Nair
You are a post-secondary chair/associate dean and are given the task of
implementing virtual reality into your school/department. Using Diffusion of
Innovation and other theories discussed within this course, how would you
communicate with your team to ensure that it is successfully
implemented?

19. Corporate
Group Leader → Jina
You are a manager and are given the task of implementing virtual reality into
your company. Using Diffusion of Innovation and other theories discussed within
this course, how would you communicate with your team to ensure that it is
successfully implemented?

20. If you have questions
and/or comments
please follow us on
twitter, and tag us on
our group hashtag -
#5102GDOI
Questions and/or Comments?
@nairlacruz
@DelaneyUOIT
@jinapaima
@Miss_Park7

21. References
Rogers, E.M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations (5th ed.). New York: Free Press.
Chang, H. C. (2010). A new perspective on Twitter Hashtag use: Diffusion of Innovation Theory. Proceedings of the Association for
Information Science and Technology, 47(1), 1-4. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/meet.14504701295/full
Hornor, M. (1998). Diffusion of Innovation Theory. URL: http://www. ciadvertising.
org/studies/student/98_fall/theory/hornor/paperl.html (accessed May 26, 2007).
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c174/0aaaa89bb995c0ca2f40139cdb4a09c27e3f.pdf
Reid, P. (2017). Supporting instructors in overcoming self-efficacy and background barriers to adoption. Education and Information
Technologies, 22(1), 369-382. doi:10.1007/s10639-015-9449-6
Sahin, I. (2006). Detailed review of Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations Theory and educational technology-related studies based on
Rogers' Theory. TOJET : The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 5(2). Retrieved from
https://search-proquest-com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/1288364916?pq-origsite=summon
Thayer, K. K. (2013). The Diffusion of Innovations in education: A study of secondary English language arts teachers' classroom
technology integration. ProQuest LLC.
Wilson D. (2015). Transform teaching with the Diffusion of Innovation. Retrieved from
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/transform-teaching-diffusion-of-innovation-donna-wilson-marcus-conyers