During recent Mana training sessions, we have been empowering Centre Managers, Educational Leaders, Head Teachers and Room Leaders with 4 key mindsets.
To set the scene, we get it! Change is hard, and introducing a new platform to your team can be met with a mix of emotions. Please know, this is completely normal. We have included 4 key mindsets to impart with your team when you talk about using Mana and embedding Mana as part of your centre's
Mindset 1: Encourage experimentation
The best way to learn is by doing.
We often hear things like: "I need to understand the whole system inside out before I can start using it."
However, we like to say: "Learning happens by doing. Start small, experiment safely, and build confidence with AI through practice, not perfection.”
Key context you can share with your team when encouraging experimentation:
Just as children explore and make sense of the world through play, educators build confidence with AI by giving it a go.
You don’t need to master Mana before you start using it. Small, safe experiments help you and your team discover how it can save time, spark ideas and support practice.
Progress comes from trying, not from waiting until everything feels perfect.
Mindset 2: Skilling
When used responsibly, AI amplifies great teaching.
When we first rollout Mana within an organisation, people often ask us about whether AI will replaces teacher and educator expertise and contribute to the de-skilling of their team.
We strongly believe that with responsible use, AI can amplify great teaching through supporting teachers and educators with their practice, reflections and documentation.
Key context you can share with your team when discussing skilling:
The AI components within Mana has been designed to amplify great teaching; not replace it.
Coach Sue supports every teacher to improve their practice and create better outcomes for children, through asking questions to deepen reflection.
Coach Sue also can provide assistance with day-to-day questions and challenges through private coaching sessions.
Mana Sentinel provides built-in guardrails to ensure safe, responsible use of AI. For example, teachers won’t be able to generate a document in Mana without providing sufficient information first.
Mindset 3: Cross-generational sharing
Age should not be a barrier for using Mana.
Before we rollout Mana, we sometimes hear sentiments like: “Our younger teachers and educators will be confident with AI, but our more experienced teachers and educators will find it overwhelming.”
What we encourage people to think about is that AI can be a great opportunity for team members to learn from each other: for example, by bringing together digital know-how and teaching experience. Age is not a barrier for using Mana and we discourage placing limiting
Key context you can share with your team when encouraging your educators to try using Mana:
Age is not a barrier to learning or leading with AI. Mana has users of all age groups.
Every educator brings valuable strengths: while younger staff often bring digital confidence, our experienced teachers have so much to contribute with regards to deep pedagogical wisdom and professional judgement.
Mana creates opportunities for genuine peer learning, where knowledge flows both ways.
By embracing each other’s strengths, teams show children what collaboration, adaptability, and respect look like in action.
Mindset 4: Security and privacy at our core
Age should not be a barrier for using Mana.
In today's digital age, there is an understandable nervousness around putting our children’s data into digital tools.
We want you to know that Mana is the most secure platform in ECE, backed by top certifications. You can use Mana with confidence in line with your policies.
Key context you can share with your team when encouraging security and privacy conscious behaviours when using Mana:
Mana has been built from the ground up to protect children, teachers, educators and families.
Security is core to how Mana operations. Mana is the most secure platform in ECE. Mana holds 3 of the most challenging certifications to obtain: SOC2 Type II, ISO27001 and ISO42001.
With these certifications in mind as well as in-built responsible AI guardrails, leaders and educators can use AI with confidence.
Security is part of everyday leadership and part of building trust with families.
This information will also support you in conversations with family members. You are always welcome to share our Trust Centre with your teams and families where they can learn more about how we protect your data and stay transparent with you every step of the way.
We hope these help. If you have other mindsets that you've influenced when rolling out Mana, we would love to hear from you!
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