Innovation Project

UPDATE

Reflection is crucial at every stage when implementing any project, plan, or idea. In this reflection, I assess and analyze my current progress in implementing the Empower: Blended Learning Leadership Program. I will review all the components and work accomplished thus far, identify what still needs to be completed, evaluate my learning process, and determine what worked well and what could be improved. Additionally, I will explore ways to apply the lessons learned from this experience to future planning.

Images: Unsplash

Innovation Plan

REFLECTION

Innovation Plan Proposal: To start the innovation process, I wrote a proposal letter for stakeholders, highlighting the issue of teacher-centered classrooms and “managed” engagement, paired with the solution of a Blended Learning Leadership Program. This was the first step toward implementing true change in my district.
Implementation Outline: The implementation outline is where everything started coming together. It provided a bird’s-eye view of the entire plan, from beginning to end. This overview was extremely helpful as it allowed me to set dates and events, keeping my thoughts and plans organized.

Video Pitch: The video pitch encapsulates my innovation plan and my vision for student-centered classrooms. Given that much of our district still adheres to traditional teaching methods, this video allowed me to illustrate the positive changes blended learning could bring to both teachers and students.
Literature Review: Conducting the literature review enabled me to explore the research supporting blended learning, learner-centered classrooms, and student engagement, as well as the need for ongoing professional development. This review was crucial for gaining the knowledge and confidence to advocate for blended learning, student engagement, professional development, and teacher self-efficacy.
Growth Mindset Plan: The growth mindset plan is essential for achieving positive change as one learns to move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset (Dweck, 2006). I plan to present this plan to the District Leadership Team and the teachers in the Empower Program to help create an environment fostering endless possibilities and opportunities for everyone.
New Culture of Learning Presentation: This presentation was vital in clarifying the direction of the implementation plan. Thomas and Brown’s (2011) A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change profoundly impacted my innovation plan, providing insights into the differences between the traditional teaching model and a new culture of learning. This helped lay the foundation of the Empower Program.
3-Column Table & 4DX Model: Creating the 3-Column Table allowed me to define the Empower Program’s Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal (BHAG), ultimately giving the learners in the program a clear end goal. I utilized Fink’s (2003) key components of Integrated Course Design, which include learning goals, feedback and assessment, and teaching-learning activities. The 4DX Plan is also essential for achieving my most important goals amid the daily “whirlwind” as Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling (2016) call it.
Understanding by Design (UbD) Unit Plan: For creating the sessions in my innovation plan, I utilized the Understanding by Design (UbD) unit plan template. The details in this template made the course more tangible and instilled confidence in its implementation.
Influencer Strategy: To initiate change in my district through the Empower: Blended Learning Leadership Program, I designed an influencer strategy and identified key influencers who will help turn this vision into reality.
Media Project: Producing a podcast played a pivotal role in promoting aspects of the Empower Program. My team and I discussed the importance of student choice, which is a major component of blended learning.
Online Learning Course: This online course jumpstarted the flipped classroom aspect of my innovation plan. I created five online modules to implement as part of the program.

Current

STATUS

Given that this plan will take a full year to finalize, another year to implement, and will not begin until August 2024, I am currently in the "Month 1-3: Initial Introduction with Stakeholders" and "Month 4-6: Creation of Program Curriculum, Professional Development, and Teacher Application" phases of my implementation outline.

While this may not seem like a significant start, I am extremely proud of the progress made in introducing the COVA (Choice, Ownership, Voice, and Authentic learning environments) approach, CSLE (Creating Significant Learning Environments), and blended learning to stakeholders in my district. As part of the district leadership team, I have been able to integrate these concepts into discussions about major district topics.

My main focus now is the creation of professional development for the Empower Program. Each professional development day is intentionally designed to model how blended learning can be effectively implemented in the classroom. I aim to complete this by month seven of the innovation plan outline, as scheduled.

Year 1: Program Development and Promotion

August 2024 - July 2025

Month 1-3: Initial Introduction with Stakeholders
Month 4-6: Creation of Program Curriculum, Professional Development and Teacher Application
Month 7-9: Program Promotion and Applicant Selection
Month 10-12: Feedback and Program Adjustments

Year 2: Program Implementation and Evaluation

August 2025 - July 2026

Month 1-3: Professional Development Finalizations and BLLP Rollout
Month 4-6: Classroom Visits and Mentorship
Month 7-9: Ongoing Professional Development
Month 10-12: Program Evaluation & Reflection

My Learning

JOURNEY

Because this project is unique to both my personal vision and the needs of my district, I have taken significant ownership of the learning process. The opportunity to showcase my learning in ways that are meaningful to the many educators involved in my plan has been a great motivator. This has driven me to thoroughly research and apply the concepts learned in this program, proving extremely beneficial.

As I reflect on my learning journey, I am proud of the progress I have made. Much of this growth is due to the growth mindset course I took in my first semester. This course provided me with the tools I needed to grow and learn, which greatly benefited the creation of my innovation plan. Maintaining a growth mindset has given me the flexibility to learn and has encouraged me to extend grace to myself throughout the innovation plan process.

In addition to the ways I've viewed learning, I've also learned the value of:

Feedback - Feedback is crucial for any kind of improvement and gives direction for future success.
Collaboration - We cannot and should not rely on our own strength to do anything. We all have special gifts and talents that we bring to the table. In order to make any project, plan, or idea come to life, we have to embrace everyone's uniqueness.
Knowing your WHY - This one is HUGE. Knowing my why has given me the foundation needed to stand on when discussing any topic or idea related to my innovation plan.

Analyzing and Assessing My Innovation Plan

What's going well?

Stakeholder Engagement: Successfully introduced the foundation of the Empower Program to stakeholders.
Introduction of Key Terms:
- COVA (Choice, Ownership, Voice, and Authentic Learning Environments) (Harapnuik et. al., 2018): Highlighted and integrated these principles into stakeholder discussions.
- CSLE (Creating Significant Learning Environments) (Harapnuik, n.d.): Emphasized the importance of creating impactful learning environments.
- Blended Learning Models (Horn & Staker, 2015) : Advocated for and explained the benefits of blended learning.
Application of ADL Program Learnings: The concepts learned in the ADL program have been effective in promoting student-centered, personalized learning environments among stakeholders and teachers.
Empower Program Promotion: While I am not in the promotion phase, I have been able to advertise the ideas to teachers throughout personal meetings to gain feedback. Overall, finding prove to be extremely positive.

What could be better?

Early PD Planning:
- Start planning professional development (PD) sessions earlier in the process.
Professional Development Customization:
- Tailor professional development sessions to address the specific needs and challenges of different teacher groups. For example, specific subjects, grade levels, SPED/504, ESL, AP/Co-Enrolled, etc.
Enhanced Stakeholder Communication regarding Empower Program participation days:
- Confirm enough in-service days will be alloted for teachers participating in the Empower Program.

How do you plan to promote and communicate your innovation plan?

To effectively promote and communicate the Empower: Blended Learning Leadership Program to the teachers in my district, I will consider the following strategies:

Summer Technology Professional Development Sessions - Introduce and highlight the Empower Program. This is an ideal time to engage teachers when they are preparing for the upcoming school year and are open to new ideas and tools.
The Tech Grind Newsletter - I will continue to send out regular newsletters with updates, success stories, and directions for how to apply for the Empower Program. This will keep teachers informed and engaged and will help maintain momentum and interest in the program.
Social Media - Using our school website and platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, I will be able to promote the Empower Program and create a sense of community among teachers.
PLC Meetings - Integrate discussions about the Empower Program into existing PLCs.
Incentives for Participation - Offer incentives to motivate teachers to get involved and commit to the program.

Any future improvements?

To improve my innovation plan in the future, I believe the most important step is to continue learning. Although I delved deeply into the concepts of blended learning during the ADL program, it is still relatively new to me. I must keep expanding my knowledge and, more importantly, gain hands-on experience with blended learning through professional development and co-teaching with classroom teachers. By immersing myself in this environment, I will be better equipped to teach it and will gain the credibility that teachers rightfully deserve.

How would you apply what you have learned to your next innovation project?

For my next innovation project, I would apply several key learnings from the current innovation project. These include:

Early Stakeholder Engagement: Start with a comprehensive proposal and early engagement with stakeholders to ensure alignment and support from the outset.
Thorough Planning and Implementation Outline: Develop a detailed implementation outline early on to provide clarity on timelines, milestones, and resource allocation.
Continuous Feedback Loop: Establish a structured feedback mechanism to gather insights from stakeholders, teachers, and participants throughout the project.
Pilot Testing: Implement a pilot phase to test components of the innovation project, allowing for adjustments and refinements based on feedback and outcomes.
Effective Communication Strategy: Implement a robust communication strategy using various channels (e.g., workshops, newsletters, social media) to promote and sustain engagement among stakeholders.
Documentation and Evaluation: Document best practices, challenges, and successes to create a repository of knowledge for future projects. Use clear metrics and evaluation criteria to measure the project's impact and effectiveness.

By applying these strategies, I aim to enhance project outcomes, foster stakeholder buy-in, and ensure sustainable success in future innovation endeavors.

Reflecting on the journey of developing the Empower: Blended Learning Leadership Program has been a significant experience. From initial planning with stakeholder engagement to thorough planning and planning its final promotion, each phase has contributed to shaping student-centered, blended learning environments that will transform our classrooms from the traditional classrooms to significant learning environments.

It has been an honor to learn and grow so that I can help other educators do the same.

References:

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York: Random House.

Fink, L. D. (2003). A Self-Directed Guide to Designing Courses for Significant Learning. Creating Significant Learning Experiences: An Integrated Approach to Designing College Courses. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Harapnuik, D. (n.d.). Learner’s mindset – It’s about learning. COVA+CSLE. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6988

Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., & Cummings, C (2018). COVA: Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic Learning: Vol.0.9 [EBook]. Creative Commons License.

McChesney, C., Covey, S., & Huling, J. (2016). The 4 disciplines of execution: Achieving your wildly important goals. Simon and Schuster.

Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. Lexington, KY: CreateSpace.