What I set out to accomplish:

My innovation plan focuses on developing 21st-century skills using iPad creativity apps and coding apps. We will use iPads to engage students in active and collaborative learning. My innovation plan strategically involves teachers implementing collaborative lessons that help students develop the skills they will need to be successful in their futures. The goal is to provide students with experiences that will augment and redefine their learning, experiences that will expose them to all of their future possibilities. 

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Where I currently stand:

I am currently in the beginning stages of my innovation plan. I am conducting action research to observe and collect data about the effects of iPad coding and creativity apps in the 5th-grade math classroom. The current focus of my action research is the students’ problem-solving skills. This school year is unlike any other; I have to be constantly prepared for the unknown as a teacher. There is always so much happening; I have to juggle different responsibilities constantly. Because of this, I feel like my action research is a bit unorganized; I am trying my best to stick to the plan so that the data I collect can provide helpful and supportive information. Currently, the results that I have observed in the classroom from implementing collaborative and active learning through coding and creativity apps is a higher level of engagement from the students. They are beginning to reflect on their thinking and employ different critical thinking methods when solving a problem. Additionally, students are having favorable responses to the use of iPads. I will continue with my action research this school year; I will collect and organize my data and use it to support my call to action. 

 

Additionally,  I am working on modifying my lessons and lessons plans. I want each lesson or unit to involve iPads as more than a substitute for paper and pencil. I want to employ creative apps to push students to use higher-order thinking. Thus far, they have collaboratively created a learning product within each unit. Students have been involved in projects, which they have had to apply to real-world situations and experiences. As I continue to prepare and apply these lessons, I am thinking about how I will share them with my colleagues and what adjustments I’ve had to make them work in my classroom. It is all a learning process from here. I am at the point where I am applying my learning, trying things out in my classroom, identifying the adjustments that need to be made, and preparing to share them with others. 

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What I have learned: 

Creating my innovation plan has provided me with the most active learning experience I have had the opportunity to engage in. As I worked on each detail of my plan, my passion for achieving the plan’s goals grew. Through each course, I was guided and pushed to think about aspects of my project that I was frankly not aware of. I was taught to view and approach my plan from different perspectives. Most importantly,  I conducted research and obtained guidance from people who had success and learned from their failures.

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When I started to work on my innovation plan, it was a small idea. I didn’t realize how detailed and intricate it would become. I know that it isn’t too complicated to the point where I can get lost in my planning. It is clear enough and prepared enough to get my stakeholders to buy in, successfully implement it in my classroom, implement my plan through professional learning communities, and establish a sense of continuation and accountability to create a long-lasting impact. I think this is the best part of my innovation plan; this is the part that works. As I developed my strategy, throughout each course, I was forced to explore and prepare for events and things I originally wasn’t thinking of, but that are so vital to the success of my plan. For example, the action research I am currently conducting was not part of my original thought when I started my implementation outline. It wasn’t on my radar, but when I completed the action research course, I realized how important it is to observe and collect data to see if something is working or not. It will help me determine the changes that need to be made to my plan. Similarly, I knew that I would have to train my colleagues if my plan was to spread throughout my school and be successful. Through the alternative PL course, I realized the value of active learning with my students and my colleagues. I was pushed to observe and research different professional learning approaches and determine the best fit for my stakeholders. I think this is the beauty of my innovation plan, that it is shaped to fit the needs of my organization. I’ve had to design a project with my organization members in mind, something very personal to us and our needs. I’ve had to prepare concrete strategies to support the skeptics and promote buy-in, plans to support less skilled members than others. There is differentiation for my students and the adult learners who will help me promote the needed changes in my organization. 

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What I can do better:

There is always room for improvement, space to do things differently. Through each step of my innovation plan, I have to constantly ask myself, “what can I do better?” One thing I haven’t done is create a space somewhere in my e-portfolio or just a personal file to record the changes that I have made to my plan. I think this is something I need to do to document my growth. It is essential to understand where an idea started, and by keeping track of the changes being made, I can maintain that same growth mindset throughout my implementation. By having this record of changes, I will be able to observe the evolution of different parts of my plan and ensure that I am striving to achieve the goals of my plan. 

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The lessons I have learned:

I have learned many lessons working on my innovation plan. I think my most important takeaway is the importance of accountability with myself and the members of my organization. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always believed that it is important to hold myself and my students accountable. Still, I never viewed accountability as something that could make or break innovation. 4DX revolvers around creating a cadence of accountability to maintain my innovation plan alive. Additionally, another vital lesson that I learned from the very beginning is the importance of reaching the hearts. This has changed my approach to getting my important ideas across, I first think about reaching the hearts of my audience, and then everything else will fall in place. People want to know your why; they want to know what drives you, and if we start with this, we are more likely to have buy-in from our stakeholders.

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How I will communicate my plan:

I plan to communicate and promote my innovation project starting with my call to action directed towards my administration and colleagues. I will implement my alternative PL plan to maintain my innovation plan alive. My alternative PL plan goes hand in hand with 4DX (4 Disciplines of Execution), which will provide that much-needed sense of accountability. I will use my understanding and learning from crucial conversations to pave the way for my communication of ideas. 

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Applying my learning:

Lastly, everything I have learned can be applied to any other innovation project I want to create. It needs to begin with the idea that I completely believe in. I have to be invested in it to have a clear why statement that will move my organization. I have to plan the active learning training of my organization correctly. I have to provide people enough opportunities to practice what they have learned to feel confident in what they are doing. If I were to create another innovation project, I would start my plan in the same way I did this one, developing a clear goal, supporting it with research, and developing a plan timeline. Most importantly, I have to be able to reach the hearts of the people I want to impact.