Innovation Plan Update
Throughout this year-long program, I have created and continuously developed my innovation plan to implement the rotational model of blended learning on my campus. Many components have been developed to support this plan, and the process of implementation is already underway. This update will provide an overview of the progress made so far and outline the next steps in moving the plan forward.
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My Progress
To begin my ADL journey, I first identified a problem within my organization: the lack of emphasis on writing in the ELA curriculum. I felt that writing was often overlooked and not given enough priority, particularly by leadership. To address this, I wrote a Proposal to integrate blended learning in order to enhance writing instruction.
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Next, I conducted thorough research to explore how blended learning could help solve this problem. Through my Literature Review 1 and Literature Review 2, and article that cited trusted, peer-reviewed resources, I gathered valuable insights into the benefits of blended learning. Armed with this information, I shared my reasoning and created a call to action video to engage others in supporting this initiative and shared My Why.
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The next step was to create a clear implementation plan, including a growth mindset plan to ensure continuous development. I also designed a Professional Development (PD) plan, carefully considering what works and what doesn’t with current PD approaches. Based on this, I developed an alternative PD plan that would better meet the needs of educators. Additionally, I explored strategies for creating organizational change, such as the Influencer Strategy and the 4DX model, to ensure successful implementation.
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As part of my process, I also explored Creating Significant Learning Environments (CSLE) to ensure that I am fostering the most effective, student-centered learning space possible. By focusing on the principles of CSLE, I aim to shift from being the sole source of knowledge to becoming a facilitator of learning. This approach allows students to take more ownership of their learning experiences, encouraging active participation, collaboration, and critical thinking. By creating an environment that prioritizes student engagement and autonomy, I am better equipped to support diverse learning needs and promote deeper understanding among all students.
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To solidify the foundation of my courses, I developed the specifics through my Understanding by Design (UbD) framework and a 3-column table to structure the content effectively. I also planned Measurement Strategies, and created the necessary resources to support the digital environment.
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Now, as I near completion of my full course, which will be part of my Instructional Design, I am bringing everything together to finalize the plan and prepare for its implementation.
Current Status
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I have successfully presented my innovation plan to my leadership team, and we had a productive discussion about the next steps. After reviewing the plan together, it was agreed that we will update the implementation outline to ensure it aligns with the goals and needs of our school. With the ongoing changes that our campus is always going through as an NES campus, we are tentatively looking into when we would be able to implement these rotations, potentially during flex days. Additionally, we are also exploring all the blended learning programs that might be available next year, with the goal of integrating them into this innovation plan for typing and grammar practice. The plan is set to be rolled out at the beginning of the next school year, with PD sessions scheduled to begin in the summer. This collaborative effort has been invaluable, and I am excited to continue refining the plan as we move forward.
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Reflecting on the Learning
Throughout this innovation project, I have had the opportunity to not only design and implement a blended learning approach but also reflect on my own teaching practices and leadership skills. The process has been a significant learning experience that involved both successes and areas for growth. One of the key successes was my ability to collaborate with my leadership team. Together, we were able to review the innovation plan, ensuring it aligned with the goals of our school. Through this collaboration, I was able to prove why blended learning would be an effective way to address the challenges we were facing in the writing curriculum. The research conducted through my Literature Reviews provided strong evidence supporting this approach, which helped solidify the plan’s potential impact.
Opportunities for Growth and Future Improvements
While I made progress with the planning and collaboration, I recognize that I could have done more to involve all stakeholders from the beginning. Early feedback from teachers, students, and other school staff could have provided more insights into their specific needs, expectations, and concerns, helping to refine the plan even further. By gathering this input sooner, I would have been able to better address their unique perspectives and incorporate practical ideas into the design. Additionally, I would have benefited from more testing or piloting of certain elements before full-scale implementation. This would have allowed me to identify potential challenges, such as which blended learning programs would work best and how to effectively schedule rotations, making adjustments based on real-time feedback to ensure the plan’s success when it was rolled out.
Throughout this program, I’ve learned a lot, and I’m excited to apply those lessons to my next innovation project. There are a few changes I plan to make moving forward. First, when I begin developing my plan, I will avoid being too specific too early. At the start of this project, I was teaching 4th grade in a self-contained classroom. However, this year, I was switched to teaching 3rd grade. Thankfully, the content and overall idea didn’t change too drastically, but the shift meant that I wouldn’t be teaching writing as frequently, which would have made piloting my project more difficult.
Second, I’d like to work more collaboratively on my future projects. Throughout this program, I’ve come to realize the value of collaboration. Working with a team allows for a broader range of ideas and perspectives, and I believe a collaborative group would be able to accomplish more than I could on my own.
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This experience has taught me so much, especially about the power of authentic learning environments and student-centered teaching. I've learned how to create meaningful experiences for students that are engaging and effective. Moving forward, I plan to use the knowledge I’ve gained to communicate my innovation plans—both current and future—through my ePortfolio. The process of building this ePortfolio has been invaluable, and the final product is something I couldn’t have imagined at the start. I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve accomplished, and I’m excited to continue applying these lessons in my teaching.