Innovation Plan Update

April 27, 2025

Reflection

Besides working on the Professional Learning Plan, I have found the innovation project to be the biggest challenge so far. Working on my innovation project has been rewarding in that I am constantly for to re evaluate my practice and learning and try to fit it into the learning of my students.  I am excited to develop the resources activities and significant learning environments using the COVA approach, but concerned that it will "fall flat on its face."

Where am I?

At this point, I am still emending my innovation plan after getting feedback from my principal and MTSS coaches.  I will be presenting the emended plan during the first week of May 2025.  Comparing this to my original plan and outline, I am on track to implement the blended learning classroom in Fall 2025.  

What do I still have to complete?

I am still working on the flipped classroom portion of the blended learning classroom.  This is because our internet access is managed and set up by the local intermediate unit (IU) in my county.  The PA DOE established local governing agencies for each county to provide on going local support and PD, while at the same time they are the "gatekeepers" of what can be accessed digitally by staff and students. It is a cumbersome process as I have to submit each resource that is flagged by the firewall, and request access permission. I recently met with our of my building's MTSS coaches and she showed me a workaround using LOOM.  Although it is a convenient way to provide the on-line tools, it is time consuming, I have limited functionality, and will require a good deal of time outside the classroom to accomplish.

I also have to continue my Evaluation Tools for Assessing Digital Teaching and Learning.  I have completed my Action Research Design Outline.  I am still working on my Literature review for EDLD 5315- Assessing Digital Teaching and Learning.

The Learning Process, what have I learned, what worked, and what could I do better...

The learning process has been a unique experience.  Throughout the program, I needed to learn how to learn and to trust myself that what I was doing was what I needed to be doing. I need to continue to trust in the process and my understanding of it. I admit that I still question myself as to what I have gotten myself into with my innovation plan, but at the same time, I grow increasingly excited as I move toward the final product.  What has worked for me the most so far has been the collaborative groups that I have formed in each class, and the use of the GroupMe chats that entire classes and sets of classes have used. My colleagues in the cohort have been one of the most valuable resources. I am not one to typically reach out for help, but this program has forced me to do so.  It is the collaboration and creativity of others that has inspired to do more and go farther.  The one thing that I could improve is my time management, with all that has happened and is happening with my family, this semester has been a challenge. I had to come up with an entirely new schedule for balancing everything. As the program comes to a close, I find myself focusing in a way that I have not been able to since October 2024.

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

 I will promote and communicate my innovation project by:

1) presenting my blended learning plan using an introductory video(s) on the district LMS and possibly linking it to my e portfolio;

2) inviting staff, administration, school board members, parents, and community members (as permitted by the administration) to observe how the classroom portion of my innovation plan works;

3) ask each visitor for feedback on what to add, take away, or change;

4)  asking learners to self reflect after each authentic learning experience and suggest what could be done to make it more advantageous to future learners, and;

5)  proposing a voluntary year long professional learning experience, so other staff can work to make the switch to blended learning.

6) implementing my 4DX and Influencer strategies in achieving buy-in and reflect on the Self-Differentiated Process

7) encouraging my colleagues to reflect on their process of learning by asking them to write their own articles on the process of developing a blended learning classroom

8) encouraging the use of the UbD template to create their online Blended Learning courses

(*** I am investigating the logistics of filming certain classes in order to have a video record of the work that my learners will be doing. I will then create a blog to showcase the work my learners are doing.)

Knowing what you know now what key things (if any) would you do differently?  How would you apply what you have learned to your next innovation project?

Knowing what I know now, I would have asked for more help for the setup of my e- portfolio and the development of the initial steps of my innovation plan from those who have more knowledge in those areas than I do.  I will also spend greater amounts of time in the beginning reviewing and adjusting the proposed plan.  I will do even more research on the topic looking for the pros and cons of taking on the task that I have.