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Innovation Project Reflection

Reflection on Innovation Project Components

When I first began my innovation project for the ADL program, I faced a lot of stress. I struggled to come up with an idea that felt both impactful and feasible. A turning point came during a conversation with a Kindergarten teacher who shared the struggles she faced in getting her students to use iPads effectively. Many of them could only turn the device on and off and navigate YouTube by randomly tapping around. This lack of digital literacy often led to frustration, tantrums, and dependency on adults for assistance. This sparked the idea for my innovation plan, which is integrating purposeful technology use into Pre-K classrooms, where the foundation for digital literacy could be established early on.

Key Components of the Project

Key Components of the Project:

  1. Innovation Plan: My initial step was to craft an innovation plan focused on enhancing digital literacy in Pre-K classrooms through iPad integration. This plan aimed to address the early gaps in students' tech skills and ensure that they could navigate technology purposefully.

  2. Literature Review: In the literature review, I explored the issue of limited technology use in early childhood education. I examined its effects on skill development and highlighted strategies for effective integration.

  3. Implementation Outline: This brief outline outlined the steps needed to integrate iPads into classrooms. Although the execution didn’t go exactly as planned due to delays with the district's program, it served as a starting point for discussions with leadership.

  4. "Why" Pitch: I created a compelling “why” statement to explain the benefits of the integration. This pitch became the foundation of my advocacy efforts, aiming to convince key stakeholders of the importance of this initiative.

  5. Influencer Strategy: The influencer strategy focused on using the six sources of influence—motivation, ability, social factors, and structure—to drive the adoption of technology. This included offering professional development, collaboration opportunities, and incentives for teachers.

  6. 4DX Strategy Plan: This plan detailed how to use the Four Disciplines of Execution (4DX) alongside the Five Stages of Change and the Influencer Model to successfully integrate iPads into Pre-K classrooms. It addressed how to maintain momentum and drive organizational change.

  7. Professional Learning Sessions: I designed professional learning sessions for educators to learn how to use technology effectively in the classroom. These sessions were well-received, with my principal even discussing potential job opportunities for me in other areas of the district.

  8. Creating a Significant Learning Environment: The CSLE course helped me understand what a meaningful and engaging learning environment truly looks like. Through this, I gained strategies and tools to apply in my own classroom to foster deeper student learning and motivation. This directly supported the goals of my innovation plan by ensuring that technology use wasn't just about devices but about creating impactful learning experiences.

  9. Instructional Design: This is one of the current courses I am taking, and it focuses on designing and developing an actual course. It has shown me all the essential components it takes to create a well-structured, learner-centered course—from establishing learning outcomes to aligning assessments and activities. It has helped me bring my innovation plan to life in a format that can be shared with teachers and academic coaches.

Reflection on Growth

Throughout the project, I learned a great deal about technology integration in education. The assignments forced me to think critically about how technology can be used to improve student engagement and achievement. Additionally, the process of working on these projects led to a personal transformation in my approach to teaching and learning. My Learning Manifesto and Growth Mindset became guiding principles, helping me expand my thinking and embrace the potential for change.

I also discovered that communication with my peers and team members played a significant role in fostering my growth mindset. My Learning Philosophy reflected how my mindset evolved over time, pushing me to think beyond the immediate challenges and view them as opportunities for improvement.

While my innovation plan didn’t fully take off due to the delay in receiving feedback from the program vendor, the efforts I put into completing assignments were recognized by my principal, which led to meaningful conversations about potential roles in the district. Even though the job opportunities involved travel—something I wasn’t open to due to my responsibilities at home—the recognition was validating.

What Could I Do Better?

If I could, I would aim to improve the speed of execution. Waiting for external responses caused significant delays. I would also focus more on securing quicker buy-in from key stakeholders, particularly the technology providers, so that the project could progress more smoothly. It was truly disheartening knowing I could not lead the pilot program due to the delays and now being offered a different job position. 

Lessons Learned

  • Patience and Persistence: This project taught me that change takes time, and persistence is key when dealing with external factors that are beyond your control.

  • Stakeholder Engagement: I learned the importance of early and ongoing engagement with all stakeholders (teachers, administrators, and tech vendors) to ensure the project moves forward.

  • Flexibility: The process showed me how to stay flexible when things don’t go as planned. I had to pivot several times, especially when waiting for approval and resources.

What Would I Do Differently?

  • Better Timeline Management: I would work on building a more robust timeline that accounts for potential delays and includes clear checkpoints for feedback.

  • Proactive Communication: Ensuring constant and proactive communication with stakeholders (e.g., tech vendors, administration) would help avoid delays and keep momentum going.

  • Pilot Testing: I would focus on running smaller-scale pilots with a select group of teachers and classrooms to gauge the effectiveness of the strategy before full implementation.

Overall Reflection

Despite the challenges, this project helped me grow professionally and personally. It taught me how to strategically plan for technology integration, build persuasive cases for educational change, and enhance collaboration. While the project didn’t go as far as I hoped, the lessons I’ve learned and the recognition I received have motivated me to continue pursuing this path of innovation in education. The skills I’ve gained are invaluable as I transition into new professional roles, and I am confident that I can build upon this experience in future projects.

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