An update on My Innovation Plan

At the beginning of this project, I often asked myself why students' assignments were often wasted on isolated events and discarded after a week. Reflecting on my career leads me to believe that worthless assignments are a design flaw of the American education system. Scholars are not adequately challenged or assessed.  With that thought, I began an innovation plan with the core values of learning by experience and assessment as a form of education. In practice, the application of these principles takes the form of project-based learning, for experiential learning, and ePortfolios for ongoing evaluations.

Using ePortfolios as an ongoing assessment allows for students to begin collecting evidence of learning in a class and carry that evidence on to other courses. Evidence could be anything from a minor assignment to a larger-scale project. Students must write reflection pieces to show personal and academic growth. These written reflections can and should mention other classes and how they apply acquired skills across content. Skills develop through short and long-term projects. These projects align with state standards and district wishes. The district vaguely requires student engagement, and the best way to engage and equip students is to use projects.

The innovation plan uses the COVA framework for designing the curriculum and carrying out the project. Students choose the specificity of the topic explored, according to the TEK. They have a choice regarding how they present their findings, or the deliverable created. The student then displays their deliverables on their ePortfolios.

As of this post's writing, I have completed three "soft" launches of the ePortfolio system. The first two times were in a project-based school. Leveraging the project-based approach worked very well for both attempts. COVA also allowed students freedom of expression over their deliverables and the quality of their work. The third time they were identified and clarified earlier feedback. Both students and professionals agreed that there needed to be stronger rubrics with better-defined criteria for success. This revelation enlightened me regarding the balance between choice and direction as a professional. COVA should have a guiding compass from the teacher.

Having been through this experience, I have learned that I communicate through multimedia the best. Communication through media is why I started and propose to continue my podcast, "The Voice of the Teacher." I intend to grow it by covering this education innovation plan and allowing other innovators to broadcast this program. I would also invite district leaders to review the programs and provide feedback. The inclusion of leaders in the initial procedure is to help them create and implement their innovation plans. I and others would then learn how to proceed with this project more effectively in order to do improved job performance on preferable projects. The critical takeaway is solidifying the new structure and figuring out how to integrate it within existing systems, to minimize outright disruption, and grow confidence in the program for future changes.