Innovation = Adding value to what you do in the classroom!

Our flipped preparation for this weeks session was to read the article, 'Conditions for classroom technology innovations'. The article shares the findings of a 2002 study that looked into what makes a classroom innovation successful or a failure. My first thought was, what did they know about technology innovations in 2002? After reading I discovered that the technology they were writing about was outdated but the conditions for classroom technology innovations were just as true today, in 2018, as they were back in 2002. 

The article identifies three factors that impact the success or failure of classroom technology innovation, the innovator, and the context. 

"Factors associated with the innovator, the teacher - in our study appeared to play a more significant role than other domains. That is, when the teacher was strong, the projects seemed to have a better chance to succeed!"

The innovator is the teacher. 

Can the teacher use the technology?

Do they know what enables the technology to work? 

Does the technology match what they are trying to teach? 

Is the teacher reflective?

Do they know who to ask for help, support, money, resources and so on? 

How comfortable is the teacher with the classroom shifting from private (four walls) to public (online and shared with others)?

The innovation is the value that is being added to the classroom using technology. 

What is the distance of the innovation from the existing school culture, classroom practice and availability of technology? 

How far away is the innovation from the teacher's current practice?

How much does the innovation depend on other outside of the teacher authority?

The context is the school's networks and organisation.

Is the teacher socially savvy? Do they know who to talk to?

What technology is already available?

What "I.T." support is available in the school?

Does the teacher have the support of the school leadership?

All of these questions will be important to consider when deciding the on "innovation" (how am I going to add value to what I do in the classroom?) in assignment #1 for our digital course. 

Zhao, Y., Pugh, K., Sheldon, S. & Byers, J. (2002). Conditions for classroom technology innovations. Teachers College Record, 104(3), 482-515. Retrieved from https://www.rtsd.org/cms/lib/PA01000218/Centricity/Domain/96/Conditions%20for%20Classroom%20Tech.pdf