Continuation of Creativity and Innovation - Write Out a Plan

Standard 5 states:

Demonstrate creativity and innovation: Use idea-generating techniques to explore divergent and atypical questions and perspectives to develop original ideas for products or solve problems – such as a constructed object, proposal, presentation, solution to a problem, service, system, work of art, writing sample, invention, event, or an improvement to an existing product. Exhibit insight into the particular needs and interests of the target audience that are driving the process of innovation.

Now that you've identified a need for change and put some thoughts on paper (and in your blog post), it's time to do what separates the good from the great.  You're going to lay out a plan for implementing change at your placement.  It's not enough to say, "this needs to change." Rather, until you put together a strategy for making the change so that the decision-makers can consider it,  you're nothing more than a cynic.

That said, at your placement, please consider ways in which your change can and will successfully be put into action.  When you return to class, use your time in my room to map out a step-by-step process that will improve the efficiency of your organization.  With this in place, we will work on creating a presentation (formal letter, PowerPoint, video, etc.) of your choosing that will be introduced to your workplace mentor and/or direct manager.

Remember, you're not required to do anything earth-shattering (remember the white board over the sink example I explained last week).  You're just going to show your supervisors that you are capable of one of the 21st Century skills that others simply overlook.  I look forward to hearing about your plans.  Have a great week!

Creativity and Innovation: Changing Things for the Better

Standard 5 states:

Demonstrate creativity and innovation: Use idea-generating techniques to explore divergent and atypical questions and perspectives to develop original ideas for products or solve problems – such as a constructed object, proposal, presentation, solution to a problem, service, system, work of art, writing sample, invention, event, or an improvement to an existing product. Exhibit insight into the particular needs and interests of the target audience that are driving the process of innovation.

I really like how this standard is worded, and I want us to dive into this standard as much as possible this week, and, based on how involved our action plan is, next week as well.

The title of this week's blog will guide us toward our end goal of changing/improving upon a current procedure/practice at your placement.  While on the job this week, I would like all of you to analyze the everyday tasks and activities that the employees carry out.  Think of a problem that occurs frequently or a task that could be completed more quickly if something was changed.  After your analysis, you will return to class to devise a plan or proposal that you will present to your supervisor.  This week and next, you will formulate that proposal/plan and when it's complete, you will actually present it.

This week is strictly dedicated to thinking of the problem, devising a solution, and putting your ideas on paper (actually in your blog).  You will compose a blog post that describes the problem and your ideal solution, and next week, you will work on your presentation (can be in PowerPoint [yawn], on video, or in the form of an invention).  Either way, you will set your eyes on a solution and let your supervisor know how you can help the organization improve.  Students from other schools have used a project like this to earn a promotion or gain public recognition.  Who knows what great things will happen when you complete this.

Have a great week!  I'll see you all tomorrow.

Clear and Effective Communication - Publishing Your Weebly Pages

This week, we will focus on clear and effective communications in verbal, written, physical (body language), and digital forms.  While you are on your placements, please think about how your tone of voice, choice of words, body language, and outward appearance send effective messages with co-workers and customers.  Be cognizant of how you carry yourself outside the workplace as well, and see if there is a difference in your professionalism.  This week's artifact will be a simple 150+ word blog detailing your communication skills.

Additionally, many of you have either not published your websites or have left our artifacts that you actually completed (think letters of recommendation, resume, college/scholarship application reflections, gender identity blog entry, etc.).  You'll need to get everything published and updated by the end of this week so that you can follow up on your SMART goals in future blog entries, and so you can show off ALL of the work you've done this school year.

I look forward to seeing you all later this week.  Enjoy your placements!

Portfolio Update - SMART Goals, Vision Board, and Proofreading

This week's post will revolve around an email I sent you all earlier today.  By the end of this week, you will all have a more comprehensive Weebly that will begin to demonstrate all the great things you're doing at your placements.  See below:

By Friday, you will need to have your portfolio websites updated with at least the following:

1. 5 blog entries (either linked from your website or included in your website): This shouldn't be difficult since you were assigned six entries last semester and one last week.  See previous blog entries for different topics, but your most recent entry MUST include your SMART goals (Personal, Academic, Placement) Refer to this blog entry for an example of the minimum expectation for your SMART goals entry
2. Your Intro Video
3. A short bio/"About Me" writing piece (5 or 6 sentences) on the same page as your intro video
4. Awards/Certifications - load images of these as a slideshow
5. Work Samples - coordinate with your placement supervisor what you can and can't use.  Performance reviews, images of you working independently, and feedback from supervisors are all effective options
6. Vision Board - This can be either electronic (use snipping tool to paste images and quotes to an MS Publisher file in landscape orientation) or on paper (just snap a photo of your vision board and upload the image) - you must provide a short paragraph (5 or 6 sentences) about what is included in your vision board

All of you are doing great things on your placements, however there is very few, if any, tangible evidence of your great work beyond the stories you share with me in class on Thursdays and Fridays.  You must update your portfolios, as this is a requirement of the class and Ms. Peppard and I need to show Central Office personnel how effective your placements are.  We all know you are getting great experience out of this course, but you need to show evidence of it.

On Thursdays and Fridays, your time spent in class needs to be more productive.  All of your pages can and should be updated with the above information by the end of class this Friday, especially if you use the class time productively.

I've copied Ms. Brown and Ms. Peppard to this email so they are aware of the work you need to complete this week.  Next weekend, Ms. Peppard and I will select the two best portfolios to share with Central Office.  Take pride in your work and you will be greatly rewarded.