Innovation Proposal
November 03, 2021
Ms. Teresa Trdla, Principal
Fields Elementary School
McAllen ISD
Dear Ms. Trdla,
Ever since you became the principal at Fields, you have made a tremendous impact on the culture of our school. Teachers, students, and families are happier to be a part of the Fields family, however, something that has been difficult to do at our school is close the achievement gap and keep the kids motivated to learn, especially since the pandemic. We have a solution to this problem. Blended Learning. We've done a lot of research and according to the research in the book, Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools by Horn and Staker (2015), implementing a blended learning model can help close the gaps, which in turn will motivate our students to want to learn more. Giving our students choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning opportunities will empower them to get in the driver seat and focus on their learning. When we let our learners take control of their learning, the experiences they can embrace, the meaningful connections they create, and the knowledge that they gain will be life changing (Harapnuik, Thibodeaux, Cummings, 2018).
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With blended learning, learning will be personalized at students’ ability level and they’ll be able to learn at a pace that works for them. What better way is there to close the achievement gap than blended learning? Our district already has one-to-one devices, but as education technology leader, Alan November (2013), said, “Let’s drop the phrase “one-to-one” and refer instead to “one-to- world.”” Technology is a potentially powerful tool that should be used to enhance creation, collaboration, inquiry, investigation, and communication (Harapnuik, 2018). If teachers had the proper training on how to best integrate technology to create meaningful lessons, we’d be able to ensure that technology isn’t seen as another initiative, but rather an essential component to the curriculum (November, 2013). We not only will be able to close the achievement gap, we’d be able to enrich our top students and guide them to learn even beyond their grade level.
This school year, we're asking for your support and the support of our colleagues to pilot blended learning in the Dyslexia Lab and Mrs. Peña's 4th grade classroom. Our students need change and change happens with us. Why ignore the opportunity to improve education for student success? Let’s innovate and make blended learning happen. Thank you for your consideration.
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Best regards,
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Ileana Reyna, Dyslexia Teacher
In collaboration with Veronica Balli and Erika Peña
Fields Elementary School
McAllen ISD
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Resources:
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Harapnuik, D. (2018, October 30). Why we are wasting edtech dollars?. It’s About Learning.
https://www.harapnuik.org/?p=7672
Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., Cummings, C. (2018). Choice, Ownership, and Voice through Authentic
Learning [eBook]. Creative Commons License. http://tilisathibodeaux.com/wordpress/wp-
content/uploads/2019/04/COVA_eBook_Jan_2018.pdf
Horn, M., Staker, H. (2015). Blended: Using disruptive innovation to improve schools. Jossey-Bass A Wiley
Brand.
November, A. (2013, February 13). Why schools must move beyond one-to-one computing [Web log post].
Retrieved from http://novemberlearning.com/educational-resources-for-educators/teaching-
andlearning-articles/why-schools-must-move-beyond-one-to-one-computing/
Rocco, S. (2012, November 17). 5 essential questions to ask before you innovate in your school. Ed Social
Media. https://www.edsocialmedia.com/2012/11/5-essential-questions-to-ask-before-you-innovate-
