An Innovation-Development Planfor Thomas G. Pullen K-8 Academy of

Creative and Performing Arts

Howard BrentJune 2013

Innovation-development processNeed Identification

Innovation-development processNeed Identification

Is there a need for Edmodo at Thomas G. Pullen?

• Increase academic performance in math, reading, and science.

• Improve 21st century digital learning skills.

• Improve communication between teachers, students, and parents.

• Create a student-centered classroom environment and provide individualized instruction through the use of technology.

• Transition from the traditional approach to learning to a blended learning model.

Innovation-development processResearch and Development

• Basic Research vs. Applied Research

• Edmodo, Inc. operates as a social network for education.

• Early investors include Greylock, Benchmark, Union Square Ventures, and Learn Capital; It has raised 47.5 million U.S. dollars.

• Edmodo has grown fast since it was founded in 2008.

Innovation-development processCommercialization

Innovation-development processCommercialization

Innovation-development processCommercialization

How can we market this innovation at Thomas Pullen?

• Must gain district and school level administrative support

• Introduce Edmodo to key stakeholders: Program Coordinator, teachers, students, and parents

• Advertise in “Encore” (the Arts Newsletter for parents and community of Thomas G. Pullen) and Twitter

• Advertise in Tech Tuesday’s Tidbits (Newsletter for staff at Thomas G. Pullen on tech integration)

Innovation-development processDiffusion and Adoption

Innovation-development process

YearNumber of

Users

2009 50,000

2010 500,000

2011 7,000,000

2012 10,000,000

2013 18,000,000

Innovation-development processDiffusion and Adoption

How do we diffuse Edmodo as an innovation at Thomas G. Pullen?

• Must gain district and school level administrative support

• Set up student accounts on Edmodo during Computer Technology class

• Provide professional development and support to elementary school teachers

• Provide training to parents of students using Edmodo and announce at Back to School Night

• Collect data quarterly to monitor progress and use of Edmodo

Innovation-development processConsequences

How will we evaluate whether Edmodo is effective in improving student learning

outcomes and engagement at Thomas G. Pullen?

• Gather and analyze formative and summative assessments in reading, math and science.

• Survey both teachers and students about their experiences in using Edmodo in the classroom and analyze data.

• Share and review with teachers and parents student ePortfolios that were created using Edmodo.

The Innovation-Decision Process Change Agents

Who are the change agents at Thomas G. Pullen?

• According to Rogers (2003), a change agent is an individual who is influential in influencing people in the innovation-decision process to adopt an innovation or new idea.

• The change agents at Thomas G. Pullen Academy: The Technology Integration Specialist, the administration, the Arts Program Coordinator, and key teachers who are early adopters of Edmodo and eager to integrate technology in the classroom.

The Innovation-Decision Process Change Agents

How will the 7 roles of a change agent be used to affect positive social change at

Thomas G. Pullen?

• Develop a need for change

• Establish an information exchange relationship

• Diagnose problems

• Create an intent to change

• Translate an intent into action

• Stabilize adoption and prevent discontinuance

• Achieve a terminal relationship

The Innovation-Decision ProcessStrategies in Achieving Critical Mass

• Rogers (2003) defines critical mass as “the point at which enough individuals in a system have adopted an innovation such that the innovation’s further rate of adoption becomes self-sustaining.”

The Innovation-Decision ProcessCentralization vs. Decentralization

• Rogers (2003) postulates that centralization is negatively associated with innovativeness. New ideas of an organization is restricted when control and power are held by only a few individuals.

References

Edmodo. (2013). Retrieved from: https://www.edmodo.com/

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2008). Diffusion and integration of technology in education. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Rogers, E. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations, Fifth Edition. NY, NY: Free Press.