"Instructional leaders and teachers in their schools must have a system and guidebook to become collaborative and cohesive teaching teams to transform student learning and success outcomes. The information in this book provides the components, such as frameworks and tools, so that teaching teams can develop their own unique system. Included are myriad ways to experience and reflect on the school system, collect data, and then continuously tweak and adapt what works best for the school's team. Instructional innovation involves developing and implementing new instructional methodologies and strategies, including technology, to enhance student learning outcomes (Mumford et al., 2017). To implement sustainable instructional innovation, leaders and school-based teaching teams should establish and rely on a systematic and data-driven action research approach informed by empirical evidence"-- Provided by publisher.
Empower teaching teams with data-driven instructional innovation
With teacher shortages, high staff turnover, and an influx of new and underprepared teachers, highly capable data-informed teaching teams are needed now more than ever.
Instructional Innovation+ provides educators with a systematic action research approach to achieve instructional innovation and guide teaching teams to success through careful analysis, collaboration, and implementation. Inside youll discover
- A new model, flexible framework and tools for teaching teams to develop their own unique system for effective collaboration and feedback
- How to develop and implement instructional methodologies and strategies to enhance student learning
- How to gather and analyze data to inform innovative teaching strategies
- How to identify your students unique needs, plus guidance for initiating improvements in the classroom
This impactful guide helps your teaching teams bridge the ever-widening gap between proven strategies and student success through practical and sustainable instructional innovation.
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
Part 1 Unifying the Path to Instructional Innovation by Building
Collaborative Teams, Establishing Effective Feedback and Effective Core
Instruction
Chapter 1: Fostering Synergy: Creating Shared Agreements for Collaborative
School Environments
Chapter 2: Empowering Teachers: Effective Strategies for Providing Feedback
Chapter 3: The 5 Key Building Blocks of Effective Core Instruction
Chapter 4: Tools for Aligning Instruction and Assessment
Part 2 5 Steps to Instructional Innovation Through Action Research
Chapter 5: Step 1: Pinpointing Key Instructional Challenges and Problems of
Practice
Chapter 6: Step 2: Conducting Instructional Rounds Using Learning Walks
Chapter 7: Step 3: Analyzing Learning Walk Data and Identifying Solutions
Through Structured Data Debrief
Chapter 8: Step 4: Designing Data-Driven Professional Development (PD)
Interventions for Solutions
Chapter 9: Step 5: Implementing Data-Driven Professional Development
Epilogue
Appendix A: Tools and Templates
References
Jorge Valenzuela, PhD, is a respected performance and education coach, author, and speaker at Lifelong Learning Defined. His mission is to empower educators to lead confidently and teach effectively. Dr. Valenzuela specializes in instructional innovation and action research and provides expert training in team building, core instruction, project-based learning (PBL), STEM pathways, entrepreneurship, life skills integration, and the purposeful integration of AI tools in teaching and learning. Partnering with Corwin, he helps schools systematically enhance instructional practices and adopt innovative teaching strategies, including PBL and AI-enhanced instruction. He is a published researcher and author who also hosts the Lifelong Learning Defined podcast, sharing insights and strategies to inspire and support educators.
What does project-based learning look like in action? Students from Bunche Middle School in Compton, California, describe their projects after their teachers attended workshops led by Jorge Valenzuela.
