Ideas are a great thing. They create excitement, elicit creativity, energize teams, and after the euphoria from the genius idea has passed, it can get scary. Ideas need steps to move forward and how an idea is translated into a grant proposal means looking the idea right in the face and asking some tough questions.
For example, a school team decides to bring new AI (artificial intelligence) computer software into the classrooms to improve the science curriculum. The science department has had a history of low state exam science scores and is looking to improve.
Using the five Why’s in continuous improvement thinking can help determine if AI is the right idea. The five Why’s is a method of questioning each step of a process to identify the problem and needs for improvement. The school team asks, “Why are certain students not succeeding on state science exams?” “Why is this not reflected in their science grades?” “Why is the present AI software not effective?” “Why are students passing coursework, but not tests?” “Why are counselors concerned about scheduling students in certain science teacher’s classes?” There seems to be a pattern here that may indicate what the problem/goal/objective needs to be for improvement.
So does the idea of new AI software solve this problem? The answer to this question will be critical to the quality of the grant proposal, budget and award funding.
As the school team determines what proposal and budget they will develop to submit for funding, another tool used in continuous improvement is FMEA (Failure Mode Effect Analysis) which is a systematic, proactive method for evaluating a process to identify where and how it might fail and to assess the relative impact of difference failures.
Going through an FMEA identifies parts of the process that are in most need of change. This is important to consider when faced with a problem that has multiple areas and processes that may be in need of improvement. If the school team in the example fails to examine the parts of the learning process in their science department, they may end up writing a proposal for AI software that will be costly and provide little impact to student achievement in science.
Additionally, most grants require measurable data that demonstrates an impact, otherwise there is a risk of losing funding. It is important to utilize tools that help cleary define the idea and align it to a process in need of improvement, otherwise the funding will outmatch the idea.
About the author.
Enid Valdez is a Board-Certified Education Leadership Specialist with over 31 years of experience in education leading district administration, effective classroom instruction, and school operations. Her passion to share Cii methods comes from her belief that data driven decision making, strategic planning and effective implementation and follow up of these methods lead to effective teacher training and student achievement.
Contact: enid@thecii.com