Innovation Project Update
School Sphere: One Platform. Every Voice.
Innovation Project Update – EDLD 5320
Synthesis of Applied Digital Learning By Ayla Rightenour | Teaching in Bytes ePortfolio
Where It All Started
When I began the ADL program, I knew the communication gap between teachers, parents, and students needed a real solution. My innovation project, School Sphere, grew out of that challenge. Over the past year, I’ve developed and refined this idea through each course by transforming it from a simple concept into a structured implementation plan supported by research, leadership strategies, and instructional design.
Image created by Ayla Rightenour
Components of the Innovation Project
Throughout the ADL program, every course contributed a new piece to the puzzle that became School Sphere. What started as a small idea about simplifying communication slowly turned into a fully developed plan that connects leadership, instructional design, and authentic learning. Each artifact I created now plays a specific role in the bigger picture, showing how theory and practice came together over time.
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Innovation Proposal & Literature Review (EDLD 5305)
This was where School Sphere officially began. I identified how inconsistent communication between teachers, parents, and students leads to missed messages, confusion, and burnout. The research I reviewed on digital collaboration tools, user accessibility, and authentic learning helped me justify why a unified platform like this is needed in K–12 settings. This assignment grounded my “why” and gave me a clear sense of purpose moving forward.
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Organizational Change Strategy (EDLD 5304)
This course helped me understand that great ideas don’t take off without leadership and buy-in. I learned how to guide people through change using The Influencer Model and The 4 Disciplines of Execution (Covey et al., 2012). These strategies became the foundation for how I plan to introduce School Sphere on my campus, not as another tech requirement, but as a meaningful tool teachers will actually want to use.
Professional Learning Plan (EDLD 5389)
My professional learning plan focused on shifting from “sit and get” training to “go and show” learning. The plan outlines how I’ll model School Sphere during hands-on sessions where teachers practice using the tool and see how it solves real communication challenges. This section of the project reminded me that professional development should feel authentic, and not just another meeting on the calendar.
Instructional Design Plan (EDLD 5318)
In this course, I took everything I’d learned and built a learning experience around it. Using outcome-based design and Fink’s 3 Column Table, I mapped how teachers would explore School Sphere through blended learning lessons and reflective practice. I also designed a “Start Here” module for Google Classroom to mirror the structure I’d want in School Sphere, for it to be organized, flexible, and student-centered.
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Media Project (EDLD 5317)
I wanted to bring the idea to life through a podcast, so I created one that tells the story behind School Sphere and why it matters, how it works, and who it helps. Storytelling was new territory for me, but this project pushed me to think beyond words and use media to connect emotionally with my audience.
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COVA Reflection (EDLD 5320)
This piece ties everything together. It helped me see how the ADL program itself modeled the COVA approach by giving me the same choice, ownership, and voice that I now aim to give my students and fellow teachers. Writing that reflection reminded me just how much I’ve grown, both personally and professionally, since starting this journey.
Image from Adobe Stock
Image from Ayla Rightenour
Where I Am Now
At this point, School Sphere is still in the conceptual stage which is a solid idea with a clear purpose, but not yet a working prototype. Over the past year, I’ve refined the vision through each course in the ADL program, turning it from a rough idea into a well-defined plan supported by research, design frameworks, and leadership strategies.
When I first introduced School Sphere in EDLD 5305, it was simply a response to a problem I saw every day: too many communication tools, not enough consistency. As the program continued, I added new layers to that concept. Through EDLD 5304, I learned how leadership and change management could help launch an idea like this within a district. In EDLD 5318, I focused on instructional design and realized how outcome-based planning could guide development. Each class gave me another piece of the puzzle, shaping School Sphere into something more strategic and achievable.
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Right now, my focus is on organizing all of my project materials like the proposals, outlines, and professional learning plans. I want to organize them into one clear section on my Teaching in Bytes ePortfolio. I want the page to show how every part connects, from research to implementation.
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Although School Sphere isn’t in development yet, I’ve mapped out how it could function, including user roles, secure access, and integrated notifications. For now, it’s less about coding and more about refining the vision so the purpose is strong before taking the next step.
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My goal is to eventually share the concept with my principal and district technology team and explore possible partnerships or grants to help move it forward. Even if it stays in planning for now, I believe it has real potential to simplify communication in schools like mine. What’s changed most is my mindset, and I now see projects like this as opportunities to keep learning and improving, not something to fear or rush.
What I’ve Learned Along the Way
Working on School Sphere has shown me that innovation starts with purpose, not a finished product. When I first created the idea, I just wanted to fix communication overload in my district. Through the ADL program, I learned that lasting change isn’t only about tools but it’s about people, systems, and mindset.
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In EDLD 5304: Leading Organizational Change, I realized the importance of shared vision and collaboration before launching new ideas. Then, in EDLD 5389: Professional Learning, I learned how to design authentic professional development that inspires rather than instructs. Both helped me understand that leadership begins with communication and trust.
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My biggest growth came from embracing the COVA approach. A year ago, I might’ve been intimidated by a project this size. Now, I see it as a challenge to grow. I’ve learned to focus on progress over perfection and to view reflection as part of creation.
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This mindset has also changed my classroom. I now give students more choice in how they show mastery and through digital projects, journals, or presentations. That ownership has boosted their creativity and engagement.
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If I could do one thing differently, I’d set smaller milestones to maintain momentum. Big ideas take time, and consistency matters more than speed. Most importantly, I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about modeling curiosity, patience, and persistence.
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Lessons Learned & Next Steps
The biggest lesson I’ve learned through School Sphere is that meaningful change takes patience, planning, and people who believe in the goal. Early on, I focused on the idea itself, but now I understand that innovation depends on collaboration and clear communication.
What worked best was grounding every part of the project in authentic need and something I saw daily in my school’s scattered communication systems. What I could improve is setting smaller, measurable goals to keep momentum strong between each course milestone.
My next step would be to share School Sphere with my campus principal and district technology team to gather feedback and explore ways to move from concept to pilot (if they are interested in pursuing). Whether it’s through local partnerships, grants, or small-scale classroom trials, I would want to keep refining the idea until it’s ready for real-world use.
Moving Forward
Working through this program has shown me that real change doesn’t happen all at once, but it happens in steps and through reflection, revision, and collaboration. School Sphere may still be a concept, but it represents my growth as a learner and a leader. I’m no longer just using technology in my classroom, but I feel like I’m thinking about how it can shape learning on a larger scale. I plan to keep pushing forward, sharing the idea, listening to feedback, and improving it over time. Even if the timeline shifts, the goal of creating clearer more connected learning communities stays the same.
References
Covey, S., McChesney, C., & Huling, J. (2012). The 4 disciplines of execution: Achieving your wildly important goals.
Simon and Schuster. Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., & Cummings, C. (2018). Choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning opportunities. https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7291
Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.