Module 13
Mobilizing for Implementation
How does a design team move from ideas to reality?
You’ve created a high school design that will change the future for students in your community. Now, how will you bring your ideas to life?
If you’re starting a new school, it’s time to map out your implementation steps.
If you’re redesigning an existing school, it’s time to map out a strategy for change.
Why This Topic Matters
Good schools start with good ideas. (That’s certainly true of all the XQ schools!) But creative inspiration is just the beginning of a process that can reach heights beyond the imagination of a school’s designers—or, unfortunately, can sometimes falter. The difference comes down to careful planning, staying true to a guiding framework like the XQ Design Principles, paying attention to detail, and working sequentially through some essential steps.
Questions To Explore and Discuss:
- What does it take to create a great implementation plan? What mission-critical practices need to be built in from the beginning to create the culture and operations an innovative school needs?
- How do you form an effective planning and implementation team? Who needs to be involved, at what level of commitment, and in what roles?
- What gaps, barriers, and threats prevent effective implementation? How can a team maintain focus on its vision and navigate through challenges? How can a team adapt when its expectations don’t match reality?
