Innovation Education SurveyInnovation Education Survey

Welcome to the Innovation Education Survey

Sponsored by the Innovation Education Team of the University of Minnesota’s Graduate School “Leadership & Change in an Innovation Society” Class – Spring 2008

This survey is open to licensed teachers in the United States and China until April 30, 2008.

We appreciate your voluntary contribution to this survey. You are under no obligation to participate. Your responses will be anonymous and data collected will be tabulated and reported in aggregate form only. In addition, your completion of this survey indicates your consent to participate in our project. Should you wish to contact a member of the project team, please do so via email addresses listed at the bottom of this page. Preliminary results will be posted for comment and discussion on or before April 20, 2008 at:

Innovation Education Blog

Final results will be posted by May 12, 2008

1. Please answer a few demographic questions:

Please answer a few demographic questions: State/Province:
Country:

2. How many years have you been teaching?

How many years have you been teaching?

3. What do you teach?

What do you teach? Pre-K

Elementary

Middle School

High School

Special Education

Specialist

Other

Other (please specify)

4. Which best describes the location where you teach?

Which best describes the location where you teach? Rural school

Small town school

Suburban School

Urban School

Charter School

Private School

Other

Other (please specify)

5. On a scale of 1 to 6 – What impact does your overall workplace environment have on your ability to bring innovative ideas to the way you teach your students?

On a scale of 1 to 6 – What impact does your overall workplace environment have on your ability to bring innovative ideas to the way you teach your students? 1 Extremely Negative

2 Very Negative

3 Somewhat Negative

4 Somewhat Positive

5 Very Positive

6 Extremely Positive

6. On a scale of 1 to 6 – What impact does your administration’s decision-making process have on your attitude about working as a teacher?

On a scale of 1 to 6 – What impact does your administration’s decision-making process have on your attitude about working as a teacher? 1 Extremely Negative

2 Very Negative

3 Somewhat Negative

4 Somewhat Positive

5 Very Positive

6 Extremely Positive

7. On a scale of 1 to 6 – Please rank the impact of standardized testing and accountability policies on your school as an innovative work environment.

On a scale of 1 to 6 – Please rank the impact of standardized testing and accountability policies on your school as an innovative work environment. 1 Extremely Negative

2 Very Negative

3 Somewhat Negative

4 Somewhat Positive

5 Very Positive

6 Extremely Positive

8. On a scale of 1 to 6 - Please rank the impact of standardized testing and accountability policies on your ability to improve student achievement through innovative teaching methods.

On a scale of 1 to 6 - Please rank the impact of standardized testing and accountability policies on your ability to improve student achievement through innovative teaching methods. 1 Extremely Negative

2 Very Negative

3 Somewhat Negative

4 Somewhat Positive

5 Very Positive

6 Extremely Positive

9. On a scale of 1 to 6 – Think about where you get your inspirations for innovation as a teacher and rank the following list according to the impact of their contributions on you, personally, as a teacher:

	1 Extremely Negative	2 Very Negative	3 Somewhat Negative	4 Somewhat Positive	5 Very Positive	6 Extremely Positive
Academics/Innovators	*On a scale of 1 to 6 – Think about where you get your inspirations for innovation as a teacher and rank the following list according to the impact of their contributions on you, personally, as a teacher: Academics/Innovators 1 Extremely Negative	Academics/Innovators 2 Very Negative	Academics/Innovators 3 Somewhat Negative	Academics/Innovators 4 Somewhat Positive	Academics/Innovators 5 Very Positive	Academics/Innovators 6 Extremely Positive
Curriculum & Instruction	Curriculum & Instruction 1 Extremely Negative	Curriculum & Instruction 2 Very Negative	Curriculum & Instruction 3 Somewhat Negative	Curriculum & Instruction 4 Somewhat Positive	Curriculum & Instruction 5 Very Positive	Curriculum & Instruction 6 Extremely Positive
District Administration	District Administration 1 Extremely Negative	District Administration 2 Very Negative	District Administration 3 Somewhat Negative	District Administration 4 Somewhat Positive	District Administration 5 Very Positive	District Administration 6 Extremely Positive
Education Minnesota	Education Minnesota 1 Extremely Negative	Education Minnesota 2 Very Negative	Education Minnesota 3 Somewhat Negative	Education Minnesota 4 Somewhat Positive	Education Minnesota 5 Very Positive	Education Minnesota 6 Extremely Positive
Federal Government	Federal Government 1 Extremely Negative	Federal Government 2 Very Negative	Federal Government 3 Somewhat Negative	Federal Government 4 Somewhat Positive	Federal Government 5 Very Positive	Federal Government 6 Extremely Positive
Local Teachers Union	Local Teachers Union 1 Extremely Negative	Local Teachers Union 2 Very Negative	Local Teachers Union 3 Somewhat Negative	Local Teachers Union 4 Somewhat Positive	Local Teachers Union 5 Very Positive	Local Teachers Union 6 Extremely Positive
Other Teachers	Other Teachers 1 Extremely Negative	Other Teachers 2 Very Negative	Other Teachers 3 Somewhat Negative	Other Teachers 4 Somewhat Positive	Other Teachers 5 Very Positive	Other Teachers 6 Extremely Positive
Parents	Parents 1 Extremely Negative	Parents 2 Very Negative	Parents 3 Somewhat Negative	Parents 4 Somewhat Positive	Parents 5 Very Positive	Parents 6 Extremely Positive
Personal Experience	Personal Experience 1 Extremely Negative	Personal Experience 2 Very Negative	Personal Experience 3 Somewhat Negative	Personal Experience 4 Somewhat Positive	Personal Experience 5 Very Positive	Personal Experience 6 Extremely Positive
Principal	Principal 1 Extremely Negative	Principal 2 Very Negative	Principal 3 Somewhat Negative	Principal 4 Somewhat Positive	Principal 5 Very Positive	Principal 6 Extremely Positive
Professional Associations	Professional Associations 1 Extremely Negative	Professional Associations 2 Very Negative	Professional Associations 3 Somewhat Negative	Professional Associations 4 Somewhat Positive	Professional Associations 5 Very Positive	Professional Associations 6 Extremely Positive
Reading/Scholarship	Reading/Scholarship 1 Extremely Negative	Reading/Scholarship 2 Very Negative	Reading/Scholarship 3 Somewhat Negative	Reading/Scholarship 4 Somewhat Positive	Reading/Scholarship 5 Very Positive	Reading/Scholarship 6 Extremely Positive
School Board	School Board 1 Extremely Negative	School Board 2 Very Negative	School Board 3 Somewhat Negative	School Board 4 Somewhat Positive	School Board 5 Very Positive	School Board 6 Extremely Positive
Staff Development	Staff Development 1 Extremely Negative	Staff Development 2 Very Negative	Staff Development 3 Somewhat Negative	Staff Development 4 Somewhat Positive	Staff Development 5 Very Positive	Staff Development 6 Extremely Positive
State Government	State Government 1 Extremely Negative	State Government 2 Very Negative	State Government 3 Somewhat Negative	State Government 4 Somewhat Positive	State Government 5 Very Positive	State Government 6 Extremely Positive
Students	Students 1 Extremely Negative	Students 2 Very Negative	Students 3 Somewhat Negative	Students 4 Somewhat Positive	Students 5 Very Positive	Students 6 Extremely Positive
Superintendent	Superintendent 1 Extremely Negative	Superintendent 2 Very Negative	Superintendent 3 Somewhat Negative	Superintendent 4 Somewhat Positive	Superintendent 5 Very Positive	Superintendent 6 Extremely Positive
Technologies	Technologies 1 Extremely Negative	Technologies 2 Very Negative	Technologies 3 Somewhat Negative	Technologies 4 Somewhat Positive	Technologies 5 Very Positive	Technologies 6 Extremely Positive

10. On a scale of 1 - 6, Which of the following best represents your beliefs about what is necessary for innovation in your classroom:

	1 Extremely Unimportant	2 Very Unimportant	3 Somewhat Unimportant	4 Somewhat Important	5 Very Important	6 Extremely Important
Rigor in Curriculum	*On a scale of 1 - 6, Which of the following best represents your beliefs about what is necessary for innovation in your classroom: Rigor in Curriculum 1 Extremely Unimportant	Rigor in Curriculum 2 Very Unimportant	Rigor in Curriculum 3 Somewhat Unimportant	Rigor in Curriculum 4 Somewhat Important	Rigor in Curriculum 5 Very Important	Rigor in Curriculum 6 Extremely Important
High Standards	High Standards 1 Extremely Unimportant	High Standards 2 Very Unimportant	High Standards 3 Somewhat Unimportant	High Standards 4 Somewhat Important	High Standards 5 Very Important	High Standards 6 Extremely Important
Technology	Technology 1 Extremely Unimportant	Technology 2 Very Unimportant	Technology 3 Somewhat Unimportant	Technology 4 Somewhat Important	Technology 5 Very Important	Technology 6 Extremely Important
Freedom for Creativity	Freedom for Creativity 1 Extremely Unimportant	Freedom for Creativity 2 Very Unimportant	Freedom for Creativity 3 Somewhat Unimportant	Freedom for Creativity 4 Somewhat Important	Freedom for Creativity 5 Very Important	Freedom for Creativity 6 Extremely Important
Innovation	Innovation 1 Extremely Unimportant	Innovation 2 Very Unimportant	Innovation 3 Somewhat Unimportant	Innovation 4 Somewhat Important	Innovation 5 Very Important	Innovation 6 Extremely Important
Increased Compensation	Increased Compensation 1 Extremely Unimportant	Increased Compensation 2 Very Unimportant	Increased Compensation 3 Somewhat Unimportant	Increased Compensation 4 Somewhat Important	Increased Compensation 5 Very Important	Increased Compensation 6 Extremely Important
More Prep Time	More Prep Time 1 Extremely Unimportant	More Prep Time 2 Very Unimportant	More Prep Time 3 Somewhat Unimportant	More Prep Time 4 Somewhat Important	More Prep Time 5 Very Important	More Prep Time 6 Extremely Important
Reduced Student Mobility	Reduced Student Mobility 1 Extremely Unimportant	Reduced Student Mobility 2 Very Unimportant	Reduced Student Mobility 3 Somewhat Unimportant	Reduced Student Mobility 4 Somewhat Important	Reduced Student Mobility 5 Very Important	Reduced Student Mobility 6 Extremely Important
Parent Involvement at School	Parent Involvement at School 1 Extremely Unimportant	Parent Involvement at School 2 Very Unimportant	Parent Involvement at School 3 Somewhat Unimportant	Parent Involvement at School 4 Somewhat Important	Parent Involvement at School 5 Very Important	Parent Involvement at School 6 Extremely Important
Parent Involvement at Home	Parent Involvement at Home 1 Extremely Unimportant	Parent Involvement at Home 2 Very Unimportant	Parent Involvement at Home 3 Somewhat Unimportant	Parent Involvement at Home 4 Somewhat Important	Parent Involvement at Home 5 Very Important	Parent Involvement at Home 6 Extremely Important

11. On a scale of 1 to 6 – How would you rank your school district’s ability to keep pace with change in today’s society with respect to you and your students:

On a scale of 1 to 6 – How would you rank your school district’s ability to keep pace with change in today’s society with respect to you and your students: 1 Extremely Incapable

2 Very Incapable

3 Somewhat Incapable

4 Somewhat Capable

5 Very Capable

6 Extremely Capable

12. On a scale of 1 to 6 – How would you rank your school organization’s efforts to gather information about the impact of organizational change from classroom teachers before making decisions?

On a scale of 1 to 6 – How would you rank your school organization’s efforts to gather information about the impact of organizational change from classroom teachers before making decisions? 1 Extremely low level of effort

2 Very low level of effort

3 Somewhat low level of effort

4 Somewhat high level of effort

5 Very high level of effort

6 Extremely high level of effort

13. Would you find a forum for offering information to leaders about the impacts of possible decisions on your classroom useful?

Would you find a forum for offering information to leaders about the impacts of possible decisions on your classroom useful? No

Maybe

Yes

14. On a scale of 1 to 6 what is the impact of existing teacher recognition efforts on you personally?

On a scale of 1 to 6 what is the impact of existing teacher recognition efforts on you personally? 1 Extremely Negative

2 Very Negative

3 Somewhat Negative

4 Somewhat Positive

5 Very Positive

6 Extremely Positive

15. Please characterize your work environment in one of the two following ways:

Please characterize your work environment in one of the two following ways: Top down hierarchy

Shared power decision making

16. Which one of the following environments do you believe is most conducive to helping people adopt innovation in the classroom?

Which one of the following environments do you believe is most conducive to helping people adopt innovation in the classroom? Top down hierarchy

Shared power decision making

17. Last question: If you were given the opportunity to choose one change for your classroom or the educational system as a whole, what would you choose?

(In this scenario there would be no barriers – you would be free to choose and implement a creative and productive idea with no strings attached.)

Last question: If you were given the opportunity to choose one change for your classroom or the educational system as a whole, what would you choose?

(In this scenario there would be no barriers – you would be free to choose and implement a creative and productive idea with no strings attached.)

The primary goal of this project is to determine if there is open discussion involving teachers as professionals in decisions about change and innovation. We are extremely interested in hearing your thoughts regarding the current state of education, what could be improved, and what you perceive as opportunities or restrictions to infusing innovation/creativity/individuality into the classroom. We would appreciate your sharing those thoughts through comments on the blog:

Innovation Education Blog

However, the blog is within the public domain and anonymity cannot be guaranteed. If you wish to submit a comment and remain anonymous, please send it to one of the following email addresses and we will post your comments after removing identifying information. Please feel free to use any of the email addresses listed below.

Thank you, again for taking time to assist us. It is greatly appreciated.

Mike Fink	mikef@gwspromote.com
Ben Cashen	joh02855@umn.edu
Kristi Mueller	muell597@umn.edu
Jen Trochinski	troc0021@umn.edu
Sarah Waldemar	s-wolg@umn.edu
Wendy Wustenberg	wust0002@umn.edu
Kun Yang	yangqwin@gmail.com