MTDS Glossary
Innovative Practices
“Innovation is fearless. It is able to ignore what’s been done in the past in order to reimagine what education can be in the future.” (Will Gourley, TedEd Innovative Teacher)
Innovative practices are new and original methodologies. Some innovative practices involve fundamental changes to school structures and traditional teaching practices. However, many times, innovative practices emerge from small changes teachers make to their current instruction in order to create new structures, processes, strategies, modalities, etc. to improve learning for students. When teachers are willing to leave their traditional practices in order to try new strategies, modalities, resources, etc. in order to meet the needs of their students they are using innovative practices. Implementing innovative practices involves a willingness to take a risk and acceptance of potential failure. Innovative practices include the use of new technologies, the redesign of learning environments, and adoption of current educational trends in order to prepare students for the future.