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Hands-on activity

Medium ~60 min

Designing an Action Plan

A curriculum shift without implementation is merely paperwork — bridge strategy to reality with a phased, accountable rollout.

#action-plan #strategy #school-heads #secondary #primary #planning

A curriculum shift without implementation is merely paperwork. Designing an Action Plan bridges strategy to reality. You will build a phased rollout — for example, Year 1 piloting a school garden with science classes, Year 2 expanding into art and community partnerships.

Crucially, we will embed accountability: assigning team leads, securing sustainable funding (e.g. PTA partnerships), and aligning with accreditation goals to ensure longevity.

Work through the four steps below and jot short notes as you go. By the end you'll have a plan that's specific, owned, scheduled, and reviewable.

Steps

  1. 1

    1. Action Steps

    List 3–5 key actions you will take upon completing the MOOC — for example, developing a school-wide project, or launching a teacher training session.

    My actions will be:

    • ……………………………………………………………………………………
    • ……………………………………………………………………………………
    • ……………………………………………………………………………………

    Tip. Phrase each action as a verb + visible outcome — "launch a teacher-training morning by end of October" beats "improve teacher confidence".

  2. 2

    2. Timeline

    Establish a realistic timeline for implementing your action steps. Include short-term and long-term goals.

    Short term (e.g. next 3 months):

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Long term (e.g. 6–12 months):

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Tip. Use calendar reminders to stay on track. Add a monthly check-in so the plan doesn't drift.

  3. 3

    3. Support & Resources

    Identify supports available to you (e.g. school board, local environmental groups) and additional resources needed. Plan how to access them to achieve your objectives.

    Ask yourself:

    • Who can help me?
    • What support do I need — money, time, tools, info?
    • How will I reach out?

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Tip. Name a real person next to each support — "Maria (PTA chair)" not "the parents". Wishes don't return phone calls.

  4. 4

    4. Monitoring & Evaluation

    Determine how you will measure success and impact (e.g. student engagement metrics, feedback from colleagues). Plan for periodic review and adjustment.

    Indicators of success:

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Who will give feedback?

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………

    When will I review and update this plan?

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Tip. Pair one quantitative indicator ("number of students in the garden club") with one qualitative one ("a sentence from a colleague each month"). Numbers without stories miss the point; stories without numbers can drift.

Wrap-up

Final tip. Keep your plan visible — in your planner, office, or teaching portfolio. Action starts with intention… but it succeeds with small steps, support, and self-reflection. 🙂

📺 Videos

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+write+SMART+goals+for+educators

How to write a SMART goal — Indeed Career Tips

Placeholder search link — replace with your preferred SMART-goals walkthrough.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=theory+of+change+education+school

Theory of Change in 3 minutes

Placeholder search link — drop in a specific Theory-of-Change explainer your team likes.

🔗 Additional resources

Linked MOOC lessons

This activity is referenced from these lessons. Open one to bring the activity back into the learning flow.