Design an Intentional Plan

Transitioning to the new Colorado Academic Standards goes beyond swapping out one standards binder for another. It’s an opportunity for school districts to transform teaching and learning by reviewing their vision, mission, goals, strategies, culture, and finances.

Intentional design is a process to help school districts scan their landscape and set objectives for getting where they want to go. The concept of intentional design incorporates an enormous amount of what we already know as best practice in strategic planning, but adds several components for a systemic process that includes gathering information, reflection, planning, and implementation in a continuous improvement cycle.

Understanding Intentional Design

Topics included in this section:

• An overview of the intention design components

• A case study using the intentional design process

• How to create an intention design process for a school or district

Steps:

• View the intentional design overview PowerPoint.

• Print the components of intentional design defined resource.

• Read the intentional design case study, and fill out the “Darling School” column of the intentional design activity sheet. Reflect on the school’s issues and what steps could be taken to improve the planning.

• Read the intentional design case study answer sheet.

• Use the intentional design process planning template to begin creating your intentional design for implementing the new standards.