Developing a Robust Process for Improvement Part 3 of 4: Fill in the Blanks

As I (Alaina) talked about in part 2, Harford has a theoretical recipe for success by adapting a series of failures.  Ertmer & Ertmer have a theoretically effective method for speech-sound carryover in kids.  Together, they have led me to develop my own robust process for improving my methods as a Speech & Language Pathologist (or in any aspect of life).

The process for improvement I've developed works well for me when I approach it as a fill-in-the-blank form.  Below is an example.  Just to show how it works, I filled it out using the hypothetical case of cooking dinner.

A Robust Process for Improvement (cooking dinner example)

Preparation:

• When I [cook dinner], 
• aspects that don't seem to work are [I often think about trying a new recipe, but then give up].  
• Aspects that do seem to work well are [I like to cook and I have lots of recipe ideas].
• So, I want to start [trying one new recipe per week], 
• because doing so will [make dinner more interesting].  
• In order to generate ideas about how to start [trying one new recipe per week], 
• resources that I can turn to include [(1) blogs where people write about becoming motivated to cook, (2) my own ideas, (3) conversations with my mom and sister, (4) books about cooking, like Julie & Julia by Julie Powell].  

Planning:

• In the process of generating ideas about how to start [trying one new recipe per week], 
• I have come up with these ideas: [(1) start a cooking blog for motivation - but I don't want to. (2) have friends over for dinner once per week - but I prefer not to try out new recipes for company. (3) make a habit that I do the same way each week - this sounds good].  
• I am ready to try [making a habit that I do the same way each week], 
• so my plan is to [making a habit of choosing a recipe first thing on Saturday morning, grocery shopping on Saturday afternoon, and cooking the new recipe for dinner on Sunday].
  
• I am monitoring this plan by [keeping a chart posted on my fridge so that I can check off each successful weekend].  
• I am evaluating the effectiveness of this plan by [whether or not I am successfully trying new recipes].

Review:

• At this point, I have tried [making a habit of choosing a recipe first thing on Saturday morning, grocery shopping on Saturday afternoon, and cooking the new recipe for dinner on Sunday] for [three weeks].
• When I monitored this plan, I noticed [that I made a new recipe for weeks one and two, but not week three].
• When I evaluated this plan, I decided that it [doesn't work], because [last week I forgot to do it in time].
• Next I might try [adding to the plan that I will write in appointments on my calendar for the recipe-choosing, grocery-shopping, and dinner-cooking].

Note that while the form has a first line and a last line, any line of the form might be a valuable starting point. There is no inherent need to start at the top.  In the same vein, the last item in the list is not actually an end point.  More effective results will come from cycling through this planning and review process many times.  Below are two versions of the generic form, either to fill in the blanks, or to use as a questionnaire.

A Robust Process for Improvement (fill-in-the-blank form) Preparation: When I [insert topic of interest],  aspects that don't seem to work are [insert].   Aspects that do seem to work well are [insert]. So, I want to start [insert desired outcome],  because doing so will [insert motivational reasons].   In order to generate ideas about how to start [reinsert desired outcome from line 4],  resources that I can turn to include [insert].   Planning: In the process of generating ideas about how to start [reinsert desired outcome from line 4],  I have come up with these ideas: [insert each idea with an evaluation of its merit].   I am ready to try [insert an idea],  so my plan is to [insert]. I am monitoring this plan by [insert].   I am evaluating the effectiveness of this plan by [insert]. Review: At this point, I have tried [reinsert plan] for [insert period of time]. When I monitored this plan, I noticed [insert]. When I evaluated this plan, I decided that it works / doesn't work, because [insert].  Next I might try [insert].

A Robust Process for Improvement (questionnaire form) Preparation: What is your topic of interest? Currently, when you do things related to your topic of interest, what aspects don't seem to work? What aspects do seem to work well? What is your goal: the thing you want to start doing, related to that topic? Why do you want to start meeting that goal? What resources can you turn to in order to generate ideas about how to start meeting that goal? Planning: After generating ideas about how to start meeting your goal, what ideas do you have? Which of these ideas seem good? Which idea are you ready to try now? What is your plan? How will you monitor this plan so that you know if you are following it? How will you evaluate this plan so that you know how successful it is? Review: How long have you been trying this plan? When you monitored the plan, what did you notice? When you evaluated the plan, what did you see that worked?  What didn't work? What's next?

I encourage you to give it a try!  The fourth, and final part of this post will conclude with some additional resources about processes of improvement.