Whilst there are many barriers to innovation, as discussed in the comment threads below, there are also some aids to innovation. At our school we use an online CPD portfolio to link school development planning to individual staff performance.
This online tool allows staff to measure themselves against a variety of performance criteria and categroies. It also allows for senior managers to provide targets for all staff. This has been a key driver of some innovation within our schools as all teaching staff are given a technology related target at the beginning of each year.
In some cases, it may be quite limited, requesting that the individual
member of staff uses an online resource repository to enhance learning, but in others, more complex. One member of staff was charged with collecting quantative data to show progress within a technology enhanced writing module.
Wycoff's point about making innovation part of the performance review process is definitely relevant here.
Like all school systems, the buy-in for Blue Sky has not been 100%, but in using it to initiate staff appraisals and contract discussions, the take up has certainly been quite apparent.
