The Idea Readiness Tool: Detailed Overview
Readiness Rita and Guy the Idea Guy are here to help you launch your new idea with the Idea Readiness Tool:
The purpose of the Idea Readiness Tool is to help guide the spread of new ideas within a school community. The Idea Readiness Tool begins with a very brief checklist that can be used to identify readiness for a new idea. Included with the checklist are a series of strategies specifically tailored for working with school communities at different stages of readiness. There is also a resource list for those interested in reading more information to support their use of these strategies.
The Idea Readiness Tool was developed by the Policy, Location, and Access in Community Environments (PLACE)¹ research team in the School of Public Health, University of Alberta in partnership with the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP)² Prevention Services. ASEBP supports school employees in their efforts to create healthy school communities and promote a healthy school workplace.
¹ For more information about the Policy, Location and Access in Community Environments (PLACE) research lab, please visit www.placeresearchlab.com
² For more information on Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP) Prevention Services, please visit https://www.asebp.ab.ca/
The Idea Readiness Tool was created by modifying the evidence-based, validated Policy Readiness Tool¹ specifically for use in a school community, and accounting for each school community’s unique needs and varying characteristics. The original Policy Readiness Tool can be used by anyone to assess organizations’ or municipalities’ readiness for policy change, and to identify appropriate strategies that can be used to support policy adoption and implementation. It was developed based on Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory,² healthy public policy evidence, and extensive collaboration with practitioners and policy-makers. For more information on the Policy Readiness Tool, please visit www.policyreadinesstool.com.
Figure 1. Adoption Curve for Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory
¹ Nykiforuk, C.I.J., Atkey, K.M., Nieuwendyk, L.M., Raine, K.D., Reed, S., & Kyle, K. (2011). Policy Readiness Tool: Understanding a Municipality’s Readiness for Policy Change and Strategies for Taking Action. Edmonton, AB: School of Public Health, University of Alberta.
² Rogers, E.M. (2003). Diffusions of Innovations Theory (5th ed). New York: Free Press.
The Idea Readiness Tool was designed to support the development and promotion of wellness ideas within a school community. The Idea Readiness Tool refers to ‘school community’ as it is applicable to all kinds of school settings. You can use the tool to assess a school community’s level of readiness for a new idea. The readiness level (i.e., Innovator, Majority, and Late Adopter) that is identified by using the tool is then linked with level-appropriate strategies and resources that can be used to advance the idea.
Key Terms
School community members can include, but are not limited to: teachers, staff, students, school leadership team and parents.
School leadership team can include: administrators (principal, vice principal, etc.), parent-teacher council president, and other elected parents and staff.
School wellness champions may include:
- individuals from your school community who are open to new ideas;
- key stakeholders (administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents, community members, school board members, city councilors and provincial representatives) at your school community;
- an individual who is passionate about health and wellness;
- an individual who is respected by the school community and who is willing to help you work towards implementing the new idea;
- people who have an in-depth knowledge of the school community; and/or,
- the school’s administrative staff.
Stakeholders can include, but are not limited to: administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents, community members, school board members, city councilors and provincial representatives.