Innovation Resources

For Reimagining Congregational Learning

Since 2009, a treasury of resources has been created by The Jewish Education Project and it's partners, to support educators and their teams in congregational settings as they design and implement innovative models of education. If you are an educator or lay leader in any Jewish setting, we encourage you to review these resources and to use them as guides as you develop your own new educational model(s).

In addition to our selected resources, you may want to check out the TOOLBOX (also in the right column) from our partners at the Experiment in Congregational Education at HUC-JIR. It contains many of our resources and a number of other useful tools and guides.

You will also find them linked throughout the four parts of our Innovation and Models section, which is where you are now.. 
 

Handbooks

• The LOMED Handbook: The materials in this handbook, published in 2011, are designed to help leaders in congregations create powerful Jewish learning experiences, for a life well lived.

• Coalition Handbook Vol. II: Volume II of the Handbook builds on the LOMED Handbook reflects the broader range of congregations working together and shares the collective knowledge that was gained from 2011-2013.

Tools

These tools have been developed and used throughout our I*Express Innovation process. A number of these tools have been adapted from our work with the Express Innovation initiative.

guides & tools for model selection

• Identifying Your Priority Goal: This exercise will help identify your congregation’s priority goal(s) which will in turn pave the road towards selecting the model that best suits your congregation.

• Priority Goal Setting and Appreciative Inquiry Protocol: These questions enable your team to 1) Identify your congregation’s learning priorities and; 2) Describe when learning has been most successful.

• Questions To Consider in Selecting a New Learning Model: Here are some guiding questions for you and your team to consider as you choose your model:

• “How Do We Decide?” Worksheet: After narrowing your choices to 2-3 models, use these questions to help you in your final choice.

From Prototype to Pilot to Model

• Prototype to Pilot to Model Chart: This chart illustrates the qualities of and defines a prototype, a pilot, and a model.

• Moving from Prototype to Pilot to Model: This resource will help you continue to move from prototype to pilot to model.

• Developing Whole Person Learner Outcomes for your Pilots: This work page will help your team agree on outcomes for your learners during the pilot period.

• The Pilot Design Template: This template serves a place for you to identify your learner outcomes, what you are testing, and how you are assessing your pilot.

ongoing tools 

• The Team Building Resource: This resource can help you assess who you have on your team and who you might want to join your team and why. It also includes team building activities to help you continue to strengthen your team.
• The Four Change Boosters: Data, Reflection, Social Connections, and Communication, drive the innovation process. Here you will find an extensive collection of resources as you are introduced to each of the boosters.