Innovation at WAB: Big “I” and little “i”

This year, through our Innovation Series, in collaboration with Stephen Taylor, our Director of Innovation, we’ll be sharing stories and examples of what innovation looks like across WAB. We’ll share stories from classrooms, examples from alumni, and insights from global partners. Our hope is that together, we can build a clearer picture of how innovation at WAB helps our students become better learners and prepared for life beyond WAB.

When people think about innovation in schools, the first images that often come to mind are futuristic labs, new technologies, or sweeping curriculum changes. Those are exciting, and you’ll certainly find them happening at WAB. At the same time, innovation is just as much about the quiet, everyday decisions happening in classrooms as it is about the big moments. At WAB, “big I” and “little I" innovation work together to keep our learning community moving forward and preparing for the many potential futures ahead. 

Big “I” Innovation 

Big “I” innovations are the big, highly visible changes that require planning, resources, and collaboration across the school. At WAB, you can see this in our Day 9 program, which gives students the freedom to pursue passion-driven projects and in the evolution of our Global Citizenship in Action (GCiA) programme, where students take on sustained project-based approaches to community engagement. You can also see it in our Dual Language Program pilot in the Elementary School, where students are learning in both Chinese and English through an integrated model. These innovations create opportunities that didn’t exist before. 

little “i” innovation 

Innovation also happens in small, everyday ways. These are the tweaks, iterations, and ideas that teachers and students bring to life constantly. A teacher redesigns group work so students learn how to collaborate more effectively. A student chooses a new digital tool to express their research in a creative format. A class finds connections between their learning and developments in the wider world. These may not be as obviously visible, but they make learning better every single day and cultivate our culture of curiosity and growth. 

Why Both Matter 

Big “I” gives us vision and direction and little “i” ensures innovation is lived daily, in sustainable and impactful ways for every student. Innovation brings out two more “i”s from our definition of learning: intentional and iterative. We plan with intention and iterate to constantly improve. Together, they ensure WAB’s learning community continues to be responsive and always evolving. 

At WAB, innovation isn’t just a one-time project; it’s part of who we are as lifelong learners.  Big or small, WAB prepares our students to succeed and think critically for the futures ahead. 

Next week in our Innovation Series, we’ll dive into how WAB connects innovation with purpose by nurturing global citizenship and socially responsible leadership in our students.