So, I read this great article but can I apply this to teaching, to my teaching? Right away Subtraction appears to be a biggie for me. When I start reflecting on some of my practices I often find that there are things I can remove and in turn improved the process. Homework is a good example. I am in charge of the homework for my grade level. We send a packet of homework home at the end of each week. This year a parent complained that it was too much and asked if it could be changed. I begrudgingly started reviewing the packets and did a major alteration. OK parent, you want less homework, I'll give you less homework. In subsequent weeks and months more students have turned in their homework and completed all of it than when the school year started. Students who weren't successful at completing their homework suddenly were turning it in regularly. A pushy parent had me reflecting on my practice and the Subtractive change improved student outcomes and saved a few trees to boot.
I have employed Task Unification as well. This year I have pulled science into the language arts part of the day as never before. I have unified science and language arts because they shouldn't be separated. Science is so hands-on that it is easy to write about and invites collaboration.
I'm still contemplating the rest. I do believe that all the apps and devices making their way into classrooms and all this "21st Century" learning is outside the box. But soon it will be firmly inside the box and we'll be applying these techniques mentioned above to help us to continue to innovate.