Definition:  "Small Steps" are actions or initiatives that require few resources or little energy, and can be done quickly by a few people - spanning only a few separate offices, departments or other institutional units.  Small steps require no more than 3 people (or 5% of the total?).  Small Steps have initial impact on similarly few offices, departments or other institutional units.  However, the long-term cumulative impact of many small steps - and occasionally of just one small step - can be huge. 

Caveat:   Context matters.   A small step for one person can be a big step for another.

Rationale/Introduction:  Aren't we more likely to have a large-scale, cost-effective significant impact through the cumulative effects of modest incremental changes - small steps - than by leaping from one bold unfulfilled promise to the next?*

There are many pressures in academia (promotion, tenure, publication, grantsmanship) that encourage grandiose proposals, large-scale programs, and projects  that claim to produce improvements that span many courses and make big changes.  Many big promises have been broken in recent decades while there have already been thousands of small improvements that gain little publicity and little reward and have become integral and respected parts of courses. 

We believe it is possible - and worthwhile - to identify and support more small improvements in academia.   We believe we can find more ways to support and enable "compassionate pioneers":    those who work hard on making small improvements in their own courses and helping colleagues to make similarly minor but effective progress.

*Several recent POD "Innovation Ideas" reflect a growing awareness of the power of small, brief activities for professional development.

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