Innovator's Mindset Week 5 Reflection

After finishing the Innovator's Mindset and watching this week's Youtube discussion, the following
questions caused me to reflect on my own practice and school culture:

1) Do I know and build upon the strengths of those I serve?

Honestly, I could do a much better job of highlighting my students' strengths or interests. I do offer lots of voice and choice in my classroom, but I could do more to push students in the areas where they excel. I'm reminded of a chapter from John Spencer and A.J. Juliani's book, Launch, where they discuss how to have students own their genius and how we, as teachers, should celebrate their geniuses.

2) Are we embracing new (and better) opportunities for learning, and making decisions based on supporting these new realities?

I do this often in my classroom and practice. I create lessons (mainly project-based learning or inquiry-based projects) with the idea that they're going to create something new, share it, and connect with others during the process. Many times the technology (computers) are not the focal point rather it's the learning accelerator, allowing them to share and connect.

3) How do we share openly and regularly to further our own learning and development?

I use this blog to reflect and share with the world about what happens in my classroom and resources I've been using. I would like to do more reflecting on a daily basis. I don't think may of my colleagues, but I think it would be powerful for students and teachers to reflect on their day, every day, using the blogging platform. It would be fun to have a podcast for students and teachers to share their learning as well.

4) Do our professional learning opportunities mirror the learning we want to create for our students?

For the most part, the professional learning opportunities provided by my district have limited choice or voice. I often leave feeling like the PD was a waste of my time. It's getting better as more leaders are realizing the importance of meeting the needs of teachers. I try to give my students voice and choice in what they learn, and when I have to deliver PD, I keep this in mind.

Innovator's Mindset -- Week 5

If you weren't able to view the live Youtube feed for the Innovator's Mindset with sepcial guest, Brad Gustafson, here's a link to yesterday's Youtube feed.

Also, the assignments to complete are:

1. Read Part 4 of the book (pages 205-231)
2. Do some type of media reflection on what resonates and share to the #IMMOOC hashtag.  I want to to leave this more open this week.  Do something that is a little bit tough.
3. Comment on 3 other participant blog posts.
4. Blog/Podcast/Video/Your Choice based on your thoughts

Innovator's Mindset Week 4 Reflection

After reading Part 2 of the Innovator's Mindset and watching the Youtube discussion, the following ideas caused me to reflect on how we use technology in our classrooms to support learners and how that could be applied to staff as well:

1) "Technology should personalize, not standardize."

2) Students should create, share, and connect using technology.

3) Staff should create, share, and connect using technology.

All three ideas reminded me of the SAMR model for using technology. The model stands for the following:

Substitution - just replaces what can be done with pencil and paper
Augmentation - effective tool for common tasks
Modification - using technology to create things that wouldn't be possible without that technology
Redefinition - using technology for new tasks that we're inconceivable before technology -- Innovation

How do we give students opportunities to redefine their own learning using technology? How do give them a chance to create, share, and connect with other learners?

The same questions could be posed for educators. How are we given a chance to create, share and connect?

Innovator's Mindset Week 3 Reflection

After reading Part 2 of the Innovator's Mindset and watching the Youtube discussion, the following passage caused me to reflect on how I structure my classroom and lessons:

8 Things to Look for in Today's Classroom

1) Voice -- Do students have a say in what they're learning? 

     Possibilities: surveying students; making changes to curriculum/content/goals based on student feedback -- How else can we include student voice in our classrooms?

2) Choice -- How do students have a choice in what they learn?

     Possibilities: Genius Hour; Choice Boards; Build challenges -- How are students able to choose what they learn in your classroom?

3) Reflection -- How often do students reflect on their work?

     Students need time to think about their learning. Many times, we give a grade and their learning stops. They need time to think about what went well, what didn't, and what can change.

4) Innovation -- How often to students have time to create something new and better?

      Possibilities: Cardboard Challenges; Passion Projects; STEAM projects

5) Critical Thinkers -- How often do students develop and ask their own questions?

     Possibilities: "I Wonder" days -- students develop questions and research them 

6) Problem Solvers -- How often are students solving/finding real world problems?

    Possibilities: students can find an issue with the school and create a solution -- What are other ways we can empower students?

7) Self-Assessment -- How often do students assess their work?

     Possibilities: students can use a kid-friendly rubric to check their work and to provide feedback to a partner. Students can then make changes based on feedback from the rubric and their peers.

8) Connected Learning -- How often do students connect with experts?

     Possibilities: Virtual Fieldtrips; Connecting with experts via Skype, Google Hangouts, or Social Media

The third meeting for the Innovator's Mindset meets on their Youtube channel.

 When?
Saturday, October 1
5pm MST


Special Guest:
Kaleb Rashad

Here is a little bit more more about Kaleb:

Kaleb is the director of the Gary & Jerri-Ann Jacobs @hightechhigh (OG)!! | We are first and foremost an equity project. | We believe that passion matters in work and life. We think school should be a place where you find out what you’re good at doing, what you love to do, and what the world needs.

My belief in #HumanCenteredDesign is deeply rooted in my dissertation research on relational trust and I believe that #HumanCenteredDesign can be used to AMPLIFY our sense of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Innovator's Mindset -- Week 2 Reflection

After reading Part 1 of Innovator's Mindset, watching the Hangout, and creating my video reflection,  I'm struck by the question (pg 49):

"Would you want to be a learner in your own classroom?"

I was a student who struggled to enjoy school throughout my childhood. I was often bored and disengaged. It often felt like the content was there but it was up to me to find it interesting, not the teacher's job to make it interesting. It's one of the reasons I became a teacher, but I've often looked out at my tired, disengaged students and thought:

"Would I want to be a learner in this classroom?"

I was making the same mistakes many teachers have made.  We have this curriculum, these standards, and this standardized test, so we have to get through this. That's what I would tell my students. We just have to do this. I was empathetic in a sense. I understood my students' frustration but wasn't really willing to take risks. It seemed scary.

I'm trying to be an educator who thinks of the students first and how to engage them. I've taken risks on inquiry-based projects like Cardboard Challenges, Egg Drop Challenges, K'NEX Challenges, and other STEM problems for elementary students. I've been floored by their excitement.

Because of a fantastic coach last year, we began brainstorming innovative ways to deliver my content. She turned me onto Twitter and Google+ where I saw amazing things teachers were doing with videos they had created. I used Snagit to make my own leveled videos for students to help students complete tasks. They can view as many times as they need to complete tasks and move onto the next level. It was a real breakthrough for me as an educator.

A student approached me last year and wanted to make his own videos. I showed him how using free screen capturing software. Weeks later, he showed me all the videos he had created showing others how to play certain video games. He'd become a teacher!!! I thought, "I should have students teach other students using these video creations."

It's moments like these where I do feel like an innovative educator. I need to work on continuing to reflect on what worked and what doesn't. How can I improve this project to better engage my students? How can I turn a menial task into something profound? I hope I'm getting better at it every year.

Innovator's Mindset Week 2

The first meeting for the Innovator's Mindset meets on their Youtube channel.

 When?
Saturday, Sept 24 (tomorrow morning)
8am MST


Special Guest:
Shawn Clark & Brady Venables

Innovator's Mindset -- Introduction

After reading the introduction to Innovator's Mindset and watching the first Youtube meeting, I'm struck with the idea of creating a culture, within our school community, where educators feel empowered to take risks to foster students' creativity and curiosity. I love the quote:

"Compliance does not foster innovation."

How are we inspiring students to think critically, collaborate with their peers, and develop higher level questions? If we're not tapping into students' natural curiosity and creativity, instead focusing on compliance, students will turn elsewhere to learn. Schools are in danger of becoming the next Blockbuster. They didn't foresee the inevitable and lost out when consumers turned to streaming services. Will our schools become stagnant like Blockbuster, unwilling to change? How do we change the culture of our school community to match the needs of our students?

Innovator's Mindset

The first meeting for the Innovator's Mindset meets on their Youtube channel.

 When?
Saturday, Sept 24 (tomorrow night)
6pm MST


Special Guest:
Dave Burgess
Author of Teach Like a Pirate

 

Innovator's Mindset by George Cuocos

There's an online book study for Innovator's Mindset by George Coucos. I just ordered the book on Amazon and it discusses ways to unlock students' creativity, talent, and curiosity. The book study will run primarily through Youtube and Twitter. Read though AJ Juliani's blog post to learn more:

 http://ajjuliani.com/the-innovatorsmindset-mooc-starting-soon-immooc/