What Do I SEE? What can I CHANGE?
Reflection has grown into one of the most important aspects for me. Reflection happens often and isn’t always scheduled. If I see that something isn’t working for the students, I have to reflect on how I can improve. Then make changes QUICK. For example, students have studied journalism and have chosen stories that affect their community, school, or teens. I wanted to try using Pages because the templates where great and easy to work with. After the 1st class, I knew I had to make changes and fast. I was attempting something I had never tried before, but it was NOT working. What I ended up doing is give students a choice. Pages or Google Slides. I had several groups who ended up using Pages to create their Newspaper, but many also choose to use Slides. (Shout Out to twittersphere for help on this one.)
Pixabay
“Having the freedom to fail is important to innovation. But even more important to the process are the traits of resiliency and grit . Resiliency is the ability to come back after a defeat or unsuccessful attempt. Grit is resolve or strength of character.”
My students complete semester surveys where they get to tell me how well they did and how well I did. It is a reflection for them and open for suggestions for to improve for me. I use this to make changes that are within my control to make.
At the end of the year, I look back at both courses and write down all the things I want to change and how I want to change them. Before school begins the next year, I use this outline to redesign and update what I want to teach.
School Year 16-17 (Kinda Short) School Year 15-16 (Valiant Ventures was still present)
“…innovator’s mindset exemplified: Try, fail, and try something else until you find or create a solution that works.”
Can’t give up! Find and create experiences that work for the students. In order to do that, reflection has to be more than just looking in the mirror.
Creating Opportunities AKA Taking Risks
Opportunities for innovation MUST move beyond gather information. I recently read a post by AJ Juliani in which he wrote about mistakes to avoid when becoming a “difference maker”. His three mistakes really HIT HOME! But that first one on spending so much time consuming information and never moving into ACTION, is exactly how I operate. “The innovator’s mindset takes the growth mindset a step further by focusing on using one’s ability to learn … to create…” At some point, you have to just do. For me this is difficult as I need to know as much as I can about something BEFORE I proceed into action. When I first started Valiant Ventures (Genius Hour), I spend over 6 weeks reading anything and everything I could find. (AJ’s work was so helpful.) Yet, if I hadn’t moved into action, my students would have never experienced it.
Create!
AJ’s post also touches on the fact the latest greatest doesn’t equate innovation. George also mentions that in the book. “…innovation is not about the stuff ; it is a way of thinking.”
Pixabay
Technology is AMAZING and great things can be accomplished with it. However, just adding technology for the sake of saying technology is used won’t lead to innovation.
No teacher should be afraid to try/use technology because they may not understand it. You know who does understand it or will learn it way faster: STUDENTS!
Adding technology won’t change anything unless change in teaching happens first.
If I Ruled The World
I have often dreamt of what kind of school I would create. I have even discussed this with my husband and closest teacher friend. She and I often envisaged what it might be like to open our own school.
Yet, this question stumped me!
However, here are a few expectations:
- Open Learning & Student Choice
- Students have choices on their learning
- Student passions are integral part of the curriculum through which they will learn other valuable skills
- Real Life Skills (Ideas from this awesome dude: Boyinaband)
- Budgeting, taxes, credit, investing,
- Healthy relationships, communication during conflict/disagreements, etc…
- No homework
- Student’s choice independent reading
- Family centered activities allowed
- Ride a bike, discuss family tree, tell a fond story about a great grandparent, etc
- Teachers are NOT required to “COVER” things
- I always hated that phrase, yet I still use it at times!
- Culture of Trust
- Admin, Parents, Teachers, Students are trusted to make professional learning judgements
Pixabay
George Couros defines the innovator’s mindset as “Belief that abilities, intelligence, and talents are developed so that they lead to the creation of new and better ideas.”
I know there is more, but that is my rough draft school.
George Couros. The Innovator’s Mindset: Empowering Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead A Culture Of Creativity. ePub. Dave Burgess Consulting, Incorporated. Oct 13, 2015.
Ms. Marcum's Mission 