Innovator’s Mindset is more than just a book by George Couros, it has become a way of thinking and a movement that educators are latching onto as a beacon of hope for improving teaching and learning across our nation. The #IMMOOC has been a wonderful opportunity to connect with like-minded educators seeking out “our people” to come together with resources and ideas for innovating our educational system. While I was not able to keep up with blogging every week, or reading responses (confession: I didn’t follow the homework assignments because I read the entire book in my first three days!), I was able to following the dialogue through social media and the weekly blog posts. I was incredibly moved by the desire of educators who want more for our children. Here are my big takeaways from the past month:

A Call to Action: Empowering Teachers

As a community of educators we have survived the storms of compliance through NCLB and are riding the wave of new and promising standards such as NGSS and CCSS, which support more open-mindedness for our practice and critical thinking for our students. There is promise for Deeper Learning practices in more than just pockets of innovation; now there are policies and growing structures in place to support deeper learning practices. This approach to teaching and learning requires that teachers develop personalized learning experiences for students. In this type of work we need teachers to feel honored and see themselves as Designers of their curriculum. In my recent post I “A Call for Teachers as Designers” I explain how this need is what drove me to launch CraftED Curriculum-This video explains more:

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from Innovator’s Mindset that support this call:

• “We need to move beyond the idea that an education is something that is provided for us and toward the idea that an education is something that we create for ourselves” (pg 30)
• I love this one pictured on the right regarding compliance:
• And the vignette featured on page 47 is something I too have experienced with teachers who are in need of empowerment! 

It all comes back to leadership

It’s no secret that leadership matters-in all areas of life, but especially in places that are seeking to foster innovative cultures. It is critical that leaders support the empowerment of Teachers as Designers, not just by giving teachers permission to try something new, but by creating the structures to foster innovative teaching practices; structures such as common planning time, guided planning support, and focused and aligned PLCs.

In this Edweek article titled “Break down the walls blow up the schedule” by Kelly Wilson , she discusses what this looks like in action at High Tech High. I thought these examples from the book support this notion well:

• “What we model is what we get” -Jimmy Casas (pg 59)
• “having support and feeling supported are two different things” (pg 59).  Leaders need to put on their learner cap and learn  about new instructional practices (and possibilities) alongside teachers.
• The graphic featured here of blocks for laying the foundation of innovation are critical and call out the role of leadership, explicitly.

The PD Revolution is Coming

Couros and the #IMMOOC community have raised some critical points around the need to rethink and reimagine what professional development looks like that truly supports innovative teaching practices. First and foremost, teachers need to have choice-a variety of learning opportunities and supports to drive their personal learning and shift their practice. Teachers need to meet this choice with agency-meaning they need to model what we ask our students and seek out resources and challenges. Many districts are experimenting with Personalized Professional Development Plans but for this concept to work school and district leaders need to think about this as more than a revised (and still traditional) learning goal plan, leaders need to get out of the box and seek out new resources for enhancing teachers’ craft. A few of my favorites:

• Make it more than (or more accessible than) a book club, check out #AnewkindofPD podcasts on itunes
• What about micro-credentialing and badging? Check out how CraftED is tackling this through the LRNG initiative in San Diego
• Direct to Teacher via Teaching Channel 
• What better way to learn about innovation than to experience it? CraftED models deeper learning practices by asking teachers to walk the talk during PD and then reflect on their experience and then craft. Check out one recent PD experience at Fab Lab.

The Desire is There

The #IMMOOC supported my observations and personal hopes, by proving that the desire amongst teachers is there to do better. I’m hopeful that leaders will rise to this challenge and rethink structures and learning opportunities at their site to foster innovation. And until then, I hope that teachers take to the revolution and empower themselves until others can follow. Keep the #IMMOOC conversation going and join the CraftED Community, Comrades.

“sometimes, the most valuable thing you get from the network isn’t an idea but the inspiration or courage to try something  new” (p 54)