Each day those of us lucky enough to teach, challenge our students to complete tasks outside of their comfort zone. I say the phrase, "Do Better. Be Better." daily in my classes. Today folks, I am going to complete a task that is outside of MY comfort zone in trying to do better and be better. Recently, I began participating in a book study with other educators in our district. We are reading and discussing, "The Innovator's Mindset," by George Couros. My challenge is to blog about the first part of this book, Innovation in Education. In the first part of this book, George defines what innovation is and what it isn't. Innovation is not just a buzzword in education. Innovation can be small changes in our classrooms which encourage different outcomes of a larger scale. Two questions which are posed: What is best for our learners? Would you want to be a learner in your own classroom? Our students need to be challenged differently than perhaps the ways in which we were educated. One assignment I assigned to the students this year, which many report as their favorite assignment, was for the students to create their Dream Park. In reflecting on this assignment, I believe it to be quite innovative! Students were to use their mapping skills and creatively create a park they could see here in Rochester. Changing one's mindset is hard, completing tasks outside of our comfort zone is hard. However, our students need these skills to be successful. Innovation isn't about changing how I have taught my entire career, but it is in making things better and more relevant for my students.
1 Comment
Hello visitors.
|
AuthorTeacher living the dream! ArchivesCategories |