Reflection of #InnovatorsMindset

This was actually the second time reading it...

Have you ever watched a movie and then after you finished it, watched it again sometime later only to find out you enjoy it more? That was my feeling when I read Innovator's Mindset the second time.  I have to be honest, and after reading twelve books with friends this last year, my thoughts are focused on progress in the education landscape.  As technology and information become more abundant in our classrooms, it is essential to inspire students - the careers waiting for them are more different than any time in history.  Even though we have technologies such as artificial intelligence and mixed realities entering our landscape, I still hold on to teachers being essential in today and tomorrow's learning environment. 

Just how different is this landscape?

I got the opportunity this week to spend some time with my friend Kecia Ray to catch up on all things #edtech but also to listen to her give the keynote at the #NDLA18 Conference held in Omaha. Many of the items in this book, our conversations, and her presentation resonated together in what changes we see happening in education. This was a video Kecia showed in one of her breakout sessions:

---

​Right now we have many twenty-first-century schools with twentieth-century learning.

I love where I work.  This year marks my 19th year in education.  There is a great purpose in what we do.  Anyone who enters the education career field knows this.  When you look at so many things in our world that are changing because of technology, why don't we change our learning environments? The Innovator's Mindset approached this problem through the use of purpose and added creativity of innovation.  The classroom I grew up in, rural Missouri, was absent of technology.  We had a couple of computers in the back of our business classroom, but to be honest, I didn't engage with them until I was in the military at 18.  My kids have engaged with technology as they have entered school.  All three of my girls engage with internet with more information than all of my childhood learning combined at their fingertips; able to access at a moments notice. 

​What I enjoy about this book is how George Couros tells stories. Stories are all around us. They have the power to inspire us, move us and make us feel alive. Stories are a way to reach out to people and make an emotional connection. We need to utilize our tools to tell the story.  George emphasizes the use of Twitter not only for professional development but for telling our story.  Eric Sheninger says in BrandED that "if you aren't telling your story, someone else is." So much of what we do is around communication and branding. Eric states, "The traditional school leadership role may originally have been one of distancing, but those days are done." What I enjoy about George's take is his approach in writing, you can tell he has passion.  Passion for students, and their success; this comes out in George's stories and his branding.

Quotures I created along this journey...

I hope as you read Innovator's Mindset, you keep an open mind.  Here are three quotes that set the tone for this book:

• The way we learn—and the way we teach students even the most basic skills—must reflect and capitalize on the technology, information, and people we have access to today.
• We can’t base the way we teach on how we were taught because
  
  • a) we have powerful opportunities at our fingertips, and
    
  • b) the way many of today’s teachers were taught wasn’t effective for all students, even when we were in school.
• My hope is that the future teachers of the world will not recreate what this generation has done but make something far better that is relevant for that generation.

I have now read this book twice.  I do plan on reading it again sometime later.  It's a very easy read, and one that will change your educational world immediately.