#IMMOOC – Why Innovation?

Over the next six week I will be participating in #IMMOOC – the Innovator’s Mindset Massive Open Online Course – in reference to a book I read over the summer, “The Innovator’s Mindset” by George Couros. I look forward to re-reading this book, as it made me think deeply about what I am doing as a teacher, and what schools are doing for students.

While innovation may seem like the most recent education buzz-word, I really do believe it is more important then that. Why? Because schools need to evolve! Out world is rapidly changing, and so are the students. Students have the ability now to access information at their fingertips. They can connect to other students, educators, and professionals all over the world. Students can create anything they can imagine. If we keep “doing school” the way it has always been done, we are denying students these opportunities. I actually had a student tell me last week there was nothing he could learn (in elementary school) until he got to high school. This child believed that what he could learn in school was limited to what the teacher had planned. For this child, and all of the children similar, we need innovation in schools. (And yes, I will make sure he learns something in my class this year!)

This quote is a great intro to the book: “Change is the opportunity to do something amazing.” I’m ready to change. I’m ready to grow. I’m ready to take more risks. And I’m ready to innovate. Not only for my students, but also for myself. It’s going to be amazing!

~Theresa