school – Innovate * Inspire * Lead Change

Oct 17, 2016

School Versus Learning #IMMOOC Why is there a Difference

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As I continue along on this journey of learning, this journey of reading The Innovator’s Mindset with oh, 2,000 of my closest friends, there are a few points that are sticking with me today. Sometime George puts the words into my brain so much better than I can say them.

School teaches compliance. Learning is about challenging perceived norms. (102)

To me this is a solid reason school might need to be tweaked. If school doesn’t equal learning at every level, well….are we doing it as well as we can be? AND are we doing it for the students of today? Better yet, how can we make these one and the same? How can we stop making school be about teaching compliance and get students able to challenge the status quo? Are we ready for that?

I certainly don’t have all the answers but today I watched a science teacher begin her lesson with students determining the questions. She presented an opportunity and they posed the questions they needed answered in order to learn what had happened in that situation.

2. School is about giving you information. Learning is about making your own connections. (102)

Even in the framework of a curriculum, we have leeway; students can build on their connection to information.

I am watching books come alive for our middle school students as they make choices in what they read for maybe the first time as part of their learning. They are excited about it and engaged in books.

When teachers are gifted at helping students uncover knowledge rather than being wrapped up in covering material, it all comes alive for them.

Filed Under: Education, PL, Teaching · Tagged: #IMMOOC, @gcouros, @jodimos, administration, culture, education, innovation, jodi moskowitz, learning, school, students, teaching

Oct 6, 2016

Student Ownership. For Real.

By Jodi · Leave a Comment

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Student ownership. I’ve watched my student tech team develop into this amazing group over the past year. Last year, I had a vision that I wanted to come to fruition; but even with that I couldn’t have imagined what it would become, what we would become in one short year.

Let’s go back to the beginning. I put out applications for students who were interested. I work in a middle schools, so there are sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. I simply wanted students who had some interest in technology, being a team, advocating for their school, and promoting through social media. Students joined for one or all of these reasons.

Soon after joining last year, ten of my eighth graders joined four other middle schools to be inspired by iSchool Initiative and create a three-year plan for our school. They set their sights high. They came together as a team and became leaders. Some of the initiatives they wanted our team to do included the following:

teach teachers and students more about technology; we are a 1:1 iPad school and they felt this was a need
open media center in the mornings for students

Empowerment has become our middle name. Maybe our first. Students led app speed dating where they taught apps to teachers. Our student “my iPad has an issue” Google doc went to their iPads, so that they could be first on the scene before it went to our local IT. They did team building through activities like building virtual computers. Currently a few of them are trying to get a budget to build the computer for real!

The project that has generated the most excitement is their modern-day technology lab created in a room from a broken down computer lab. They created the floor plan. They worked with me to determine what we needed to purchase for it. As a result, they own this lab.

These are middle schoolers who feel pride in what they do every day. They have a purpose in coming to school and are quick to tell me what they need and advocate for it.

Now that is real life. That is what school should be.

Filed Under: Education, Empowerment, Teaching, technology · Tagged: #IMMOOC, @jodimos, blogging, computers, creative, creativity, culture, education, future, innovation, jodi moskowitz, kids, leading, leadwild, learning, relationships, school, students, technology

Aug 9, 2015

Creating a Positive Culture for Innovation

By Jodi · Leave a Comment

For many of us the year either has started or is about to start. Those first few weeks are the most important in establishing positive culture in our classrooms. In my school we’re moving to 1:1 iPads, so creating a risk-taking culture where students know the boundaries but aren’t afraid to make mistakes is so important.

#satchatoc had a meaningful discussion about establishing a culture of innovation in schools. Building this culture of innovation and creativity is essential to bring schools and students into the present and get them ready to lead in the future.

The New Essential Questions! By @mr_casal thecasalos.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-ne… @AngelaMaiers #satchatoc http://t.co/FNfJoFaYNF—
Drew Minock (@TechMinock) August 07, 2015

This idea of creating a culture where students and educators alike utilize technology to problem-solve and create a better world is an ongoing theme in education.

How do we encourage creativity and innovation in the classroom? Creation tools like iMovie, Educreation, Explain Everything, Thinglink, blogging, and Book Creator can help.

I grade for concept. Remove the reigns on product and allow them to create with no limits! #satchatoc

— Racheal Burden (@180Daystohappy) August 7, 2015

So, how do we get people to this place of innovation?

A3: innovation occurs when learners (& T's) have the power and freedom to dream, create, solve problems #satchatoc

— Justine Poidevin (@JusPoidevin) August 7, 2015

#satchatoc A3 The more I think about innovation, the more I think about the mindset of create and fail and pick up again.

— Marlon Ng (@NgMarlon) August 7, 2015

As educators we are always working to better ourselves, trying to learn so that we can share our ideas with our students. By being connected, we open a whole world (literally) of information and people to learn from. This chat is a perfect example as it is called #satchatoc; is based in Oceania yet draws an international crowd.

I try to think of new ways for students to learn, educators to learn & all to connect to learn. #satchatoc

— Andrea Stringer (@stringer_andrea) August 7, 2015

Modeling multiple solutions to questions as well as big ideas is huge! If we as the model in schools can get this and show our students that often problems do not have just one answer, it makes it okay for them to take risks, grow, and seek multiple answers to questions.

A4: It is also important for kids to see there is more than one way to solve a problem. That freedom creates innovative thinking #satchatoc

— Drew Minock (@TechMinock) August 7, 2015

A3: the impact of innovation is about access – to learning, methods, to tools. We innovate for a reason, mostly to problem solve #satchatoc

— Justine Poidevin (@JusPoidevin) August 7, 2015

Moral of the story: what we do week one with our teachers and our students to create a positive culture where taking risks becomes the norm will determine how our year goes.

How are you starting your year?

Filed Under: Education, Empowerment, Teaching · Tagged: classrooms, creative, creativity, culture, growth mindset, innovation, innovative, risk-taking, satchatoc, school, teach, teaching, teaching and learning, Twitter

School Versus Learning #IMMOOC Why is there a Difference

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