Vulnerability & Innovation

3/4/2017

#IMMOOC Post 1

I have a selfish reason for joining The Innovator's Mindset MOOC. More than anything, I want the students in my district (including my own personal children) to be innovators. I want them to experience lessons that stretch them to create something new or make improvements on something already existing. Since I left the classroom, I struggle with the fact that I don't directly plan and execute lessons for students anymore. I don't have direct control over innovative and creative projects that directly impact students. While I yearn to have that kind of impact again, I know that my reach is much greater now. I have the ability to impact a district of teachers, which in turn can impact each and every student.

The introduction of the book is full of ideas that resonated with me. However, this statement was one of the simpler and most captivating to me.

If we want "innovative students,"
we will need "innovative educators."

While I completely agree with this statement, I struggle with the "how." How can you ignite a renewed passion in a seasoned educator? How do you teach innovation to a first year teacher? You can't teach innovation in a one-time professional development session! After further reading, I see that it all comes down to culture. We must create a culture of innovation within our school district. Teachers have to feel that they have the creative freedom to do things a little differently. This brought me to my next question. How can we give the innovative "green light" to teachers? Two words...by example.

Innovation is needed both in our classrooms and in our leadership. As leaders, we must model the kind of innovation we want to see.

Taking risks in our own work shows vulnerability. If you have ever read Daring Greatly by Dr. Brene Brown, you know more than you thought you could ever know about being vulnerable. In today's world, vulnerability has a negative connotation. It implies weakness. Dr. Brown's book sheds a different light. Her words speak to the power and strength in being vulnerable.

This is exactly the challenge that I have given our central office and campus administrators in our district book study over The New Pillars of Modern Education by Dr. Gayle Allen. Through the book study, I hope to push the innovation envelope with new and creative ways for our students to learn. I want our administrators to be vulnerable as we try to chart a new path for teaching and learning in our district. Will we succeed? The jury is still out as we are just digging into Chapter 1 this week, but I have high hopes.

In the meantime, I'm continuing the search for ways to bring innovative practices to my district and change the mindset about how we teach and learn. The Innovator's Mindset is a wonderful addition to my quest and I can't wait to read more.

Keeping it Techy (and Innovative),
Heather

5 Comments

Bridget Gengler

3/5/2017 09:14:12 am

I like how you wrote about vulnerability. Many seasoned educators I work with do not want to be in the vulnerable state because it involves change and risk taking and many of them just want to stay comfortable. But I agree that in order to become innovative we must become vulnerable and it starts with the school culture. Thanks for the highlights of two other books that I will add to "my must read" list .

Matt Arend link

3/5/2017 09:39:15 am

Heather,
So glad you are joining us in the IMMOOC. I appreciate your reference to Brene Brown. I was able to hear her speak this past fall and her focus on vulnerability is perfectly aligned with innovation. We as a edu community have to get past the fear of doing something different, be judged and leaving us open to be looked upon differently.

Be vulnerable, innovate and create!

Thanks!

Sarah Sanders

3/5/2017 09:58:19 am

I have also been exploring the vulnerability piece this year with my students. It is hard to change ways of learning and interacting when we are not comfortable or feeling safe. I have spent a lot of time this year building classroom community and developing that "safe" space to try new things. I have modeled the process myself and I have shared my learning through blogging. Showing my students it is OK to be vulnerable and also that I am often scared to do it has helped them to step out of their comfort zones as well.

What I have also noticed is that it works in some situations, but not all. There are still moments when students are not willing to try or share. It is important that we honour these moments and allow for personal reflection about why. One such situation happened this week on a field trip. Two of my students who would normally have tried the new activity in our classroom refused to try on our field trip. When encouraged be myself or the organizers they became disruptive and rude. Their behaviour escalated beyond what I had ever seen them involved in before at school. Despite being given permission to sit out, they continued to disrupt the other students. This new experience and opportunity was just too much for them. Interstingly other students who would normally have needed lots of encouragement to participate in the classroom were engaged and tried the new task wtihout hesitation.

Reflecting on the process has reminded that building comfort and safety is never ending. We need to continually be working on the relationships we cultivate with our students, as well as the culture of learning in the classroom.

Angela L Kitchin link

3/5/2017 01:48:06 pm

"After further reading, I see that it all comes down to culture. We must create a culture of innovation within our school district. Teachers have to feel that they have the creative freedom to do things a little differently."
I am still in the classroom, but I strive to still be a leader that can help other teachers. Recently, culture in my school is something that I have set out to try and improve. So, your post resonated with me because I have struggled with the "How?" exactly to change the culture at my school.
For a while, I worked hard. Then, I gave up. Then, I remembered that things don't happen overnight, and I picked myself back up. I started a book club at my school. Our first meeting had 5 people, our second meeting had 8 people. I already know of another person who will join us for our next meeting. Through this book club, I hope teachers are feeling more inspired and more innovative. I have already seen new lessons come out of our discussions, and I hear people talking about what they have read and what they want to do. We are building a new culture at out school, one of collaboration, inspiration, and innovation. :o) And we are doing this by leading by example. I think you are right on target with the direction you are moving. :o)

Keri Snowden

3/7/2017 08:22:27 pm

I love your reference to Daring Greatly! I just read it in January during my process of finding my one word for 2017. I finally settled on courage which comes directly from Brene's writing about vulnerability. As a teacher and also a parent of teenage daughters, I am concerned about the impact our society has on our children. Your post made me think about the connection between vulnerability, courage, and innovation which I had not thought about before. Thanks for sharing!

Vulnerability & Innovation

#IMMOOC Post 1

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