in.no.va.tion #IMMOOC Week 2

"Alone we are smart. Together we are brilliant." -Steven Anderson

I read this quote in the third chapter of The Innovator's Mindset. It was included in the section about the 8 Characteristics of the Innovator's Mindset. Networking has always been an important part of my teaching career.  Up until the time of online classes, my network was the group of professionals who were going through the library media sequence at UVM.  I happily leaned on and learned from this group for years.  

 The Innovator's Mindset has made me recognize the importance of PLNs. I am blogging and reading blogs.  I am using Twitter more frequently. I have found an amazing network of professionals on Twitter who I learn from and who inspire me to be a better teacher.  The simple acts of reading and writing have motivated me to learn more and share more.

In chapter 3 of The Innovator's Mindset, George Couros states, "Innovation flourishes when teachers collaborate to learn and practice new strategies.  Isolation is often the enemy of innovation."  My favorite coworkers are the ones who want to collaborate.  I always learn something from them and I hope they learn something from me. 

This year, I have collaborated with teachers inside my building using Google Classroom, Pixton and Storybird, to name a few.  Outside of my building, I have used Padlet and Google Hangout to meet new teachers and students.  Every time I collaborate with another person, I walk away feeling better about my learning and about my profession.

Curiosity and Lifelong Learning

I have always believed in lifelong learning.  During the last couple of years, though, I have seen the importance of sharing this philosophy with my students.  As a librarian and educational technologist, I have many opportunities to introduce new technologies to enhance and transform their learning.  If I waited to introduce these new technologies until I thought I was an 'expert' using them, I would NEVER share them.

I think my students appreciate my honesty when I introduce a new technology.  I will often share with them the basics and tell them I am learning with them.  Quite often, as we are learning, students are learning from each other and I am learning from them.  I will ask students if they are comfortable sharing their learning with the entire class.  Some students will happily go to the front of the classroom to speak, while others will share with only a few students.  Either way, we are all learning together!

I want my students to be curious forever.  I want them to know it is a strength to ask for help and learn from others.  I want them to have a growth mindset and try something new as often as possible.  I want my students to be inspired to learn everyday.

Image credit: http://immooc.org/blog-prompts/