#IMMOOC Post #2 - Characteristics of the Innovator’s Mindset



Task: Take one of the “Characteristics of the Innovator’s Mindset” and write an example of how you exemplify it in your own work.

Part of my job as an Instructional Technology Specialist is to instruct teachers on technology tools/activities that they can use in their own classroom.  When I am planning a training session, the first thing I think is - "Would I get bored/distracted in my session?".  As I have gotten older, I think I have acquired a little ADD, so sometimes it is difficult for something to keep my attention for very long, especially if it is someone up front talking, all the while referencing a Google Slides/PowerPoint presentation. I need something different, and I bet most of my teachers do as well.  I am empathetic to my learners - I know that they need different things (especially those like me who get distracted and want to check email/Facebook/Twitter.)

In my sessions this year, I am using that thought while planning.  I don't want to be a sage on the stage - that never helped me.  I am a doing learner - I need to do in order to learn.  So a lot of my trainings have included time for doing.  One class I led (with another ITS who I think is amazing), we had teachers experience the activities as the students. An example - We asked them to create incorrect math problems, take a picture, load it into Google Slides, and then select another problem and solve it correctly/explain the errors. (It is a modification of this blog post from Alice Keeler). By having them experience it, they understood the power it could have, and felt like they had really learned something they could use in their classroom the next day.  

Another activity I have been using a lot is BreakoutEDU.  I think they are so much fun and I think the learning from them can be very powerful.  I am presenting next week on the 4 C's and I created a breakout on that.  By experiencing a digital breakout, and seeing activities they could use in their own class, I think my teachers will enjoy their professional development. 

As I continue to instruct teachers, I hope that I can continue to provide them with useful, insightful activities  and that they will be engaged - not tuning me out to check email/Facebook/Twitter.


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