#Innovator's Mindset MOOC- September 17-24

Why is “innovation” so crucial in education? What impact do you see it having on our students and ourselves long term?

John Dewey, arguably one of the first major American Innovators of education, galvanized the phrase and perspective that. "Education is life itself." As we begin this collaborative MOOC focused on "The Innovator's Mindset" I would like to propose that education is life and in so doing, extend that innovation in eduction is crucial to enduring in our lives and in our world! In order to survive within a world of global competiton in every aspect of life, innovation has always been the key element by which our species has flourished.

An administrator prompted his faculty to reflect in a meeting one day, "Remember, you choose to be here, you choose this profession." As educators, we must rememebr what drew us to this profession to begin with, and what keeps us going each day! Being involved in a forrum like this is a great opportunity to remind ourselves why we entered education in the first place. At the very heart of every great teacher there is a student yearning to learn and to be the best they can be; seeking to continue on a path of growth. Understanding how to embrase a mindset of innovation will enable us to ascend into higher levels of achievement which equates to student engagement and success. George reminds us that the best lessons are those which we model. Actions speak louder than words, and believe me our students listen with their eyes so much more than with their ears.

How can we expect our students to take a chance if we never do? How can we expect our students to embrase an innovators mindset if they do not know what it is. We will send a message to our student that learning from faiure is essential to learning in general. Seth Godin inspires us to accept failure as part of the learning process and to eliminate the negaitve connoation associated with a necessary step; for we only truly fail if we stop trying.

Flipped classroom

I have just started using apps on my iPad that allow students to record themselves as they solve a problem orally. I use notability and educreations. I really like these two apps. I think that notability is more sophisticated and dynamic. There are more options you can use to format a document or create a document.

I am curious, do you use some kind of application or allow your students to record themselves for their benefit or for the benefit of others that you teach?

I have a daily warm-up that my students begin immediately upon entering my class. I will usually rotate through students who I choose to demonstrate how to solve the warm ups and I will play the recordings for subsequent class periods. I will also dedicate the last few minutes to discuss homework assignments and allow volunteers to record how they approached solving a problem and use it in attachments in emails that I send home. Usually if several students have the same questions I know that the majority of students will when they reach that part on the homework (usually the night before it is due).

I found this article on how teachers can encourage students to record tutorial videos for other students and it made me wonder if any of you have experience with this or even flipped classrooms? If you have not heard the term before a "flipped classroom" is one where the students are asked to research a topic via online video or website and then come to class with some idea able to discuss the topic so that the teacher serves as a discussion facilitator. In my school I can not rely on this system because not all of my students have access to internet at home. 

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/11/03/the-benefits-of-students-teaching-students-through-online-video/

Please check out the article and tell me what you think.

1) Do you use any peer tutorial systems in your class?

2) Do you use technology or recording software to facilitate your tutorials?