{"id":101,"date":"2020-05-04T10:57:41","date_gmt":"2020-05-04T14:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stjohns.k12.fl.us\/leadership\/?page_id=101"},"modified":"2020-06-03T10:03:16","modified_gmt":"2020-06-03T14:03:16","slug":"tips02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stjohns.k12.fl.us\/leadership\/2020\/05\/04\/tips02\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Characteristics of the \u201cInnovator\u2019s Mindset\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

September 16, 2014 by George Couros<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Recently I explored the notion of the \u201cInnovator\u2019s Mindset\u201d, and have thought a lot about this idea. \u00a0As I look to write on the topic of \u201cLeading Innovative Change\u201d within schools, we are looking to develop educators as innovators. \u00a0To be innovative, you have to look at yourself as an innovator first, and to create schools that embody this mindset as a \u201cculture\u201d, we must develop this in individuals first.<\/p>\n

Building upon Carol Dweck\u2019s work, I have been looking at the traits of the \u201cInnovator\u2019s Mindset\u201d, which would be summarized as follows:<\/p>\n

Belief that abilities, intelligence, and talents are developed leading to the creation of new and better ideas.<\/em><\/p>\n

To develop students as \u201cinnovators\u201d in their pursuits, we must embody this as educators. \u00a0As I continue to research and look at different processes where innovation excel, such as design thinking, there are several characteristics that seem common amongst these themes. \u00a0Here they are below and why they are important for educators:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Empathetic <\/strong>\u2013 To create new and better ways of doing things, we need to first understand who we are creating them for. \u00a0As educators, innovation starts with the question, \u201cwhat is best for this child.\u201d \u00a0For us to create something better for our students, we have to understand their experiences, and this is why it is imperative that we not only talk about new ways of learning, but immerse ourselves in these opportunities. \u00a0This way we can understand what works and what does not work from the perspective of a learner, not a teacher. \u00a0If anything, teachers have to a deep understanding of learning before they can become effective in teaching. \u00a0We need to put ourselves in our student\u2019s shoes before we can create better opportunities for them in our classrooms.<\/li>\n
  2. Problem Finders <\/strong>\u2013 As Ewan McIntosh talks about, it is important that we teach our kids how to ask good questions instead of simply asking for answers. All innovation starts from a question not an answer. \u00a0The invention of the home computer started with the focus of, \u201cHow do we bring the experience of a powerful computer into the homes of families?\u201d Many capstone projects developed by students in their classrooms start with first finding, and then solving problems both locally and globally. \u00a0How often do we as educators immerse ourselves in a similar process? \u00a0If want to be innovative, we need to look at questions first.<\/li>\n
  3. Risk-Takers<\/strong> \u2013 Many would argue that \u201cbest-practice\u201d is the enemy of innovation. \u00a0To be truly innovative, you sometimes have to go off the beaten path. \u00a0The reality of this is, that for some kids, the \u201ctried-and-true\u201d methods will still work, but others, you will need to try something different. \u00a0In a time where many kids are totally checking out of school, is \u201cbest practice\u201d truly \u201cbest\u201d, or just \u201cmost well known\u201d.<\/li>\n
  4. Networked<\/strong> \u2013 Steven Johnson has a powerful quote on the importance of networks where he states, \u201cchance favors the connected mind.\u201d \u00a0Innovation does not happen in isolation, as it is often ideas that are being shared amongst many that lead to new and better ideas being developed. \u00a0The best educators have always created networks to learn from others and create new and powerful ideas. \u00a0Now though, many have taken the opportunity to take networks to a whole different level through the use of social media to share and develop new ideas. \u00a0Isolation is the enemy of innovation. \u00a0Networks are crucial if we are going to develop the \u201cInnovator\u2019s Mindset\u201d.<\/li>\n
  5. Observant \u2013 <\/strong>A practice normal amongst those that would be considered \u201cinnovative\u201d is that they constantly look around their world and create connections. \u00a0It is normal to have a notebook or use their mobile device to record ideas or thoughts around them and link them to their own ideas. \u00a0In education, we often look to solutions to come from \u201ceducation\u201d, but when organizations around the world share their practices and ideas, we have to tap into their diverse expertise and learn from them as well. \u00a0Wisdom is all around us, we just have to look for it.<\/li>\n
  6. Creators \u2013 <\/strong>So many people have great ideas, yet they never come to fruition. \u00a0Innovation is a combination of ideas and hard work. \u00a0Conversation is crucial to the process of innovation, but without action, ideas simply fade away and\/or die. \u00a0What you create with what you have learned is imperative in this process.<\/li>\n
  7. Resilient \u2013 <\/strong>Things do not always work on the first try, so what are the tweaks or revamping that is needed? \u00a0To simply try something and give up as soon as it fails never leads to innovation only a definitive end. \u00a0This is something great teachers model daily in their teaching, as they turn good ideas into great ones.<\/li>\n
  8. Reflective \u2013 <\/strong>What worked? What didn\u2019t? \u00a0What could we do next time? \u00a0If we started again, what would we do differently? \u00a0What can we build upon? \u00a0It is important that in education and innovation, we sit down and reflect on our process. \u00a0This last point is definitely lacking in many aspects of education as we are always \u201ctrying to get through the curriculum\u201d, yet reflection is probably the most important part of education as the connections we make on our own is where deep learning happens.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For educators to embody this, it is imperative that leaders create a culture where these types of characteristics are not only accepted but encouraged. \u00a0It is also imperative that at both the leadership and whole organization level, these characteristics are embodied. \u00a0To many, being \u201cinnovative\u201d is no more than a buzzword, but if we truly have innovative students, we need to embody the \u201cInnovator\u2019s Mindset\u201d at all levels.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    September 16, 2014 by George Couros Recently I explored the notion of the \u201cInnovator\u2019s Mindset\u201d, and have thought a lot about this idea. \u00a0As I look to write on the topic of \u201cLeading Innovative Change\u201d within schools, we are looking to develop educators as innovators. \u00a0To be innovative, you have to look at yourself as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":429,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stjohns.k12.fl.us\/leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stjohns.k12.fl.us\/leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stjohns.k12.fl.us\/leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stjohns.k12.fl.us\/leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/429"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stjohns.k12.fl.us\/leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stjohns.k12.fl.us\/leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":164,"href":"https:\/\/www.stjohns.k12.fl.us\/leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101\/revisions\/164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stjohns.k12.fl.us\/leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stjohns.k12.fl.us\/leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stjohns.k12.fl.us\/leadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}