Recently I have been reading (well, listening to - I do a lot of Audible books!) Innovator's Mindset by George Couros. I heard Mr. Couros speak last summer and his thoughts were part of what started my thought process of pursuing a masters degree. I started reading his blog shortly after meeting him and followed him on Twitter as well. In both his book and his blog posts he talks about collaboration and sharing among educators. He discusses the classroom teacher and the school teacher. The classroom teacher always tries to do what is best for his or her students in the classroom. The school teacher considers everyone in their school an extension of their classroom and relishes in creating relationships with as many as possible. The school teacher is willing to share ideas and lessons with others in order to help everyone. They are also willing to ask for assistance and ideas on how to improve upon what they are learning. Couros points out that creative and innovative minds tend to thrive when they are together. He uses New York City, Nashville, and Silicon Valley as examples of physical areas where innovation thrives because many people in the same area are discussing ideas and collaborating creatively.
As educators and leaders, we have a duty to our students to do what is best for their learning and this includes working together. Contributing our ideas and listening to ideas that may be different from ours with an open mind is imperative for our students' well being. In order to do this, we need to know how to communicate respectfully and productively. Whether our discussions are face-to-face, via phone, or social media we must strive to maintain professionalism in our quest for improvement.
Couros, G. (2015). The Innovators Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity. San Diego, CA: Dave Burgess Consulting.
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