Reflection #2: "The Innovators Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity"

As I continue my journey through “The Innovators Mindset," it becomes increasingly clear that great teachers push education to its limit. These limits can cause slight unease from time to time with administration officials. If the students are always first in the educators mind, the educator cannot do wrong. Couros gives an example of a teacher using Facebook with students’ parents as a communication tool. Assignments and in-class projects were uploaded and shared with each students parents. This is not technically applicable to all classroom settings, however in this case it gave parents a strong connection to the classroom and teacher. They were able to physically see their children progress and receive feedback directly from the teacher. 

When an educator goes above and beyond to stimulate innovation in the classroom, other teachers feel pressured to make large changes in their own classrooms. This discomfort often entices administration to halt the growth and improvement of innovative teachers. The teacher who was using Facebook to communicate with parents was eventually forced to stop using this tool. Parents expressed many positive opinions on the use of Facebook as a tool and were unhappy when it was discontinued. Shouldn't parents have a say? Teachers should not be penalized for being innovative. Other teachers should want to continue to improve throughout their career.

Couros also makes a very strong point on how important networking is. He says that networks are imperative to growth and innovation. I have started to see networking play a role as I prepare for my senior year at The Pennsylvania State University. I have had many opportunities to meet educators from around the country and also around the world. There will be many more opportunities in the upcoming year and even more in the future for a matter of fact. The agricultural education family is made of great innovators that are eager to share their ideas and strategies with other educators, especially new teachers. It is easy for teachers to become complacent in their programs when they do not see what other agriculture teachers are doing in and outside the classroom. It is important that we as educators continue to network and learn from others in the profession. If we do not continue to improve our programs, the education of our students will suffer. We need to take pride in our work and produce the best future leaders possible.

“The Innovators Mindset" has reinforced many key concepts that I have learned over the past year. The examples provided by Couros has also given me many more ideas that I can take into the classroom. As I continue through “The Innovators Mindset,” I will continue to take notes and bank some genius ideas.