Author: George Couros

Published September 14, 2017 by

The #InnovatorsMindset MOOC Starting September 25, 2017 #IMMOOC

change

How do you move from “pockets of innovation” to a “culture of innovation”?

How do we start to innovate inside of the box?

How do we move from “engagement” to “empowerment”?

What does innovation mean for education, and should every educator be an innovator?

These are questions that I have addressed in my book, “The Innovator’s Mindset”, and will continue to dig deeper into with the second “Innovator’s Mindset Massive Open Online Course” that will be starting again on September 28, 2017 September, 25, 2017.

The brilliant Katie Martin will be joining again to help host this experience,  but alumni from the first course will also be taking part to lead in this experience as well. Not only is this a great way to dig deeper into the content of the book, it is an amazing opportunity to create your own learning, while networking with passionate educators around the world.  We have also confirmed guests that will be joining us not only for a YouTube Live, but as well as a Twitter chat every Thursday night at 9pm EST (6pm PST), starting Thursday, September 28, 2017, led my Tara Martin and Katie Martin.

The Twitter chats (#IMMOOC) are on the following dates:

September 28, 2017 9pm EST
October 5, 2017 9pm EST
October 12, 2017 9pm EST
October 19, 2017 9pm EST
October 26, 2017 9pm EST
November 2, 2017 9pm EST

We are also extremely excited to bring on some awesome guests for this experience that will share their own experiences and work, to open up the learning past the book.

The guests and the times are as follows:

UPDATE:

Jo Boaler, Professor of Mathematics Education at Stanford University, and the faculty director of youcubed, and author of the amazing book, “Mathematical Mindsets“, will join us to kick off the course on September 25, 8pm EST (5pm PST).

Session Topics Time Guests
1 Introduction and 

Part 1: Innovation in Education

 October 4, 7 PM EST Alice Keeler
2 Interview with Katie and Tara October 10, 8pm EST Tara Martin and Katie Martin
3 Part 2:  Laying the Groundwork October 18, 8pm EST Patrick Larkin
4 Part 3: Unleashing Talent October 24, 8pm EST Dwight Carter
5 Part 4: Concluding Thoughts November 1, 8pm EST Kayla Delzer

If you are interested in joining, please do the following:

  1. Buy a copy of “The Innovator’s Mindset“. We will have a “selfie challenge” coming soon so get your book as soon as you can so you can win a prize for our draw.
  2. Sign up for the course (also listed below).
  3. Get your blog ready to go! (I suggest either edublogs.org or wordpress.com)
  4. Share that you are joining to the #IMMOOC hashtag on Twitter and share this link for others to sign up.
  5. Join the Facebook group.

If you miss the original YouTube Live session, you will be able to watch the recorded version or listen to the podcast.

There are some districts and teams joining this #IMMOOC, so I would suggest that if you want to build a sub-group through Twitter, you would use something like #IMMOOCTVDSB (TVDSB – Thames Valley District School Board) if you want to make your own connections.  If you are interested in getting bulk orders for your team (orders over 10), please connect with me directly.

We look forward to having so many great people join this process and delving deeper into the importance of innovation in education.

#IMMOOC3

alice keeler dwight carter innovation in education Innovator's Mindset jo boaler katie martin kayla delzer patrick larkin tara martin

Published April 1, 2017 by

#IMMOOC Live Episode 6 (Final) and Blog Prompts

This is it.

The end of the road for this amazing experience.

I really want to thank all of the people that have contributed for participating, as well as our guests for joining in. A HUGE thank you to Tara Martin, Valerie Zemaitis, and Katie Martin, for their leadership roles in this process.  This made it insanely easy for me to put this together, and I believe that their contributions made it a better experience for participants.  I never once had to ask them to do something; they were on the ball. What a great reminder about the importance of finding great people to lead.

On our final episode of #IMMOOC Live, we will have administrators, Joe Sanfelippo and Tony Sinanis.  These two are amazing leaders in education, and their latest book, “Hacking Leadership“, is an awesome book that shares the wisdom of their respective communities.  Just a note, the time has changed to happen at 8pm EST, on Monday, April 3.

For this week, we are going to make it easy.

  1. Blog about the impact of the process, and/or, book.  We want to hear your thoughts.
  2. Take part in the final #IMMOOC chat on Wednesday at 9pm EST.
  3. Go out of your way to comment on as many other #IMMOOC’er blog posts this week.

I am hoping this was as great an experience for you, as it was for me.  It would mean the world to me if you would recommend the book to others as well if you found it valuable.

I believe the following deeply.

Thank you for not only embracing it, but creating it along this journey.

Sincerely,
George Couros

#IMMOOC2 Blog Prompts

Innovative teaching and learning Innovator's Mindset Joe Sanfelippo and Tony Sinanis katie martin

Published March 25, 2017 by

#IMMOOC Live Episode 5 and Blog Prompts

We are coming into the last two weeks of #IMMOOC, and I am sad that this process is coming to an end.

sad no angry will ferrell anchorman GIF

The posts have been awesome and I hope the book has pushed your thinking.

We are lucky to have Beth Houf and Shelley Burgess, authors of the new book, “Lead Like a Pirate“, joining us for the 2nd last YouTube Live session. We will talking about their new book, and the Part IV of “The Innovator’s Mindset“.  We will also be taking viewer questions, so join us live on Twitter and tweet your thoughts and questions to the #IMMOOC hashtag.

You can watch live on Sunday, March 26th, at 8pm EST.  The link will be below:

Weekly Blog Prompts

screen-shot-2016-10-15-at-1-39-35-pm

How might we measure the impact of innovative practices in education?  How do you know you are headed in the right direction?

What is one way that blogging has changed your practice or thinking?

Write about one other #IMMOOC’ers blog post from the process. Talk about what resonated with you and link back to their post.

Week 5 “To-Do”

  1. Read Part 4 (Chapters 13-14) of “The Innovator’s Mindset”.
  2. Blog about one of the prompts but try illustrating your learning and bringing it to life with animated GIFS (try to have some fun with this). Using giphy.com will help out.
  3. Participate in the Twitter chat on Wednesday at 9pm EST. (Check the #IMMOOC hashtag to do this)

I want to lessen the load this week so that people can go deep and really think about this process.

Next week will be the last week and we want you thinking about how this has changed or impacted your process.

We look forward to your sharing and joining us soon!

#IMMOOC2

beth houf Innovator's Mindset lead like a pirate shelley burgess

Published March 19, 2017 by

#IMMOOC Live Episode 4 and Blog Prompts

I cannot believe that we are already on the fourth week of the process, and I am even more floored by the learning that is shared by all of you.  Networks are not only a source of knowledge, but they are a source of inspiration. Continue to be that inspiration for one another by sharing your learning; it makes a difference.

This week, we are pleased to connect with soon-t0-be author, Jennifer Casa-Todd, an educator from Ontario, Canada.  We will be talking about her upcoming book, as well as some of the current work that is happening in her role.  There is a slight shift in the original time of the YouTube Live session, and we will be going at 730 PM EST  on Monday, March 20.  Please join us for the live chat, so that you can tweet with the #IMMOOC community and share your questions with us.

Weekly Blog Prompts

Amazing learning shared last week in the three blog post project.  I am going to continue to add a Facebook post so you can share on Twitter as well as there. It is a beautiful way to aggregate our learning.  Here are some of the prompts for this week.  Try to do two posts this week; one longer one, and one shorter one.

 

compliance-does-not-foster-innovation

  1. What examples of strengths-based leadership from the Innovator’s Mindset resonate with you? How might you focus on strengths to unleash talent and foster innovation in your own context?

8-things-to-look-for-in-todays-classroom-badura

2, What elements of the “8 Things to Look For in Today’s Classrooms” exist in your professional learning? What elements are lacking?

3. Choose one of the “foundations for innovation” above…Talk about how you are furthering that in your own settings.  Give concrete examples that others can use.

For the extra challenge, write a post with another participant from #IMMOOC (or even someone that is not in the program). Share that to the #IMMOOCBB hashtag (BB = Blog Buddy).  Thanks for the idea Matt Arend!

Week 4 “To-Do”

  1. Read Part 3 (Chapters 8-11) of “The Innovator’s Mindset”.
  2. Blog and “Blog Buddy challenge, as listed above.
  3. Post a twitter video to #IMMOOC this week and reflect on one takeaway from the 5 chapters (or topic of your choice). This is a great way for people to “see” the other participants.
  4. Participate in the Twitter chat on Wednesday at 9pm EST. (Check the #IMMOOC hashtag to do this)

Again, thank you for not only participating but contributing.  Adding to the process is where you will get the most out of it for the future.

 

#IMMOOC2 Blog Prompts

#IMMOOC innovation in education Innovator's Mindset jennifer casa katie martin matt arend

Published March 12, 2017 by

#IMMOOC Live Episode 3 and Blog Prompts

Thank you for another great week of sharing and learning through the #IMMOOC community.  I have been inspired by the connections that have been made through this process.  We are better together in this process, and in education in general.

We are lucky to have two great principals from the state of Texas. Amber Teamann and Matt Arend are visionary leaders in their work, and we will talk to them about their experience and learning, and we look forward to them discussing elements of Part 2 of “The Innovator’s Mindset“.  Check below for the YouTube Live session happening tomorrow (March 12, 2017) at 8pm EST.

Weekly Blog Prompts

This week, we are going to try a little something different for the blog challenge.  I encourage you to write 3 blog posts on the topics below, but keep them under 200 words. In fact, if you want to use visuals, video, or whatever, that works, but we are looking for short posts.  We want people to try “short blogging”; not everything has to be a college essay, and this might encourage people to write with more consistency by switching it up.  If you write over 200 words, it is totally fine, but try for the 3.

After you post, share out your blog posts using the hashtag #IMMOOC, plus #IMMOOCB1 for the first one, #IMMOOCB2 for the second, and #IMMOOCB3 for the third post.  This way, we will have an idea of how many people completed the challenge.

 

Here are five prompts, but please feel free to modify, or do something totally different.

  1. How do you create or build on these conditions to support innovation? What has been the impact on those you serve?

 

2. What are your connections to the “School vs Learning image? What would you add or modify?

3. Which “what if” question challenges your thinking in the Innovator’s Mindset? What would you add to the list of what ifs?

4. Share some of your best ideas for building relationships and a culture of trust in your position?

5. Discuss your “vision” for education (this can be used as an “educational philosophy” statement at a later date so this might be a nice little push).

6. Your choice.

Week 3 “To-Do”

  1. Read Part 2 (Chapters 4-7) of “The Innovator’s Mindset”.
  2. “3 Short Blog” Challenge as listed above.
  3. Comment to three other blog posts from participants this week.
  4. Participate in the Twitter chat on Wednesday at 9pm EST. (Check the #IMMOOC hashtag to do this)

We lessened the “to-d0” list so people can really try to focus on posting consistently.

I hope that you are enjoying this experience as much as I am. It is amazing the amount of learning people do on their own time just to get better.  Thank you for the inspiration you provide to myself, and so many others.

Have a great week!

#IMMOOC2 Blog Prompts

#IMMOOC 3 short blog amber teamann innovation in education Innovator's Mindset matt arend matt arend is a legend matthew arend

Published March 4, 2017 by

#IMMOOC Live 2 and Blog Prompts

First of all, I just want to acknowledge how amazing the participant contributions were from the first week. The first IMMOOC was a great experience, but this one has started powerful right from the beginning.  We have focused on keeping the experience shorter and being in fewer spaces, which we hoped would help, but the turnout has been amazing. We hope you can keep it up!  Please consider finding a “buddy” to keep you accountable to blogging.  Several people in the group have done so and I know it is of benefit when you are getting started.

This week, we are so pumped to welcome Sarah Thomas to the YouTube Live session.  Although Sarah is currently working on her dissertation, she carved some time out for us and we will learn more about her work and EduMatch.  Please join us tomorrow  (March 5, 2017), at 8pm EST on the link provided below (will be updated).

Here are the “Blog Prompts” for the week:

Blog Prompts (Week 2)

  1. In Chapter 1, innovation is defined as a way of thinking that creates something new and better. What are some examples that you consider innovative?  How is it new and better than what previously existed?Image result for innovators mindset

2. Review the “Critical Questions for Educators” in Chapter 2.  Why are these important to understand those we serve in education?  What other questions would you ask?

3. Discuss one of the “characteristics of the Innovator’s Mindset” below in a give an example of how you exemplify this in your work (teaching or leading).

 

 

 

Here is the “To-Do” list for week 2:

Week 2 “To-Do”

  1. Read Part 1 (Chapters 1-3) of “The Innovator’s Mindset”.
  2. Blog on your thoughts on part 1 and share to #IMMOOC hashtag and Facebook group.  If you are able to finish by Thursday, March 9, you may be highlighted in the blog.
  3. Comment to three other blog posts from participants this week.
  4. Participate in the Twitter chat on Wednesday at 9pm EST. (Check the #IMMOOC hashtag to do this)
  5. Share a blog from another #IMMOOC’er to either the #IMMOOC hashtag on Twitter, or the Facebook group page. Try to share someone that you just connected with through this experience and share what resonated with you.
  6. Create an image of a quote from either the book, or from a participant blog post (please use proper attribution).  If you are interested in trying this, check out canva.com.  Please share it to either the #IMMOOC hashtag and Facebook group.

I am looking forward to seeing what is shared this week.  If anything, let’s grow this community!  I hope you are enjoying the book, and more importantly, the learning from one another.

Have a great week!

 

#IMMOOC2 Blog Prompts

#IMMOOC innovation in education Innovator's Mindset sarah thomas

Published February 27, 2017 by

#IMMOOC Live Episode 1 and Blog Prompts

First of all, I want to apologize for the mix up on the dates for the first event. We will be live on February 27th, 2017 at 8pm EST with AJ Juliani and John Spencer.  We will be talking about their book as well, “Launch“, which is a wonderful compliment to “The Innovator’s Mindset“.  To find the YouTube Live session, just bookmark this page and it will be hosted below.

If you miss it, do not worry, because it will be recorded on YouTube (link will still be on this post) and we will also post as a podcast. It is always great if you can watch live as we look for questions from the #IMMOOC Hashtag, but you can also ask questions ahead of time on this form.

Every week, we encourage you to blog about topics from the chapters so you can make your own connections to the content.  Please share these to the #IMMOOC hashtag on Twitter, or on the Facebook group, or both.  What I encourage is that you write one post a week, and comment on three others from the group.  People appreciate knowing that someone is reading and commenting.  If you want to take it even a step further, take someone’s post, pull out a section, link and reference it, and make your own connections. I find what inspires me the most to blog is reading other people’s blogs, and you can see the connection I made to Sheila Vick’s (who participated in the first IMMOOC round and is still blogging strong) post in my most recent blog.

Here are some prompts for the first week (please feel free to use the images in your own post):

Blog Prompts (Week 1)

  1. What do you see as the purpose of education?  Why might innovation be crucial in education?screen-shot-2016-09-17-at-12-38-27-pm
  2. “Change is an opportunity to do something amazing.”  How are you embracing change to spur innovation in your own context?change

3. If you started a school from scratch, what would you see as necessary, and what would you take out from what we currently do?

4. Your choice from the book on the YouTube Live session.

To make it easier, here is a checklist of things to do this week.

Week 1 “To-Do”

  1. Read the Introduction of “The Innovator’s Mindset” (We start off the week with light reading)
  2. Blog on your thoughts on the Introduction and share to #IMMOOC hashtag and Facebook group.  If you are able to finish by Thursday, March 2, you may be highlighted in the blog.
  3. Comment to three other blog posts from participants this week.
  4. Participate in the Twitter chat on Wednesday at 9pm EST. (Check the #IMMOOC hashtag to do this)
  5. If you have not shared your selfie to the #IMMOOC hashtag do so soon as we will announce winners on March 5.

We all understand that people are busy and that you might not be able to do all of the above, so it is important for you to pick what is important. I will tell you this from my own experience of participating in the past, as well as leading this, the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

I look forward to learning from you and other this week. Thanks for your participation!

Sincerely,
George Couros

#IMMOOC2 Blog Prompts

aj juliani john spencer part 1 sheila vick start a school from scratch

Published February 21, 2017 by

Developing “The Innovator’s Mindset” #IMMOOC

With over 1000 participants already signed up for the second round of #IMMOOC, we are getting really excited for the community that is currently being developed.

If you haven’t already signed up, please do the following to join, and do not forget to participate in the #IMMOOC Selfie-Challenge for the opportunity to win some books from Dave Burgess Consulting. Here are the following steps to join:

  1. Sign up for the #IMMOOC mailing list if you have not already joined.
  2. Tweet a selfie of you holding the book “The Innovator’s Mindset” to the #IMMOOC hashtag (Kindle version or Paperback).
  3. Fill in this form to finalize your entry.
  4. You can enter twice if you post to your own personal Facebook with the #IMMOOC hashtag as well (you will need to fill out the entry with a link to your Facebook post as well).

As a primer, I encourage you to watch this video on “Developing the Innovator’s Mindset” and how it connects to artistry.

We look forward to starting soon and thank you for taking the time to join. Please get those blogs ready to go to share your ideas, and encourage others to join this awesome opportunity!

George

#IMMOOC2

Published February 15, 2017 by

#IMMOOC Selfie Giveaway #InnovatorsMindset

We really appreciate all of the people who have signed up for the #IMMOOC and as show of appreciation, Dave Burgess Consulting will be giving away some prizes.

You will have the opportunity  3 books of your choice from the Dave Burgess Consulting library, so if you want to be entered, please do the following:

  1. Sign up for the #IMMOOC mailing list if you have not already joined.
  2. Tweet a selfie of you holding the book “The Innovator’s Mindset” to the #IMMOOC hashtag (Kindle version or Paperback).
  3. Fill in this form to finalize your entry.
  4. You can enter twice if you post to your own personal Facebook with the #IMMOOC hashtag as well (you will need to fill out the entry with a link to your Facebook post as well).

There will be 10 prizes given away and we will be making the draw on March 5, 2017, so you have until then to enter.  Winners will be announced on immooc.org soon after that date.

Thank you for entering! We look forward to your selfies 🙂

screen-shot-2016-09-11-at-8-11-43-pm

#IMMOOC2

dave burgess selfie-giveaway

Published February 11, 2017 by

The #InnovatorsMindset MOOC Starting February 27, 2017 #IMMOOC

change

How do you move from “pockets of innovation” to a “culture of innovation”?

How do we start to innovate inside of the box?

What does innovation mean for education, and should every educator be an innovator?

These are questions that I have addressed in my book, “The Innovator’s Mindset”, and will continue to dig deeper into with the second “Innovator’s Mindset Massive Open Online Course” that will be starting again on February 27, 2017.

The brilliant Katie Martin will be joining again to help host this experience,  but alumni from the first course will also be taking part to lead in this experience as well.  Not only is this a great way to dig deeper into the content of the book, it is an amazing opportunity to create your own learning, while networking with passionate educators around the world.  We have also confirmed guests that will be joining us not only for a YouTube Live, but as well as a Twitter chat every Wednesday night at 9pm EST (6pm PST).  

We are also extremely excited to bring on some awesome guests for this experience that will share their own experiences and work, to open up the learning past the book.

The guests and the times are as follows:

Actual Date Topic Guests Twitter Chat
February 27, 8pm EST Introduction AJ Juliani and John Spencer March 1, 9pm EST
March 5, 8pm EST Part 1: Innovation in Education Sarah Thomas March 8, 9pm EST
March 12, 8pm EST Part 2:  Laying the Groundwork Amber Teamann and Matt Arend March 15, 9pm EST
March 20, 8pm EST Part 3: Unleashing Talent Jennifer Casa-Todd March 22, 9pm EST
March 26, 8pm EST Part 4: Concluding Thoughts To be announced March 29,

9pm EST


If you miss the original YouTube Live session, you will be able to watch the recorded version or listen to the podcast.

If you are interested in joining, please do the following:

  1. Buy a copy of “The Innovator’s Mindset“. We will have a “selfie challenge” coming soon so get your book as soon as you can so you can win a prize for our draw.
  2. Sign up for the course (also listed below).
  3. Get your blog ready to go! (I suggest either edublogs.org or wordpress.com)
  4. Share that you are joining to the #IMMOOC hashtag on Twitter and share this link for others to sign up.
  5. Join the Facebook group.

The great thing about the first IMMOOC, was participants created their own spaces to share as well. This is not limited to the groups that we are using above, so if you are interested in making your own spaces, please feel free to do so.

We look forward to having so many great people join this process and delving deeper into the importance of innovation in education.

Join #IMMOOC!

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#IMMOOC2 #InnovatorsMindsetMOOC

#IMMOOC #IMMOOC2 amber teamann Innovator's Mindset jennifer casa-todd katie martin matt arend sarah thomas