Category: Tips for the MOOC

You are invited to join the end of the year Learner-Centered Innovation book study!

About Learner-Centered Innovation

What if education could be better–for students and for educators?

Our changing world demands creative thinkers and collaborative problem solvers, but too often, schools stifle growth and discovery in favor of getting through the curriculum or preparing for “the test.” Learning opportunities and teaching methods must evolve to match the ever-changing needs of today’s learners. When we tell learners to complete an assignment, we get compliance. When we empower learners to explore and learn how to make an impact on the world, we inspire problem solvers and innovators. This required change in education involves more than providing training for administrators and teachers to implement new curriculum or programs and resources; it demands that we, as teachers and leaders, create an environment where learners at every level are empowered to take risks in pursuit of learning and growth rather than perfection.

This book is for you if you are wondering . . .

  • What if learners were valued for their diverse talents and not just our traditional model of “smart”?
  • What if I could create new and better experiences for those I serve?
  • What if I could inspire students to learn, to discover their passions, and to share their ideas with the world?

This is an opportunity to connect, share and learn with educators in your own schools, districts and around the world.  As the year winds down I’m hoping that you will be inspired to maximize time with learners and create experiences that ignite passion, spark curiosity and unleash genius.

Join the Book Study

Here are 3 ways you can participate or please feel free to create your own version that works for you and your colleagues!

#1: Twitter Chat

I will host a Twitter chat to discuss key insights, reflections and most importantly for you to share your ideas and questions!  We will go through one part of the book each week.

Here is the schedule:

  • May 8- What If? + Part 1
  • May 15- Part 2
  • May 22- Part 3

Each week we will review key topics related to each part of the book. I’ll also encourage people to post their own questions and reflect and share their ideas and examples in blogs, images or other ways that support your learning process.

#2: Face-to-Face Book Club

Book clubs are better with friends! Create your own Learner-Centered Innovation Book Club with colleagues from school, friends across your district or across the world (if you are interested in bulk orders, please email paige@impressbooks.org). Sign up here to get a copy of the Learner-Centered Innovation Conversation Guide to support you as you facilitate your book study.

#3: Facebook

I’ll post a video prompt each week on Sunday in the IMMOOC Facebook group (if you aren’t a member you can join here) and you can post your own reflections or blogs to share your thoughts at a time that is most convenient for you.

Whether you choose all or one of the book club options, make sure you use #LCInnovation on social to connect with other educators and learn together.

I look forward to the opportunity to connect and learn with all of you!

Best,

Katie

LCI Book Study Tips for the MOOC

As people are joining #IMOOC, many of them are starting their first blog, are starting to blog again, or are using their space to blog for this learning opportunity.  If you are starting your first blog, I would suggest something like wordpress.com or edublogs.org.  Both are free, but the paid options are definitely worth it in my opinion.  I am also a big fan of edublogs as you can tweet @SueWaters or @edublogs at any point if you need help, and they seem to show up like Batman in the night.  Blogger and other options are great, but I am personally partial to blogs that are wordpress based.

Here are some quick ideas for when you are blogging for #IMMOOC:

  1. Put the hashtag #IMMOOC in the title. This way, when others share your post, it is shared to the hashtag.
  2. Do not feel you have to write a college thesis.  Short posts and reflections can just be as valuable as long ones.
  3. Using media is awesome…Embedding things like YouTube, images from Instagram, or compiled tweets from storify, can also tell a powerful story. You do not need to be a “writer” to share your thoughts.
  4. When you tag your posts, use your own name in the tags.  This will help bump your blog up in the google results when people search your name.  The more you blog and tag your own name in the blog, the more likely when people search for your name later, they will find your space.  You will thank me later 🙂

Here is the last tip that I have, and it is an important one…

Read each other’s blogs and find time to comment.  There are some reasons behind this:

  1. It makes everyone smarter.
  2. It encourages people to keep going…many stop because they feel no one is reading their blog posts.
  3. It builds community.

I was asked the question today…How do you blog so much?  Quick answer is because I read a ton of other people’s blogs.  Personally I need to get better at commenting more, but I definitely try to share all of the great blogs that I read on a daily basis.

Hope that helps!!!  Looking forward to adding YOUR blogs to my feed!

P.S.  If you have a blog or are about to start a blog, add it to this google form.  I will take the spreadsheet and share it publicly on this space so that others have access as well.

Tips for the MOOC