Post Grad: Session 9 - Innvations

 Being Innovative and Reflective

Whakataukī

He toi whakairo, he mana tangata

Where there is creative expression, there is human dignity.

How we express ourselves in any way, not limited to carving or art.

Insights

How have you been innovative so far in your learning journey?

Teachers must reflect on what they are doing. If they do not, they are not considering ways ot improve their practice.

Dewey introduced us to reflecting on what we are doing in the class. Schön then named it reflective practice. He looked at teachers doing this continuously on what is or isn't working and on experiences both as teachers and those provided for students.

Or you could use the Spiral of Inquiry

Ways to be Reflective include: Reflective Journals, Peer Observations and Student Feedback (Student Voice).

• Reflective Journals allow teachers to record observations, thoughts and feedback. Capturing immediate thoughts and insights they have. 
• Peer Observations give teachers feedback from colleagues who did the observation and can offer a new perspective.
• Student Feedback can be gathered through questionnaires or informal conversations and gives students' point of view of the teaching environment and methods used.

Reflective Teaching fosters

1. Enhanced teaching quality 
2. Culture of professional development

Reflection is not my favourite thing, especially about myself. However, I do reflect and ask 'Why didn't that work? How can I make it better for my students?'

Innovative Practice - are others looking at what you are doing and wanting to adopt?

If it is new for you and your class/school, then it could be defined as innovative. Even if someone else has done it before. 

This video talks about it being new and valuable. New by itself is invention; valuable alone is optimisation. Together = innovation, and then you have to bring it to the people. 

-Hives. (2020, May 22). Acting on Innovation S01E01  What is Innovation? [Video]. YouTube.

https://youtu.be/MTK7RCKnmzI   

Takeaways

Instead of asking 'Am I Innovative?', ask 'How innovative am I?'

If knowledge is a verb rather than a noun, as in something we can acquire. Does that mean innovation should be a verb too, something we do?

My Choice was: Experimenting, Exploring, Modifying, Visioning

Reflection

What opportunities for innovation do you see in your educational practice?

How do we ensure our innovation is culturally sustaining?