To implement some innovation in our school system, we should build a culture in the school that includes collaborations, risk tacking, and a growth mindset.
We should be comfortable with being uncomfortable - obstacles appear when trying some new method, but this is normal.
To motivate self-growth, whether in school, at the gym, or your job, it’s best when you experience immediate gratification. If you loved an improv class, likely you’ll come back again. But the path to self-growth often involves short-term discomfort in the service of long-term gains. After trying it a few times, you might only learn to love your class, workout, or a new job. When people can positively spin otherwise negative cues—reappraise their discomfort as a sign of achievement—those cues become more motivating.
We as teachers need to move away from the traditional "stand and deliver" teaching model to that of the "guide on the side" teaching model. We need to start thinking of ourselves as co-learners rather than teachers. Teachers who "stand and deliver" tell and show students rather than involve them. Co-learning with students involves them in the learning process, and they are more likely to learn the information rather than just remembering it or, even worse, forgetting it.
My goal is NOT to show my students how much I know; instead, my goal is for my students to show me how much they know! As a co-learner, I strive to give my students the confidence and learning tools that they will need to answer their own questions and solve their own problems independently. The way how you learn the new material is laid by making mistakes. Let your students correct you, and they can assist you -it is a new way of learning. To create a "community of practice,” I tell my students that I don't have all the answers, but I will support them in finding the solutions. This creates a comfortable learning environment for my students to harness their inquiry by exploring responses to their own questions.
References
EdCan Network Le Réseau ÉdCan. (2016, May 19). Innovation That Sticks Case Study – OCSB: Risk Taking. YouTube. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAMcjUzdVnE
La Ferrière, L., Puentedura, R., & Fullan, M. (2016, May). Case Study Report – Ottawa Catholic School Board. EdCan Network. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.edcan.ca/wp-content/uploads/cea_ocsb_innovation_report.pdf
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