The #INeLearn hashtag is used for both asynchronous sharing and synchronous conversations. Include #INeLearn in your tweets if you want to share resources or questions with Indiana educators and school leaders. Asynchronously, the #INeLearn hashtag provides educators across the state of Indiana a central space for sharing. On Thursday evenings beginning at 8 CST/9 EST when you use the #INeLearn hashtag, you are joining a live conversation--the #INeLearn Twitter Chat. For one hour, we interact in real time having a virtual discussion.
Since we will be dissecting a popular edu-buzzword tonight, to get us started, introduce yourself to the group and share one buzzword you wish would go away. #INeLearn
Personally, I’d love to say goodbye to the phrase “guide on the side” forever. You’ve heard it… “Don’t be a sage on the stage; be the guide on the side.” I just think it minimizes the role of the teacher. We are more than guides on the side. Right?! #INeLearn
Hi there! Dianna, Technology Instructional Specialist from @ClayCommSchools checking in from tonight's local school board meeting. I'd like to abolish "digital citizenship". Isn't it just citizenship? #INeLearn
A1: innovation is having the technology not be viewed has something as a shiny object.. instead viewed as a supportive tool that add values to the learning. #INeLearn
R1: I think of innovation as the opposite of that old 'definition of insanity' - innovation is someone actually trying to solve a problem by doing something different. #INeLearn
R1: being willing to take risks that you believe will truly impact how connected students will become to their learning. Yes, sometimes it means trying something new that you heard from someone else, but it is still new to your school and your students. #RCSLearn#INeLearn
R1: being willing to take risks that you believe will truly impact how connected students will become to their learning. Yes, sometimes it means trying something new that you heard from someone else, but it is still new to your school and your students. #RCSLearn#INeLearn
Sorry I'm late. I knew I wouldn't last in HQ's art-themed night. I wish we'd call it "professional learning" instead of "professional development." #INeLearn
R1: This is something we are actively learning to develop. Currently our definitions diverge. I define it as risk taking, outside the box thinking. #INeLearn
R1: At @ValpoHS411, It's freedom to teach. Yes, we have a curriculum map, but within that framework Ts have the freedom to use whatever sources/methods/tools they feel will best serve their kids. That's how @VCS612Director pitched me in my interview. #inelearn
Lots of you sharing how innovation is about risk-taking and trying something new. That means it may not always work, right? Consider that as we move to Q2... #INeLearn
Q2: Take a stance and defend.
A) Innovation is important for our classrooms.
B) We spend too much time thinking about NEXT practice and not enough time thinking about BEST practice.
#INeLearn
Also being ok with the idea that what you try might not work. The risk with worth it though! It’s about being bold and advocating for your students through your instructional design choices. #INeLearn
Right? My district is all-in on 1:1, eDays, STEM spaces right now, none of that is new (some districts have rolled it out & packed it back up already). But let's take all that, learn from other districts'experiences, and use it as leverage for learning. #INeLearn
#INeLearn A2 I agree with A but with caution. I still think best practice trumps all if you can prove its best practice. I've found that best practice tends to align with innovation.
Q2: Take a stance and defend.
A) Innovation is important for our classrooms.
B) We spend too much time thinking about NEXT practice and not enough time thinking about BEST practice.
#INeLearn
R2: I could easily back either answer, but I'll say B, because sometimes we chase the shiny to much. New for the sake of new shouldn't replace what works well. #INeLearn
R2: BEST practice requires innovation. We never get it perfect, but innovation drives us on to higher success/better ways to deliver, grow, share. #INeLearn
Bahahaha, write it down in your diary, man.
Dear Diary,
It was a glorious day. Michele and Eddie agreed. Cats and dogs living together.
Love, Eddie
#INeLearn
Q2: Take a stance and defend.
A) Innovation is important for our classrooms.
B) We spend too much time thinking about NEXT practice and not enough time thinking about BEST practice.
#INeLearn
R2: I'd say we spend too much time thinking about a whole world of hurt before we even give NEXT a chance. Assessments/Rigor...Let alone give innovative practices a chance. #INeLearn
R2: I think both are valid and worth consideration, but I feel more strongly about B. Yes, the practice changes very rapidly, but its ok to not always be quick to change if you find something that works for your district and students. #INeLearn
R2: A. From my observations, continuing to apply historical best practice is getting our students further away from academic achievement. Even worse is that we are not preparing our students to thrive in their future. Innovation often incorporates those skills #INeLearn
This is a tough question that I didn't have an answer to when I was writing it. Innovation is scary sometimes. The idea of failing forward is tricky... failure is never really the goal. We have limited time with students and can't afford to truly fail. #INeLearn
R2: I'm a both/and guy. We want our students to learn to solve ambiguous problems, we need to give them chances to take risks and innovate. But as we all know, "new" is not necessarily = to "best". If I have to pick a side, A is true but put me in B. #inelearn
R2: That's tough. A-I am realizing that a few of our Ts are dabbling with many of the innovative concepts that have importance in the classroom, without calling it "innovation". B) It can be easy to loose sight of best prac when so many new tools are being released. #inelearn
R2: WIth ?? like these, I always remember the late, great Cindy Whalen Stergar from CIESC. who loved to say, "The responsibility of knowing is sharing." It often takes too long for best practices to reach the classroom. #INeLearn
R2b: I know that there’s a clinical definition of best practice, but I define best practice as “this is what works for my kids, this year” and it’s likely different from last year’s kids and I acknowledge that it will be different from next year’s. Innovation=adaptation #INeLearn
R2: the next best thing is exactly what we are constantly doing with PD and initiatives. We never get good at one thing. So yeah, I think B is the clunker. #INeLearn
Another thought on this: If we think about innovation as a process of iteration and not as a big event or product that may or may not work, it's less scary. #INeLearn
R2: Somewhere in middle . . . best practices are best practices . . . however, rapidly changing interests, new tech, exciting discoveries, radical ideas . . . we need to keep our objectives super clear and allow Ss to show us what they got. #INeLearn
I think that so many involved in decision making in districts are looking for the “silver bullet” to cure the ills of school. When the results don’t happen immediately, we move on to something else instead of sticking with it for a little longer. #INeLearn
That doesn't sound like best practice to me. There are tried and true strategies that are proven by research and science like Close Reading. Then we can use innovation to enhance it. #INeLearn
while we're on the category Phrases We'd Like Say Goodbye To Forever, Alex... I'd like to add Get Out of Their Way. I feel like it, too, diminishes the role of the teacher. I'm sure I'll have push back on this one.
#INeLearn R3: While it's not innovative for some, we're a few weeks from purchasing a new LMS for our district. We're taking it slow, but already see some staff changing how they run their classrooms!
R3: I'm seeing positive results with elevating the video production element of blended learning. Shaking the comfort tree seems to get the innovative juices flowing. #INeLearn
Sometimes I think we don't expect ourselves even as professional development staff to adjust and iterate. Seeing the successes and failures of a project and adjusting/moving forward. #INeLearn
I think that so many involved in decision making in districts are looking for the “silver bullet” to cure the ills of school. When the results don’t happen immediately, we move on to something else instead of sticking with it for a little longer. #INeLearn
R3: I have the honor of co-teaching our pilot course - Innovation and Open Source Learning at @LearnatRHS and, although it’s only day 2, students are already starting to give us that look that says, “hey....this IS different!” and the conversations are deepening. #INeLearn
R3: our re-launch of PLTW has been positive - especially for students who are not the "sit & get" type. The chance to be hands-on and solve problems has given a lot of my kids a different perspective on "school". #inelearn
R3: I don't feel like I'm enjoying a lot of succes right. We have a lot of "new" in our district--new devices, new LMS, new website. I feel I've talked WAY more product than practice. My goal this year is to move away from that. #inelearn
R3 Just finished reading Teach Like Finland by @timdwalk. I have already been giving my kids brain breaks for the last few years. I'm working on being extremely intentional with my breaks this year! Great Read BTW!! #INeLearn
Love that! What supports are in place to help with all that cool stuff? I feel like that's where I admittedly struggle. How to structure that learning so it's meaningful and more than just gadgets or crafts. #INeLearn
R3b: also working closely with teachers that are incorporating choice in their classrooms. Giving students choice about the path and pace has been a journey but students are starting to dig deeper and draw more personal connections to the content @Spindlepunk#INeLearn
Best thing I ever did was give up product training as professional learning. If I want them to learn a new tool, we're going to use it as learners talking about instructional practice. No more tool training. #INeLearn
R3: I don't feel like I'm enjoying a lot of succes right. We have a lot of "new" in our district--new devices, new LMS, new website. I feel I've talked WAY more product than practice. My goal this year is to move away from that. #inelearn
It’s a balance to be sure. You have to support implementation of new devices, etc to elevate fear of unknown. All the while encouraging instructional change...#ineLearn
R3: I'm spending a lot of time redefining my professional practice. Am I practicing what I preach or am I lecturing teachers about the merits of ditching the lecture and innovating? #INeLearn
Our tech coaches hit that note at our year-opening faculty meeting this morning. Last year a lot of Ts weren't sure what to do with 1:1 except make e-worksheets. This year we want to make the next step, leverage the 4Cs & let their Ss kick down some schoolhouse walls. #INeLearn
We just purchased Mystery Science for the school. It is super simple and engaging for the kids. Then we use the carts for supplies. 4th through 6th also do SLED which is endorsed through Purdue. #INeLearn
Yes, I have tried that a bit. A lot of pushback and low teacher buy in to the idea of 1:1, blended learning, etc. But I "water the flowers", continue to be positive and slowly we're making progress. #INeLearn
And I also know that's easy to say on this end of an LMS rollout. Best way to learn a language is immersion, right? Same with tech. Use it as a student. #INeLearn
Saw a lot of presenters at SOEL do exactly that this year: yeah, here's a thing, let's get you logged on and using it as a student. Cool, huh? Now, what could you do with it as a teacher? So much easier to answer that question after getting my hands dirty. #INeLearn
Haha, of course. My stance is the HOW can be learned by doing.
Also, would we be okay w teachers spending the same % of classroom instruction time teaching how to use the tech tool and not on the curriculum as we do sometimes on tool training versus pedagogy? #INeLearn
As fast as we came together, we fall apart. My opinion: Not a practical approach for everyone. Sometimes it is hard for them to understand the "why" if they don't know the "how"...
R4: In our area, the biggest barrier to innovation is lack of buy in from Ts (mostly out of fear of unknown?) and a gross apathy from many Ss. #INeLEarn
R4: “It’s too hard” or “Its not the way we have done it before.” Naysayers cause stagnation and backwards thinking. As @talkintechccs said earlier, you have to plant seeds and water those that come up. Pull the weeds when appropriate. #INeLearn
I've seen a drastic shift with our online program when we made an innovative leap in our PD. I was a big part of what was holding us back. If I won't take risks and innovate, why in the world would I expect to see transfer to the classroom? #realtalk#INeLearn
R4. Belief in oneself to actually be innovative is the biggest barrier to innovation. It is a self-imposed writer’s block of creativity and innovation. #INeLearn
Q5: What advice would you give to someone who is encountering a structural or cultural obstacle to doing something differently? #INeLearn
Or better yet, what concrete strategies could you share to help educators who feel like they can't keep up, let alone innovate?
Aye, there's the rub! I think we need to be innovative in our solutions. (I'm still working on specifics to work in our area.) And we need to never, ever give into the idea that just because our area fits a certain stereotype this is "just how it's going to be". #INeLearn
R5: The one key I try to focus on to to show these hesitant Ts how it will help them and their students out. Often they feel the use of tech is the end goal, not the outcome. #INeLearn
R5: to leadership expecting change... surround the expectations with time, resources and support. Then hold the line in witnessing change over time. #INeLearn
R5: I guess a strategy that I would use is to try things out in your room. Remember that what you are doing to be different is helping your Ss. Don’t worry about what others say. It’s not “brown nosing” by being different. It’s doing wha is best for our Ss. #INeLearn
My friends are texting me that my question is difficult to understand, HAHA.
Rephrase: Think about the barriers we shared. What advice do you have for teachers or leaders struggling to innovate? #INeLearn
#INeLearn R5: I feel like my best path is to get leader teachers on board then let them spread the narrative to their peers. It's more powerful to have them mention something in the lunchroom than me asking.
R5. Include your students in the development of innovation opportunities. It is very difficult to tell a student with an innovative idea, “no.” Let them be the wave of change. #INeLearn
R5: Flippantly, "it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission." But Xs & Os? Ask for help. First in the building, then reach out online. More than just Twitter. Blogs/google are your friend. Keep at it. It took me years of digging before I fell in w/the #MTBoS. #inelearn
R5: for educators feeling pressure to innovate. Small steps. Ask for help and ideas. Get a positive PLN. Empower your students to bring in innovative learning ideas. #INeLearn
R5 Expose new Ts to Twitter, #edtech conferences, & other places/events people are doing. Show them what's going on outside of their environment. Every time I get out of the ordinary I see great things I'm missing out on! #INeLearn
I’ve said it a million times, and I’ll say it again. Change 👏🏼 your 👏🏼 PD👏🏼Let teachers EXPERIENCE innovative practices and witness the impact as students. Best way to help. #INeLearn
Find your tribe. Find someone you can bounce ideas off of. Someone to push you when you might need it. Even with the barriers, find someone who speaks your language and make it happen. A virtual tribe counts, too! #inelearn
R5: Look for pockets of innovation to surround yourself with. If those are non-existent, find eternal "tribes" that will not only support you but challenge your thinking. Your PLN Fam is out there, keep looking. #INeLearn
R5. Include your students in the development of innovation opportunities. It is very difficult to tell a student with an innovative idea, “no.” Let them be the wave of change. #INeLearn
R5: Look for pockets of innovation to surround yourself with. If those are non-existent, find eternal "tribes" that will not only support you but challenge your thinking. Your PLN Fam is out there, keep looking. #INeLearn
R5: Look for pockets of innovation to surround yourself with. If those are non-existent, find eternal "tribes" that will not only support you but challenge your thinking. Your PLN Fam is out there, keep looking. #INeLearn
Your #PLN family will support your efforts. Reach out to them if you are feeling alone on Exile Island with your innovative practices. Also, do something outside the box and ask for forgiveness later. #INeLearn
Alright, my #inelearn people. Thanks for listening, thanks for calling. I gotta duck out a couple minutes early. The fam graciously gave me to you all for an hour on the last night before freshman orientation. Thanks @micheeaton for modding. See you all next week. Happy Friday!
Agreed! But Summer of ELearning conferences are like 20 bucks for a day! Well worth the money to get some great ideas across the state! I go back to @DonWettrick StartEd Up Podcast: "There is no they." #INeLearn
#INeLearn To @CYoungEdTech point - Students are the key in all of this. I've seen too many T's struggle with giving up control to their project-based lessons. In my experience KIDS WILL SURPASS your expectations. Every time. Give them the control. Grab the popcorn.
