#LearnLAP occurs on Mondays starting at 7pm Central Time. Guest moderators and participants discuss topics from author Paul Solarz's book Learn Like a PIRATE.
Good morning all - Sharon from Hong Kong just recently arrived to this amazing location - previously Director of Learning & Teaching in elementary school in Melbourne Australia - happy to be joining the chat #LearnLAP
A1 innovation is a new way of doing, a way to shake things up and get creative with common practices. Being creative in our thinking and breaking through our norm. #LearnLAP
A1: Finding new and more efficient ways to accomplish what we're currently doing.
My Six Sigma background is also telling me to bring up process improvement.
#Learnlap
A1: As I read others' responses, is innovation ONLY ever taking something old and adding/changing it to become new? #LearnLAP Can't it also be something that isn't working and constructing something completely different? #JustAThought
A2: I think it is innovative when a teacher is willing to step out and try new things. Reflect on what they are doing and then increase the rigor--take a step up. #LearnLAP
A2 Classrooms are innovative when they allow for space and time to explore. No cookie cutters there. Ss take part in the exploration of creation, using tools/materials to share understanding with others. The iterative process runs rampant! #LearnLAP
Hi #Learnlap! Tika, a 2nd-grade teacher from Las Vegas, jumping in. Innovation is the ability to change for the better. It is up to us as teachers to be innovative to meet the needs of our students. Their needs change daily.
A1- innovation is about making sure the thing you are innovating works the best it can for your audience, using all the tools you have and everything you've learned to make the best way to deliver it. #LearnLAP
Also, I'm Culliope, middle school enrichment, NH
#A2
You will never hear the terms "That's not how we do it" or "we have always done it this way". in an innovative classroom.
In Math, an innovative classroom means that students are speaking to their thought process, so others can learn from them.
#LearnLAP
A2 Principals who allow Ts to be creative which allows Ts to allow Ss to be creative. We must give permission and give freedom to be innovative and let people know we expect mistakes to happen along the way. #LearnLAP
A2: Risk-taking, refusing to be complacent, not only encouraging student voice and choice, but actually allowing Ss to own the learning (much like @PaulSolarz kids - definitely innovative) #LearnLAP
A2: innovation sits awkwardly at the intersection between creative approaches to new problems and previously ignored voices appropriately amplified! #LearnLAP
A2. An innovative classroom, puts students in the drivers seat. Students themselves are stakeholders of their own learning and are apart of designing their own educational process. #LearnLAP
An innovative classroom exhibits a culture of giving Ss voice, teacher as facilitator, #failforward thinking, embraces creativity, collaboration, critical thinking #LearnLAP
A2. A classroom becomes innovative when we allow our Ss to create, design , experiment, observe, make , build, and utilize their power of thinking to solve problems that apply to the everday world! #learnlap
A2 At the heart of classroom innovation is the educator - someone who is willing to bring their pedagogy into 21stC to develop a community of learners that collaborate, problem solve, investigate, explore, design & facilitates differentiated learning pathways for all #LearnLAP
A2: Continuous use of Student Input/Feedback to be used to then create something that will help different learners whether that be including more engagement or working more independently. #LearnLAP
When teachers aren't afraid to change because "when we know better, we do better". Teachers model the risk taking, the leaps of faith, and the creativity to solve problems. #LearnLAP
A2- I agree with everyone, and I think reflection and feedback from students to teachers, to each other, themselves and to the community helps us change and grow to reflect our own best practices. #LearnLAP
A2 Willingness to change. I implemented Morning Choice into the way I start every day three years ago because my Ss needed a better way to start the day. We need to always think about how we can make learning more engaging. How can we help our Ss own their learning? #learnlap
A2 Immediately a dozen things come to mind but honestly it boils down to the minds in the room & opening the possibilities open to it—blowing up the “box” & allowing the minds in the room to think and explore new ways. Kids ALWAYS amaze me in their thoughts & expression #LearnLAP
An innovative classroom exhibits a culture of giving Ss voice, teacher as facilitator, #failforward thinking, embraces creativity, collaboration, critical thinking #LearnLAP
2) innovations are not always inventions. Often they are the taking of one idea and adding to it. By being willing to grow and learn from others, our own thinking is enhanced and we can build greatness. Allow other educators in. Greatness starts from vulnerability . #LearnLAP
A2. An innovative classroom also embraces failure.
The culture of the classroom and the relationships being built are exhibit a growth mindset as they learn and grow together. #LearnLAP
3) As @burgessdave reminds us, often passion is innovation. Respond to your passions, your pedagogical passions, your content passions, or your students intersts and innovative enhancements are on the way. #Learnlap
Flip the script and lead students with a guiding question, and let them figure out the answer through project or challenge based learning. Make the learning authentic! #LearnLAP
A2: I think there is no real formula for an innovative classroom because the young minds inside are so unique & different...I feel innovation comes when classroom environment promotes &allows for wonder, curiosity, creativity, and students must own every piece of that! #LearnLAP
Morning Choice is a choice of non-academic but engaging activities for the first 10 minutes of the day. It includes checkers, Bananagrams, Jenga, Boggle, Legos, PlayDo, and Apples to Apples. They love the games, transition to academics, & metacognition. #learnlap
A3: Be willing to try something new! Ask Ss for feedback, then adjust the existing lesson to incorporate more of what the Ss want & need. Engage Ss with outside passions (both of your own & of the Ss). #LearnLAP
A3. Once solving a problem, how can we go deeper into it? Different pathways for creativity? Dfferent areas to design more problems? Think beyond the problems into the future aspects of the what if's? #learnlap
A3 Sparks of innovation can come from many sources. Open the classroom to observations to get a new point of view or take lesson plans and ask others to review with you. Pedagogical riffing can work wonders! #LearnLAP
Get Ss involved with "teaching" some of the content with modeling from the T and/or showing they know. Adopt a version of the #EdCamp model for the classroom. It all goes back to giving Ss #voice and #choice#LearnLAP
A2 Immediately a dozen things come to mind but honestly it boils down to the minds in the room & opening the possibilities open to it—blowing up the “box” & allowing the minds in the room to think and explore new ways. Kids ALWAYS amaze me in their thoughts & expression #LearnLAP
A2: Student voice makes a classroom innovative. Using student input to guide instruction and drive learning. As an educator you have to be flexible - be willing to let students to learn from each other #LearnLAP
A3: In math, ask how someone got their answer, and then ask if someone can solve using a different method.
I'd rather spend 30 minutes on multiple strategies for one problem, than the same 30 minutes on the same strategy.
#LearnLAP
A3: You have to model that risk taking and that often means failing in front of your students. This is a perfect opportunity though to reflect & ask for their guidance! #LearnLAP
Q3- I think this is about using time wisely and really looking at what doesn't seem to work and hypothesizing why. Looking to other lessons or other classrooms to find out why other things do work, and using all the tools you've got to make smart changes when needed #LearnLAP
A3b) Also throw out curriculum maps. If it's not going to take 2 weeks to teach measurement, use that for diving further into a challenging subject using alternative methods like games or videos.
#LearnLAP
A3 Find ways to provide more choice and voice. Get student feedback—like today I tried a Digital Breakout combined with a Sketchnote....worked well but kids came up with creative solutions/ideas to make it better. They knew they would be heard/valued. #LearnLAP
A3 I talk with my Ss about it. They are reflective and honest on how to make the lesson more innovative. Add a gaming feature. Blow up Dice are cheap, easy, and exciting to use. Add a QR Code to your questions. Kids love it! There are so many quick ideas. #learnlap
-How will Ss engage?
-How will Ss collaborate?
-What can Ss do independently?
-How can I increase participation/access for all?
-What are the different pathways Ss can take?
-How might Ss represent understandings in different ways?
&
-What is my role in this?
#LearnLAP
A3: Be willing to try something new! Ask Ss for feedback, then adjust the existing lesson to incorporate more of what the Ss want & need. Engage Ss with outside passions (both of your own & of the Ss). #LearnLAP
3) As @burgessdave reminds us, often passion is innovation. Respond to your passions, your pedagogical passions, your content passions, or your students intersts and innovative enhancements are on the way. #Learnlap
A4 The role of both T and S is to be a willing and eager participant in the learning adventure. Both show curiosity and open mindedness. Ss are self starters and persevere. Ts are meddlers in the middle who guide and model. #LearnLAP
A3: take a step back and loosen the grip of control wherever possible and allow S’s choice to fill the space. Sit back and watch the magic happen! #learnlap
A4: The role of the student is more engaged and encourages others to be part of the learning/experience. The teacher can take on two roles, while mainly actively supervising, providing probing questions to those who are "stuck" or reluctant. #LearnLAP
They are both the teacher and the learner. Teachers should be continually learning so their teaching continuously improves. Learners should have the chance to teach others. #LearnLAP
A4: The role of the T is to be a facilitator, ask questions and guide Ss to discovery. The role of the S is to do the work. They are the researcher, finding information & making connections. #LearnLAP
#A4: I feel like we as teachers need to drive the innovative cultures in our classrooms. Our role is to build, foster, and grow the culture.
Our students role is to help us nurture it. Be eager participants. And most importantly don't settle for the status quo.
#LearnLAP
A4: Ss should be owners of learning. Ts are the designers and facilitators providing multi faceted, relevant,to purposeful learning opportunities for Ss #LearnLAP
A4- teacher as "Guide on the side not sage on the stage". I'm there to help you learn how to learn and how to reflect on both success and failures, not be the knower of all things. #LearnLAP
A3. Once solving a problem, how can we go deeper into it? Different pathways for creativity? Dfferent areas to design more problems? Think beyond the problems into the future aspects of the what if's? #learnlap
A4: Role of the teacher: To help cultivate an innovators mindset. Encourage ideas and creativity. 🧠💪Role of student: use passions to spark ideas around creative solutions that could change the way we think, learn, and live. 💡 #LearnLAP
A4b - students are there to drive their own learning, be able to take risks and be ready to learn from success and failures. It's my job to help guide them through that process and give them ways to access this. #LearnLAP
A4 I have increasingly moved to believe that my role is that of a facilitator/coach...provide the necessary structure, environment (mental), and engagement. Then we all embark on the learning experience together—and I am never not moved by student innovation/ideas. #LearnLAP
I understand it is up to our kids to research and inquire, but we also want them to ask questions, wonder, and have purposeful discourse. Right? #learnlap
A4 Ts must find ways to reach all Ss. This means being willing and flexible to adjust what you teach and how you teach. Keep students engaged and excited to learn. Create a safe place for them to make mistakes, take risks, and ask questions. Ss- take advantage of it! #learnLAP
A4: In an innovative classroom, students are active participants in their own learning. Teachers serve as the guide creating a variety of learning experiences and facilitating feedback. #LearnLAP
A4: To make sure the innovation is actually sound and that Ss are still doing meaningful work over time that they can struggle with, learn from, and grow. #LearnLAP
A4
Teacher:
Facilitate
Challenge
Question
Support
Scaffold
Co-construct
Take a step back
Student:
Lead
Question
Take responsibility
Collaborate
Think creatively
Analyse
Problem solve
Design
Investigate
Engage
Participate
Transforming for both students & teachers
#LearnLAP
A4: The role of the student is more engaged and encourages others to be part of the learning/experience. The teacher can take on two roles, while mainly actively supervising, providing probing questions to those who are "stuck" or reluctant. #LearnLAP
A5 Make it a place that screams creativity! It has to inspire-
Let your Ss show you what inspires them and then run with it. Have al the materials out can get to allow innovation. #learnLAP
A5: Create a space where all participants (students and teachers) feel comfortable. Teachers need to feel like they can be creative/flexible. Students need to feel safe trying new ideas #LearnLAP
A5 I know flexible seating is innovative, but it is not always beneficial. Sometimes, we don't have space to rearrange furniture. I have found building a positive culture of a growth mindset, the importance of a productive struggle redesigns it in a different way. #learnlap
A5 Put Ss in the middle of the design. Supplies are at the ready and iterative work can be kept available. Allowing for plenty of time to take work through the iterative process, with a human centered approach will benenfit innovation. #LearnLAP
A5: It's not necessarily all about the "stuff" as much as "culture" and attitudes. But, see what you can repurpose, maximize what you have. Flexible workspaces, love colorful lighting, etc #LearnLAP
A5. Give Ss options where they want to work, provide different types of seating, rugs or carpeting, benches, chirs, tables, etc., and allow movement in activities, #learnlap
A5 Make it a place that screams creativity! It has to inspire-
Let your Ss show you what inspires them and then run with it. Have all the materials out that you can get to allow innovation. #learnLAP
A5: Giving manipulatives that can serve multiple purposes and giving students time to explore and create their own uses. This takes space and time for students to explore. #LearnLAP
A2: Productive novelty! Innovative thinkers, crafters, and learners need opportunities to do such in a nonlinear and creative environment. Novelty ignites the brain and opens it up to a world filled with innovative possibilities! #LearnLAP
A5 Our room (its both Ss & mine)has gone thru a redesign as the year has progressed. We have gone from desks to tables—& the setup changes depending on lesson/learning needs. My desk is up against the wall & I’ve limited my footprint— transferring more space to Ss daily #learnlap
We are in our fourth lay out of the year. My elem Ss come to me with a floor plan after a few weeks looking to make changes. They must always back it up with purpose/intent. #LearnLAP
Gotta sneak out a few min early - bedtime for the kiddos. Excellent questions @Mrs_H5th & great conversation #LearnLAP! Be sure to follow one another! Hope to see y'all in #tlap in a bit! #LearnLAP
A5- I think of my classroom as a workshop I stead of a classroom - tables, benches, coffee tables and tons of supplies. Kids move around the space using whatever they need. I also have a large group gathering area for discussion #LearnLAP
A5) From a math standpoint
A) Have manipulatives readily available.
B) Have tables set up for collaborative group work.
C) Let the students talk when they need to.
D) Be willing to put on some tunes during group work.
#LearnLAP
A4. As teachers it is our job to set the stage for innovation. How will your questioning facilitate innovation?
For students it is their job to investigate, create, and share their thinking. #LearnLAP
A6: Building relationships that are built on trust with our students. So they are comfortable with taking risks and trying new things and taking actions. Building mistakes into the classroom as solutions based instead of where learning ends. #LearnLAP
A5
Be creative
involve students
consider the different needs both of students & learning tasks
make it flexible
ensure students have sense of ownership
resource rich
engage locally & globally
inward as well as outward
make connections
Think outside the box
#LearnLAP
A3: Often we forget to take that 1 extra step... to turn the "Now what? So what?" over to Ss. Putting that in their hands always brings innovation to the lesson & content. They will take it places we could only dream of going. The trick is to give them time to do so! #LearnLAP
A6- culture, culture, culture! You HAVE to set up structures that allow for risk taking and collaboration - norms, direct instruction in taking/giving feedback, group jobs, & fun and celebration of each other. This is what allows students to feel community and innovate #LearnLAP
A6) We do Mindset Mondays in our math intervention class.
On these days we will do Number Talks, problem solving, puzzles. Things that are out of the norm
Greg Tang puzzles and Steve Wyborney Splat puzzles are some of the resources I use.
#LearnLAP
A6 I believe that this is dependent on the environment and mindset you create. Focusing on the LEARNING not grades—allowing and encouraging different approaches/product to meet the same learning target. Focusing on the target not the methods to meet it. #LearnLAP
A6: Share your own creativity 🎨⚙️ Create a “free to grow” your ideas environment 🌱 Allow students to communicate their ideas with peers. 🗣👥 #Inspire#Grow#Lead#LearnLAP
A6: Give them opportunities! Also, model for Ss. Many may not be able to be successful with a cold turkey approach. An innovative culture takes time and doesn't happen overnight #LearnLAP
A6: Building relationships that are built on trust with our students. So they are comfortable with taking risks and trying new things and taking actions. Building mistakes into the classroom as solutions based instead of where learning ends. #LearnLAP
A6 When you get to know your Ss, you can encourage and support them in trying different strategies and going after new opportunities. Number Talks and Genious Hour are great ways to encourage innovations. #learnlap
A6. In order to drive innovation, relationships are key! Ss will take risks, collaborate, and share ideas! Encouraging them to use their voice and choices, helps develop leaders with the critcal thinking skills that are used to solve everyday problems! #learnlap
A7: Teaching practices should be woven with innovation, no separated. Innovation is brought through creating engaging lessons that allow students to take ownership, self assess, and reflect! #LearnLAP
A7: In Math, teaching what the concept is and how to solve problems instead of creating experiences for students and letting them explore to discover concepts, patterns and relationships. #LearnLAP
A7) The number one thing I see that gets in the way of innovation...
Teaching to the standardized tests as opposed to focusing on the learning.
#LearnLAP
A6 It needs to be a whole school commitment all the way-it requires a commitment of educators-leaders & teachers in doing so it changes the culture to foster and promote students to be innovators, growth mindset, active participation, be risktakers, engage in learning #LearnLAP
A4: The role of an innovative T is to fuel & drive the all-inclusive bus. He/She isn't afraid to go off roading when required & isn't flustered by arriving a few mins late.
The innovative Ss decide where to go & what to do with everything they pick up along the way! #LearnLAP
A7: Our fear of failure and possible low testing outcomes may get in way of truly transforming into 100% innovative classroom. Parents need to be informed and "trained" with what this looks like. It's not how it was when they were in school. We're teaching the future #LearnLAP
A7 This is an interesting question. I have found it is more of what you don't do. Modeling, a positive culture, and building relationships are key to an innovative classroom. We have to teach today's kids and not the kids we were. #learnlap
Feeling the need to stick to the scope and sequence without deviation. When we can make the learning personal and authentic, and let the learners drive instruction, innovation can grow! #LearnLAP
A7 From my own observations in education: antiquated grading practices, fixed mindsets, OVER reliance on technology, not enough proper use of technology, and not addressing Social-Emotional Learning. I not accounting for SEL is the biggest roadblock in edu today #LearnLAP
A7. Our teaching needs to be combined with innovation at the same time! When we are teaching concept, and problem solving, designing a new pathway to teach problem solving to Ss in real world scenarios! #learnlap
A8: Innovative idea: Approach your lessons as experiences for students where they explore and discover learning instead of “passing your knowledge“ to them. #LearnLAP
A7 Not so much pedagogy more so teachers' mindset gets in the way of innovative classrooms-teachers need to go back & reflect on the why they are doing the how & what. This reflection provides the opportunity for growth in pedagogy & adapt & move forward to innovation #learnLAP
A7 A sole focus on the product. When Ss know it is only the final work that counts they do not look to push themselves. Emphasizing and reflecting upon the process including successes and missteps encourages continued growth and eagerness to accept challenges. #LearnLAP
Thanks to everyone who participated in this evening's #LearnLAP, especially @Mrs_H5th for moderating such a great chat!
Please join us next week as @SownToGrow moderates "Reflection, Self-Assessment, & Metacognition."
For now, jump on over to #tlap for more great discussion!
If you're around Twitter tomorrow at this time (Tuesday at 7-8pm Central), please join us on #5thchat as we discuss "Exploring the Benefits of Social-Emotional Learning in the Classroom!" All grades welcome!
#LearnLAP
A8: Earlier there was a question about physical spaces, and @kruevans talked about circles.
Tomorrow, with my 5th grade group, I'm going to put two kidney tables together to see how it works with our discussions around multiplying fractions.
#LearnLAP
A8- responsive classroom style middle school advisories with morning greetings run by students, picture book read alouds, group community service and reading goals/celebrations &lots of self reflection& celebrating of e/o's successes. They fuss at first, then love it #LearnLAP
A8b) As far as something innovative I've done that I can share is that in my intervention class, I had students asking for additional work to take home and practice. So, I built a website using Google Sites that they can access at home that has worksheets and games.
#LearnLAP
Thanks for participating in tonights #LearnLAP Chat! As always, it was a pleasure to moderate! Keep those innovative ideas going as we work to
transform education.
