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The Innovators Mindset Reflection

Submitted by: Anna Vitale

Submitted to: Mandy Froehlich

Educational Leadership 325
University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh
2016 Spring Semester

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George Couros and his work in, The Innovators Mindset has opened my eyes to
technology in the classroom but also for teachers and networking. This book is a great
tool for teachers who are new to technology or who may need a deeper explanation as to
why innovation is so important today. Couros begins by telling his readers what
innovation is and what it is not. He shares what makes an innovator and taking simple
steps to reach innovation.
After reading, The Innovators Mindset my mind has opened to the idea of what
innovation is, the importance of technology, and how to use technology to its full
potential. Before reading this book, I thought innovation was creating something new.
After, I was able to broaden my own definition of innovation into taking something that
is already implemented or created and making changes so it is a new and improved idea. I
was able to branch off of my own definition with the help of George and his example of
defining it. To George, innovation creates something new and better (Couros, 2015).
He also shares that if something, does not meet the idea of new and better, it is not
innovative (Couros, 2015). I agree that if something is taken and changes are not made,
then it is not innovated or made better. As a future teacher, I must have growth mindset to
be innovative and believe that abilities, intelligence, and talents can be developed
(Couros, 2015). If I am a teacher with fixed mindset, how will I be able to grow and give
my students the support to grow? In order to be innovative, I must have growth mindset.
In todays world, innovation is becoming extremely important in the classroom
either with technology or changing the way you are teaching. Innovation is also essential
in order to give students the ultimate learning experience. It is important to be an
innovative teacher, lessons can be made better and ideas can be more outside of the box.

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As a teacher, if I am changing things to make them better and broaden my ideas, it will
allow my students to feel safe to also change their thinking and ability to innovate. In his
book, Couros shares the 8 Characteristics of the Innovators Mindset, which are;
empathetic, problem finders/solvers, risk takers, networked, observant, creators, resilient,
and reflective. If teachers carry out these characteristics, it will create a safe environment
for students to follow in the teachers footsteps, which will create a classroom full of
innovators. By being an innovative teacher, my lessons can be differentiated and
tweaked. Technology is a perfect tool to differentiate instruction as well as give students
more responsibility. Individual devices allow students to work on an assignment on their
own pace, but also give them the responsibility to use the device to its full potential.
Using technology for lessons such as Smart Boards allows the whole class to be involved
and can lead to interactive activities.
George has written a book that has given me more ahas and takeaways than any
other book I have read in college. He shares his views, shares with us his own personal
experiences, as well as gives us real world examples of innovation and the use of
technology in the classroom. A simple note he made in his book was a big takeaway for
me. George simply says, first and foremost, if we want innovative students, we will
need innovative educators (Couros, 2015). It is that simple. If I want my students to be
innovators and have growth mindset, I must contain the traits of an innovator. Another
takeaway came from a simple question, as a teacher, you need to ask yourself if you
would like to be a student in your classroom (Couros, 2015). One of the many jobs a
teacher has is to follow state standards. In order to meet those standards, students must be
involved and learning. A way to do that is to provide students with options, being open to

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the use of technology and expanding it, and finding student hobbies and passions.
Creating an interactive and personal lesson, students will make connections and will have
the power and responsibility to make choices in their learning.
The Innovators Mindset can be related to other class activities and readings.
George discussed the importance of technology and the use of it in the classroom.
Technology is important, but educators must be smart when using it and creating a
positive digital footprint. This relates to the articles we read in class about what a digital
footprint is and the importance of a maintaining a positive digital footprint. I learned just
how important it is to keep a positive digital footprint after hearing a group present about
new teachers not getting hired due to their negative digital footprint. The Innovators
Mindset and technology can also relate to our Mobile Learning Projects. My project
focused on the use of mobile devices in the class, which is a new and innovative way for
students to learn, research, and take informal assessments. The use of mobile devices is a
new idea and just starting to become popular. Teachers who have implemented the use of
mobile devices in the classroom have growth mindset because they believe it has a
positive purpose in their students learning experience. Instead of teachers giving a
physical informal assessment on paper, these teachers created a new innovative approach
to assess by using an app such as Kahoot! to document student growth.
The message in The innovators Mindset and George Couros has given me a new
perspective on how teaching should be approached and the importance of being
innovative. Being a Dual major I understand that all students are different, learn
differently, and need different services or assistive technology in order to have a solid
learning experience. I can take away that all students do not want to be assessed in the

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same way. I now understand that by giving students the choice of how they can be
assessed can lead to new ideas and out of the boxing thinking in order to reach rubric
expectations. I can also take away that technology does not have to be a bad or scary
thing in the classroom. It is a tool that can be used to differentiate instruction, create
innovative students, and also allow me as a teacher to grow.
George Couros shared excellent ideas, tips, and strategies with his readers, and
was the first book I have read front to back in college. He makes his ideas personal and
paints a picture as to how teaching should happen and what it takes to be an innovative
teacher. Each page in his book had a purpose and changed my way of thinking about
innovation. As a future teacher, I will maintain a fixed mindset in order to grow and be
innovative. My hopes are that being an innovative teacher will lead the way to create
innovative students and learners.

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References
Couros, G. (2015). The Innovator's Mindset. N.p.: Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.