Blog #5 Initial Post
How do we maintain excellence as we innovate?
Oftentimes, the words “innovate” and “excellence” are in direct opposition to each other since innovation carries with it new ideas and changes in the tested and true ways of doing things, forcing excellence to no longer be a descriptor , especially in the arena of education. But being innovative does have the opportunity to encourage excellence depending on how it is used in the classroom.
Throughout the years, schools have focused on analytical thinking skills that teach students that there is one correct answer to the problem. But as Miriam Clifford (2013) discussed, when students are taught to develop a more divergent way of thinking, the learner is able to use many different ways to approach a problem. This divergent thinking allows students to use a multiplicity of thought allowing them to solve problems in more creative and productive ways. This innovative method of teaching students is new, but also promotes excellence in the classroom. In this manner, innovation can work hand in hand with excellence and provide our students with an education that promotes a desire to learn.
Having the ability to teach both in a divergent and convergent way is not the only way to bring excellence and innovation together in education. It is also important to expect teachers to innovate within the realm of standards. Even though innovation seems to be the antithesis of following state standards, it doesn’t have to be. The University of Wisconsin shares a guiding principle to bring excellent teaching together with innovation when they suggest that learning objectives must drive the innovations that teachers use. This is an opportunity for teachers to encourage excellence from themselves and their students, while allowing themselves the freedom to bring new and creative ideas into the classroom.
As I was perusing websites looking for ways to be more innovative in my classroom, I stumbled upon an article by Saga Briggs which discussed many emerging technologies over the next five years. I was encouraged to see that “gamification” was on the list to be fully implemented into the classroom in the next two to three years. Briggs (2013) brings up the point that game play is proving to be useful not only in training, but in motivation as well. As we are studying the use of serious games in the classroom, I am becoming convinced that gamification is an opportunity to bring innovative ideas and creativity into the classroom without losing course objectives or diminishing excellence in the classroom.
Briggs, S. (2013) 10 emerging educational technologies & how they are being used across the globe. Innovation Excellence. Retrieved from http://www.innovationexcellence.com/blog/2013/07/29/10-emerging-educational-technologies-how-they-are-being-used-across-the-globe/
Clifford, M. (2013). 30 ways to promote creativity in your classroom. Innovation in Excellence. Retrieved from http://www.innovationexcellence.com/blog/2013/01/10/30-ways-to-promote-creativity-in-your-classroom
Why educational innovation is important. Retrieved February 12, 2014, from
http://edinnovation.wisc.edu/why-innovate/
Gary,
ReplyDeleteI always appreciate reading your blogs as I find them easy to read and full of great incite.
First of all, you make a great point about innovation and excellence possibly conflicting each other. As innovation does not necessarily mean excellency. I loved your comment about us as teachers having to be innovative within the realm of standards. Yes, standards are huge today and we need to be innovative to reach those standards, with our aim being to reach those standards. I agree gamification definitely appears to be fruitful in bringing innovation into the classroom in which excellency is the result. Great Blog!