The subject matter in EDLD-5302 has been my favorite so far. I really enjoyed going learning more about Growth Mindsets. I remember when I was in the elementary classroom, I used to teach the very basic concepts of a growth mindset. Getting to understand the various types of mindsets, and how they affect someone was so engaging. I especially enjoyed Carol Dweck’s Four Steps to Changing Your Mindset. I took what I learned about the steps and am trying to implement them into my life and career. And once you follow steps 1-3 and really get to know how to recognize them, you can take action by facing those obstacles, making a plan of action, and then using what you learn from the outcomes to motivate yourself to grow (Dweck, 2006). In beginning my innovation implementation, I will use my Growth Mindset Plan to build the staff’s understanding just how powerful changing their mindsets can be, especially when it applies to bring about change. It can be very challenging making change, starting something new. Teaching them what I’ve learned and getting them to recognize the steps to changing their mindsets will help us grow and set us up on the right track to being successful in our journey for change.
In order to become an effective leader, I believe you need to let your team in on what you care about and your beliefs. Some will agree with you, some may not, and that’s okay. I wrote my Learning Manifesto with my 18 years of classroom experience in mind. I truly believe that there is a place for EVERYONE. It’s up to teachers to help their students discover the area they can excel in, shine, and are passionate about, even if they didn’t know it. My Learning Manifesto also describes my thoughts on how students learn in this new era after the pandemic, as well as what I think we can do to improve digital learning. This document will give my team a little insight on who I am and hopefully most will concur.
After beginning my path through this graduate program, my Learning Network has expanded immensely. On my blog post, Learning Networks, I describe a few of the various learning communities I have been a part of for years, mostly on Facebook. But, through this program, I have gained new learning groups, sharing ideas, links, experiences and more with students from throughout the program’s classes. It has become a reminder that learning networks are incredibly important. And whether you’re a student or not, they can really prove beneficial in any subject area you find yourself interested in, the internet has a learning network for you.
So, as I continue learning and take the next set of courses in this program, I will definitely be using what I learned about changing my mindset. It’s what will keep me going, even when facing challenging situations. Something that I know, I’m not going to be completely engulfed in having that growth mindset in all areas, but something that can be developed and evolves. I will also use the plan I formulated not only in my innovation plan, but also as a refresher every year, something every teacher should remember. I am so thankful that we were introduced to the COVA learning approach at the right time, when my district has encouraged more project based learning. The COVA approach can be incredibly beneficial when introducing project based learning to students, and has been proven to be more successful in teaching students today. Giving students choice, ownership, voice, through authentic learning, as I’ve seen used fully in this program, has helped me really internalize what I’m learning and inspire me to seek more on the subject. I’ll be presenting the COVA approach to the teachers that will be participating in my innovation plan because it goes hand-in-hand with them teaching students to develop their own ePortfolios. I’ll also try to emphasize to the teachers the importance of teaching growth mindset and the concept of fail forward. We can and are learning so much every day, and we even learn from failure. It’s a part of the learning process, happens to everyone, and gives us insight and an opportunity for reflection and the chance to grow.
Dweck, C. (2016). Mindset: the new psychology of success. Random House.
Dream, Believe, Inspire 