#Teacherbookclub just enjoyed its second online chat, featuring the man behind #InnovatorsMindset: George Couros. I’ve long been a a fan of his work, if there is one blog out there that educators need to make time for, it is “The Principal of Change.”  His book empowers educators everywhere to take action, and to see themselves as capable (if not responsible) for shaping the culture of their school, one conversation at a time:

The least innovative organizations often seem to surround themselves with like-minded people. Innovation often comes from conflict and disagreement, not in an adversarial way but in a way that promotes divergent thinking.”

I’ll come right out and say it: George Couros is one of my heroes.

He believes in the power of education.  More importantly he doesn’t think we need a program or a politician or an omniscient power to ‘fix’ schools.  He thinks teachers and students are already doing amazing things, and through our networks, our passions are starting a transformation in the world of education. He reminds us to see the best in ourselves, and the very best in our students:

“Think about it: we have the world at our fingertips, the ability to connect and create with people around the globe through so many different mediums. Yet what do most schools focus on when talking about technology? “Cyberbullying” and “digital safety.” … We are spending so much time telling our students about what they can’t do that we have lost focus on what we can do .”

potential futures demand we champion positivity in one another.

Thomas Hawk
Tomorrow’s Possibilities

When we talk about ‘resources’ at schools, we need to audit our attitude and actions.  Those are resources too. Couros pushes us to take action and develop our #InnovatorsMindset one risk at a time:

“When students come to school, we continually tell them, “You need to share!”…Educators would all benefit if we decided to take our own advice. One way we can do that is through blogs. If you’re thinking, “I’m not a writer,” consider this: every opportunity to share with others on a global scale makes you think more deeply about what it is that you are sharing in the first place.”

You are what you share.

I wanted to share my George Couros fandom with the world, so, I did.  When I reached out to George Couros through Twitter, I doubted he would have time to sift through his some 117K followers and find my request, but, he did…within the hour.

If you doubt the power of Twitter, think about this for a minute: one Tweet from Central Switzerland made its way to a pretty busy, incredibly popular person across an ocean, and a plan was put into motion that same day.  As a result, Couros shared his advice, wisdom, and inspiration with educators from 15 different countries….on a Monday.

If you need inspiration, just ask.

Here are a few of the highlights from our hour last night, you can visit the entire chat here.

There’s a reason 192 people retweeted this: those two powerful words we need more of in schools: “What If….”

Three educators, three countries, one message: make people feel valued.

Reflect, create, share. (Repeat).

The #InnovatorsMindset is not something your school can buy.  It is something you make together, mend together, celebrate together.

I came across this incredible series of animated movements yesterday.  In light of last night’s chat, I want to thank George Couros, and let him know I appreciate the conductor he is in my animated movement of an academic year.

Thank you Flickr!

Thomas Hawk