I updated my iPhone to the latest software version, iOS 10.0.1. This update seems more encompassing than most. Email and text messages look totally different and there seem to be much more emoji options. It took me a day or two to get used to the new format and there are plenty of new features that I have yet to master or even discover. Instead of swiping to get to your password, you must hit the home button. I am still adapting to that change! Overall, the new update makes the iPhone more user friendly than it was and has more capabilities.
I began thinking about how Apple must approach the update process. They must plan, experiment, analyze, and reflect intensely to achieve everything needed for an update. Surely they survey users and find out what they are looking for. They must cycle through their steps many times over before they have a finished product. It must be a non-stop process. I am confident that they are already working on the next few upgrades. They surely cannot rest on their laurels. They have competition from several different companies. They must keep their customers satisfied.
As I pondered on how Apple accomplished this update, I made a comparison to what today's educators must do. We must constantly be seeking ways to improve our classrooms, our teams, and our schools to keep up with the latest demands of our students because they are always changing. We have to satisfy our customers who are our students! The world of education is evolving faster now than ever before. Educators must have an innovation plan for themselves. I have heard all of the analogies to the medical world. When we need a medical procedure we do not ask them to use best practices from 30 years ago. We want our medical team to implement the latest, innovative, yet proven strategies. We want what is best for our health. Similarly, real educators crave what is best for their students. We must be working on a better version of ourselves to unveil to students. Today's version is the best available version, but what are we doing to improve tomorrow's version? What tweaks and innovations are we preparing? What are we doing to get better for our students? All educators should be in the "lab" developing their next jaw-dropping version that will blow learners away!
Reflect: The power of reflection is huge. Merely thinking about and playing over lessons and days is extremely beneficial to our practice. Asking ourselves questions is huge. As you drive home, ponder questions like the following is a worthwhile exercise (drive safe as you reflect!): Did the lesson go as intended? How was it perceived by the students? What worked? What did not work? Were all students engaged? Did the lesson achieve the desired outcome? Was it challenging enough? How can it be improved upon? If I taught it again what would I change? What can I do better tomorrow?
Brainstorm: After reflecting, go back to the drawing board. Think of new ideas. Search Pinterest, Twitter, or where ever you go for new ideas. I cannot plug Twitter enough for its ability to act as our own personal PD machine. Search a hashtag that matches your classroom or area of expertise. I guarantee you will find a network of educators already sharing their thoughts on what is important in your realm. The #ObserveMe hashtag on Twitter has loads of examples of teachers sharing what they have focused as they have developed the latest version of themselves. Teachers are basically laying out the focuses of their classrooms and are demanding feedback. How empowering this is!
Sit down with a teammate and pick their brain. Find out what they are doing and see if their idea can be incorporated into your classroom. Listen to the students and see what they are talking about. Incorporating their likes and interests into lessons and activities is always a successful recipe.
Challenge: Set goals. Make expectations high. Don't allow yourself to be complacent. There is another version of yourself waiting to be unleashed on the world. Just like the next iPhone update it will take work, time and effort. So be patient and steadily plug away on your constant growth.
Plan: Be intentional. We can't just try every idea that we come across or think of the very next day. Take your time and be sure to think things through. Make a timeline. Plug small goals and tasks into your calendar. Work with a partner and hold each other accountable. Ben Williams, a principal that I've worked for, loves to say "Plan the work and work the plan." When you put more thought into your work, the product is always better. Recently I team taught a lesson with a 5th grade math teacher. It was a Breakout EDU activity that lasted about an hour. I easily invested 6 hours in preparing for that lesson. It was successful but far from perfect. We executed it three times. Each time we learned something new or found a better way to frame a small portion of the activity. One of my favorite takeaways from Dave Burgess and his book Teach Like a Pirate is his attention to detail. He talks about planning every last detail of a lesson. What will be written on the board when students walk in? Will there be music playing? Will the lights be dimmed? Challenge yourself to always put as much thought as you can into your lesson plans.
Release the upgrade: When you are prepared and ready. Put your new ideas to work in your classroom. Keeping things the same will bore both you and your students. Your students cannot be excited about what you are doing if you are not.
Repeat: Remember we will never get "there". We must constantly evolve and work on the next version of ourselves. We must constantly reinvent the wheel. We must challenge ourselves to constantly improve. Our world is forever changing and to stay relevant so must we. Many teachers have found ways to integrate Pokemon Go into their classrooms. Great for them! They will also find ways to implement the next hot craze that motivates students. Do not get left behind. Abandon the thought that your classroom can remain the same. Be brave and take calculated, intentional risks.
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