Joi Ito: Want to innovate: Become a "now ist"

I think my biggest takeaway from watching these speakers is to not be afraid to take risks. We need to be comfortable with stretching our limits and exploring new ideas. If we continue to "play it safe" we remain in the box which doesn't lend itself to innovation.

I do believe that I practice "need to learn is how to learn" in my learning environment. If I am taught a new strategy or idea, I try to learn more about that idea that sparked my interest on my own versus waiting around to be taught more information. On my team, I tend to be the one to seek out new ideas more than simply doing things the way we've always done them. I'm constantly seeking out new improvements to what we're doing to provide better results for whatever our goals are.

I really enjoyed listening to Ito share his idea that we need to stop the notion that we need to plan everything. Although I'm a seeker of information and enjoy trying new things, the one thing that holds me back is thinking that I have to have everything figured out when I try a new idea. However, I have loved having a supportive principal for the last few years. When she has pushed us to try a new initiative, she would say that we don't need to have it all figured out, simply just try certain aspects of the new idea and slowly learn as we go. Being able to let go of control and feeling like I have to have all the details figured out or feeling like I have to be an expert before implementing a new strategy or idea has enabled myself to learn and grow more in the past couple years than any other years of my career. If we wait until we have it all figured out, I think that lends itself more to a fixed mindset where you are more afraid to make mistakes.

I like to think that I am able to create the necessary learning environment where students are given the choice when choosing their assignments, but I need to grow in creating the authentic projects. I have limited my students in choosing projects to only a few times a year. I think adopting the mindset of being a "Nowist" will help me to offer more project based learning for my students. I don't have to have it all figured out, but can make the move to let go of control and plan some more ways to give students authentic learning opportunities that prepare them for real world experiences.

References

Perry, J. (2015, May 15). Joi Ito want to become a 'now ist.' [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRAMQJJu7uY&t=55s