Why do I keep learning? I think this sums it up.
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.” “When the mind is allowed to relax, inspiration often follows… If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything.” Phil Jackson
The Innovator’s Mindset : Empowering Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity by George Couros is an excellent book for School Counsellors to begin the dialogue of Innovation. Do you have an innovator’s mindset?
“When you are networked great ideas find you not the other way around”
George Couros
This quote is so true . I have been so fortunate to have great ideas and great people find me. Thanks to all of you.
So many amazing School Counsellors that I have met on twitter definitely have an Innovator’s mindset. I believe an innovator’s mindset continues to thrive, learn, reflect and seek out ways to make a difference.
As a School Counsellor with an Innovator’s Mindset Do you?
- Start from The Heart
- Keep Students At The Centre
- Make Sure You are Helpful
- Model What You Hope For
- Utilize the 5 C’s
- Build Relationships
START FROM THE HEART
In order for a School Counsellor to have an innovator’s mindset we must always begin to speak and listen from our heart to the heart of a child.
We want the young people that we serve to have the skills to cope effectively with life. They will know pretty quickly if we are genuine and start from our heart.
Starting from the heart involves active listening, compassion, trusting , caring and so much more. Sometimes our students need help, other times they just need the encouragement or support to find new ways to look at the world. Starting from the heart will make a difference.
When you start from the heart you will ask yourself :
- What are my students strengths?
- What are my students passionate about?
- What can I do to help my students ?
- Do my students have any projects or ideas they might need help executing?
- What can I do as a School Counsellor that will help students be more successful?
- How can I assist students in graduating?
- What can I do differently today, this week, this month, this year to help the students in our school ?
- How can I collaborate with others so that it benefits students and assist me to learn and grow?
KEEP STUDENTS AT THE CENTER
Passionate School Counsellors who keep students at the center of all they do can have a huge impact in their school communities. As School Counsellors you know the reason you work with students is to be their advocate.
Everything you say or do should always keep this in mind. Whatever you do on-line or off innovative School Counsellors should make sure they remain focused on what is best for their students.
Ask yourself:
- How can I keep my students needs a priority?
- What is it I need to do that will make a difference for this students at this moment?
- How is what I am doing by being innovative going to help students or other School Counsellors ( helping other School Counsellors or educators is helping students)
BE HELPFUL
No matter what school counsellors do with and for students on-line and off they should always remember to be helpful. Being innovative means school counsellors will be able to not only help the students in their offices , but will find ways to assist all students in their buildings. 
School Counsellors could also impact those beyond the walls of their own schools and potentially see the world as their community. Helping other school counsellors and educators from across the globe helps students worldwide! How exciting and innovative is that?
Ask yourself?
- How can I be most helpful for this student today and in the future?
- How can being innovative help the students and staff in my school?
- How can I help other school counsellors and educators worldwide?
MODEL WHAT YOU HOPE FOR digital citizenship
If you want students to be good digital citizens then you too must become excellent role models.
This is vital if school counselors are to really help students into the future. Being innovative means acting on this today. Everything you post should be helpful, ethical and model what it is you hope students will do.
Ask yourself:
- How can I become a digital citizen?
- What skills do I need to assist me on this journey?
- How do I connect with other school counsellors and leaders who are already great digital citizens?
- How can I pass on to students what I learn?
The 5 C’s Connect Confidentiality Collaborate Create Celebrate
Connect
As school counsellors you know how important a working alliance is to making a difference. Connecting with students is essential to being and modelling an innovator’s mindset. Connecting with other school counsellors online and off can affect everything you do to develop your Comprehensive School Counselling Program Plan. Connecting allows you to reflect on the work of others as well as reflect on your own practices. There are so many ways to connect. One of the most innovative people I have connected online with is Erin Mason @ecmmason . Thank you for all you do and if you haven’t connected with her and SCOPE please do. Here are a few examples of other ways to connect :
- staff meetings
- district meetings
- Twitter (#scchat #sccrowd)
- google hangouts
- blogs
- vlogs
- Blab
- Voxer
- local leadership councils
- writing articles
- mentorship
- supervising student counsellors ( a great way to give back )
Ask yourself? What are some innovative ways I can connect with other educators?
Confidentiality is essential for anyone with a school counsellor innovator’s mindset . If you are sharing on-line and want to learn with and from others you must remember to keep this at the forefront of everything you post.
Innovators know that with new technologies developing all the time it is vital to always get permission when sharing all the great things students do. It’s great to share what your prevention teams are doing , but always make sure students have signed their media consent forms. Always keep in mind when posting online that you should never breach confidentiality. When discussing cases (if you do so when connecting with other school counsellors on any social media space) never give out any identifying information in any way.
Collaborate To come up with some of the best ideas of what works for students collaboration is key. Together school counsellors are better. Students benefit when we put our minds together to help them. Often when schools work together to assist students they come up with better ways to help them. Thank you Erin Luong @ehordyskiluong for collaborating with me on this post! You are an amazing school counsellor with an innovator’s mindset.
Create School Counsellors now more than ever are finding ways to create to meet the needs of all the students in their schools. Collaboration assists school counsellors in the creative process. Whether you are creating a YouTube video to introduce yourself to share with your school community or creating something you can use in classroom lessons. You know school counsellors with an innovative mindset create something that matters.
Celebrate not only should school counsellors celebrate what is happening within their schools , but should recognize that sharing and celebrating what they do through social media can lead to new ways of practicing . There are many positive , helpful ways to share and celebrate what you do as a school counsellor that will assist others.
Ask yourself: How do I celebrate the work of my students, my colleagues and other school counsellors from across the world?
Build Relationships
- Are you truly a relationship builder?
RELATIONSHIP Builders who unleash talent= School Counsellors With An Innovator’s Mindset
- How do you unleash the talent of those around you?
- How do you create and environment where risks are encouraged ?
- How do you share the great work and strengths of others?
Twitter allows School Counsellors to share the great things that students and staff in your schools are doing. Twitter is truly an amazing tool to celebrate and highlight the wonderful works and lives of others. Participating in a MOOC can also have that impact.
Innovation … there is so much more to learn. Wish I had the eloquent words to thank you George Couros for your leadership and your amazing voice. I so appreciate you for writing and sharing The Innovator’s Mindset . It is truly a gift to so many educators from around the world including me. I don’t read many books twice, but yours was worth it to reflect and go deeper.
Thank you George and Katie for creating such a powerful MOOC for not only school counsellors to enjoy , but for so many other inspirational people from across the world to learn from.
Thank you to all those in #IMMOOC you are amazing and so open to sharing and learning along with me. A special thanks to Emily Clare @eclare_ahs for connecting with me and leading the voxer group. For the fabulous Sheri Edwards who is always inspirational so many thank you’s . To all those who shared their vlogs or blogs or tweets. I am very grateful!
I could not say it any better than Sheila Vick . You should follow her on twitter @sheila_vick. read what she had to say below:
When I reflect on why it has been so great, or what has made it so great, I realize the following:
We have been given a voice in the group.
We have had a lot of choice throughout the mooc.
We have been given autonomy throughout the mooc.
We have networked far and wide and through a variety of platforms.
We have built trust within the group which has provided a sense of psychological safety and has encouraged us to share stories and our beliefs.
We have been encouraged and empowered.
We have taken risks and stepped outside of our comfort zones.
There has been dialogue and competitive collaboration.
There has been so much reflection.
The enthusiasm and energy of the group has been contagious.
We have been encouraged to start where we are at.
We have shared the experience with many learning leaders.
We have been able to feel successful and therefore build confidence and competence.
The group has been full of fountains (no drains).
There has been a sense of empathy within the group.
We have been problem-finders and problem-solvers together.
We have created, created, created!
… and last but not least, like George, we are a group of Educators AND learners by passion.
If we can provide the above for our school counsellors, teachers and students, they can people with an innovative mindset too!
Won’t you join me in becoming a School Counsellor, educator , leader with an Innovator’s Mindset? I look forward to us collaborating. I love having a beginners mind don’t you? Find out more about IMMOOC here.
*Although not ready for this week throughout this MOOC I have been inspired to create a podcast . I will create one …any #IMMOOC ers want to help me?
To end with I’d like to CELEBRATE a couple of people:
#1 the amazing Erin Mason a true School Counsellor Educator with an Innovator ‘s Mindset … Video #1 below.
#2 My Principal Neil O’Flaherty @neilof12 a true Innovator and the lead learner in the second Video below Bishop Carroll a Self Directed High School In Calgary Alberta. A leader who encourages and supports any and all innovation . I am so fortunate to work alongside you.
#3 Canadian School Counsellors with an Innovator’s Mindset ( too many to mention ). Although many of you are at the beginning stages of twitter I look forward to reading and celebrating all the amazing work you do every day!
#4 YOU thanks for reading along ( if you have read this far) I appreciate you joining me on this #IMMOOC journey.
Counsellor Talk : Creative Collaborative Connections 