Twitter #engchatNZ: Growth Mindset...

I love the idea of taking an edchat and then blogging my own answers following the discussion to consolidate my understanding of each question. I took the idea from http://learningshine.blogspot.co.nz/ as I loved her way of reflecting beyond a twitter chat.

What does it mean to have a growth mindset?
Being open to try new things and push boundaries with my teaching. As a teacher, the learning shouldn't stop and if it does then I am unsure how that helps your students. Learning from our mistakes and seeing mistakes as an opportunity - being in 'the pit' and in a state of worry, unknowing or confusion is one of the most powerful places or mindsets you can be in!

Why is it important to have a growth mindset?
So that development and individual learning occurs. Life must be a very boring place when you are stuck in a fixed mindset...growing and learning new things is so much fun. Especially in education which is so fast paced and embracing exciting change at the moment. Having a growth mindset is important to maintain and achieve what I have dubbed the CSI's! 

C's - continue, collaborate, create 

S's - share, succeed and sustain 

I's - implement, improve and inspire!

So - how do we begin to develop those growth mindsets in our students (and ourselves)?

Ask children what they want to learn and let them be involved in the creation process. Foster and encourage their curiosity about various subjects and let them ask questions and lead their own and each others learning.

I have been doing lots of work with my class on 'The Pit'. By teaching them that making mistakes is a powerful tool, they are really challenging their own thinking and learning. Teaching children that it is about the journey rather than the end product. If the journey is a direct route then it possibly hasn't inspired, challenged or taught you much...

Describe a particular time when you saw a student change their mindset.

Describe a time you overcame your fixed mindset about a particular obstacle and how it relates to Ss perspectives?
Moving from teaching seniors to middle school at the beginning of this year. I was convinced that I would hate it! Turns out I am absolutely in love with teaching Year 3 and 4. They are so creative and have such curious minds! I am able to do some very cool things with them (Edmodo, Blogging, 3D Printing, Tinkercad, Digital Badges, Using GAFE Tools) all because I am not constrained by the extra-curricular pressures I had teaching in the senior school.

What is the next thing that you are working on to build your growth mindset? Next goal?
Embracing the challenge of 3D Printing and designing with children aged 7 and 8. It is scary but so exciting and I cannot wait for them to overtake me and then become my little teaching experts - it is bound to happen sooner than I think!

Also continually developing my patience around teaching with people who are 'still developing' their growth mindset. It is one of the hardest things to watch but at the end of the day if a teacher is not willing to change their own thinking then it is very hard to assist them - it leaves you with an unspoken question!!!

Thank you +ariaporo22 for hosting!

A Week on Twitter #engchatNZ and #edchatNZ

This week Twitter has really taken off for me! +Sonya Van Schaijik has continually been on at me about the power of this tool and reluctantly I have become a convert!

This week I participated in both #engchatnz and #edchatnz - both fascinating and gave me a total buzz! It is like a hit of adrenaline - partly from trying to keep up and partly from collaborating with such amazing names in NZ education! (I would tag you all but there are simply too many!)

#engchatNZ was hosted by the lovely and inspiring +ariaporo22 (Alex Le Long).  The topic was #growthmindset and throughout the chat a trend was definitely apparent.  I found it ironic that all of the people involved in the chat would be the type to have already adopted or at least realised the importance of having a growth mindset as a NZ educator.  Yet, the trend was largely about why having a growth mindset is important and sharing ideas of what this 'jargon' term means.

The storify of this chat is available at

#EngChatNZ - The Importance of Developing Growth Mindsets - 19th May 2015 https://t.co/30rXgzvdoj via @ariaporo22 #EngChatNZ

— Alex Le Long (@ariaporo22) May 19, 2015

Also, as part of the chat, Alex shared a great collaborative document of Growth Mindset Media Tools which I have added many videos which have helped me understand the importance of this mindset.  They also motivate me to carry on finding professional development which targets and interests me.  These two videos in particular stood out to me (the Kid President one was a hit with my class)

On Thursday night, #edchatNZ took place and this weeks topic was about MLE vs MLP. Hosted by +MissDtheTeacher (Danielle Myburgh).

#edchatNZ Twitter Feed

@BeccaSweeney @tonycairns You've been quoted in my Storify "Modern Learning Practice - #edchatNZ (21 May 2015)" http://t.co/H6lojDhw4U

— Marnel van der Spuy (@1MvdS) May 21, 2015

 Again, a powerful way of highlighting my own views on the importance of the pedagogy that goes along with 'Modern Learning Environments'.  It isn't enough to chuck some colourful beanbags into a classroom along with a few wobbly chairs and varying tables of different sizes and colours.  If the pedagogy and mindset of the teacher doesn't change then the learning will remain the same as it always has.  Teachers influence students in such a profound way and the pedagogy behind their teaching will directly impact on the type of thinker, learner and future leader each student will be! 

I truly believe that teachers who are set in their ways and are not willing to change, have no place in the classroom anymore.  In saying this, I personally do not think that expecting teachers to keep their thinking and pedagogy current and up-to-date is a big ask or requirement.  If teachers are not willing to change and continue their own learning then what kind of role model are they being for their students?  And are such teacher meeting the Registered Teacher Criteria? It becomes detrimental for children who remain in backwards or standstill thinking classrooms.  

This is an area I am passionate about and really feel should be embraced and developed by all NZ Schools - Drop the E on MLE, it goes beyond that!

More to come!