After meeting Jennie Magiera in person at GEG Leader Summit & GTA SEA 2014, I’ve always excited to learn more about living out of the box to discover true meaning of innovator. Luckily, I found an incredible book entitled “Courageous Edventure” on Amazon that’s written by the one and only Jennie Magiera (yeay!) which uncover her innovation journey in education in the ways I’ve never imagined! Here are my biggest takeaways from the book about being an innovator
1. What is your untold stories?
Every educator has untold story of fear and growing proccess.
The book is opened with ‘strong punch’ of Jennie Magiera’s (the author of the book) story who defeat her initial doubt of technology integration for her classroom. The fear of failure and risks she uncovered in the book feel so real throughout her stories.
My favorite part of the story is Jennie continuously raise up and reimagine the way she integrate technology in different way that is meaningful to students. You’ll be forever inspired by her ‘try’ spirit that will teach you the importance of being relevant and down to earth educators.
I believe each educator has a story, now the question is : how do you uncover your unique story that will inspire and impact people?
Ask yourself: How might you uncover your innovative journey?
2. What is Your Real Challenge?
Jennie believes that Innovation in technology integration does not start with the device or solutions, it starts with defining problem or challenge you’re really facing in classroom. Think something that’s no longer relevant to in your classroom. Something that supposed to be NOT belong in your classroom.
There are so many common ‘exciting’ scope of challenges that Jennie elaborate really deep in the book you can explore. Some problems might be resonated you:
- Differentiated Learning
- Rethinking Assessment
- Positive Classroom Environment
- Powerful Learning
- Power to pupil
- Discovering the power of voice
- Great Power = Great Responsibility
Ask yourself: How might you identify these challenges?
3.What Matters to You?
Think something that meaningful to you that you want in your classroom/school. In this book, Jennie highlighted strategies to discover what truly matters to her through: get a critical friends who can advice, help, and understand you, prepare yourself, your students, materials , and get ready to FAIL (FORWARD) & SAIL!
“True progress and innovation is achieved when brave individuals disrupt the status quo and take big risks.”
Jennie Magiera
I am pretty impressed how Jennie grouped each challenge together with practical tips & tricks and helpful resources in the book to empower the readers to get better understanding of what matters to them. You should definitely check’em out. Now, it’s time for you to ask yourself things that matter to you the most. How will you find them?
Ask yourself: How might you discover things that matter to you?
4. What Makes You an Innovator?
The final section of the book also leave a very important message that addressing the challenge alone does not make you an innovator. It takes continuous reflection, inspiration, and support that makes your innovation journey endless. Now, it’s time to ask your self how do you cultivate this innovative mindset forever?
Ask yourself: How might you continuously become true innovator?
Overall, Courageous Edventures book really set a new standard for true innovators who are willing to consistently take risks to leave their comfort zone to to bring their impact to the next level.
To gain deeper insight and inspiration about being an innovator from Jennie Magiera, I strongly recommend you get this book on Amazon here.
