Are you an innovative educator?

Teacher showcase | Microsoft PIL photostream

Teachers who were finalists from more than 80 countries came together at Microsoft's Partner's in Learning Global Forum to showcase and celebrate the innovative work their students were doing. I was pleasantly surprised to see the results as I met with many of the teachers. This appears to be a great framework for fostering innovation.

Below is the criteria that teachers journeying down the path to innovative education incorporated into their projects. 

As you take a look, think about what you already incorporate into your work and what new things can be added.

1 - Collaboration
Students share responsibility and make substantive decisions with other people. Their work is interdependent.
2- Knowledge construction
Students construct and apply knowledge. That knowledge interdisciplinary.
3 -  Student regulated
The learning activity is long-term. Students plan and assess their own work, and revise their work based on feedback.
4 - Real-world problem-solving and innovation
The learning activity requires solving authentic, real-world problems. Students’ solutions are implemented in the real world.
5 - Use of information communications technology (ICT) for learning
Students are active users or designers of an ICT product for an authentic audience.
6 - Skilled communication
Students communicate their own ideas regarding a concept or issue. Their communication is supported with evidence and designed with a particular audience in mind.

At the Global forum event, projects were judged on how well teachers incorporated the innovative criteria into their work through the following lenses:
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