For the longest time, the definition of a great teacher often included the ability to create innovative lessons and activities for students. Even upon reading that sentence back to myself, it still sounds like a great quality to have. And it is, of course. But the reality is that while idea manufacturing and lesson creation was a key element of the teaching craft in the past, the job has evolved as teachers have become connected in the digital age.
Let’s rewind to pre-millennium…
Teachers often needed to rely on their lesson CREATION ability because there were limited resources otherwise. Teachers had access to resource books with lesson ideas, their colleagues, and possibly conferences to gain ideas. Beyond that, the bulk of any innovation had to come strictly from the creative mind that sat atop their shoulders. At the beginning of my career, I can still remember teachers referencing “their lessons”, “their ideas”, and others “stealing” them. Those colleagues were not always helpful in regard to being a resource (some were great though!) and it speaks to the point of creating on one’s own. It was this ability to CREATE, often in isolation, that set some teachers apart from others.
Let’s fast forward back to today…
I’m not sure if I was left to innovate in isolation, I would actually end up being all that “innovative” or that good of a teacher, for that matter. It sounds very difficult, and I almost forget what life was like before becoming a connected educator. Luckily for me...and many others...and students...we have evolved in today's digital age from a world of CREATION to a world of CURATION. The ability to access the seemingly unlimited resources and curate lessons, ideas, protocols, visuals, and activities has become easier than ever, and now has become an attribute tied to innovation and great teaching. Educators across the globe are sharing amazing ideas, and it is our job to find the ones that will work for our students and utilize them. They often need to be tuned and adjusted for your individual class, but the idea no longer needs to be manifested from your own mind. To me, as an educator, it has become an unspoken professional and ethical responsibility to get connected, curate for your classroom, and utilize the millions of ideas and resources shared every year. From Twitter, to Pinterest, to TeachersPayTeachers, to Amazon Inspire (still in Beta), there are thousands of teachers willing to put on display the best that they have. We’d be a fool not to engage and “steal” the good stuff.
I talked about this idea once with a friend, and they said, “But it’s so much better to be the originator.” My response to that is, “For who?” Me? In that scenario I get to pat myself on the back, and feel good for a day. But it’s not really about me. It’s about my students, and they couldn't care less where my lesson originated….so long as it’s engaging, fun, and worth their time, they will be there learning and smiling...and that’s what really matters.