Participate and share: Interactive session 
Recorded Session
Schools are readjusting as they refocus their trajectory to ensure they are future ready. Educators are infusing creative programs and innovative teaching practices to move our schools forward. With a goal to push student thinking and advance teaching and learning, school leaders need to consider the possible strategies to leverage innovation in their schools. Education needs innovators who are willing to push the limits to create schools that are inviting, collaborative, and innovative. This may be a new charge for some school leaders who have worked in the past as effective school managers. Leading innovation requires innovative thinking and a passionate spirit on the part of school and district leadership. When we prioritize connections and model this through our leadership, we provide opportunity for every part of the school community to have a voice. This can occur through learning networks that maximize learning for students and magnify collaboration and innovation for educators.
This session will focus on the ISTE Standards for Administrators, emphasizing the importance of collaborative learning communities and the professional development that can create systematic improvements in schools, districts, and regions. Leaders not only need to participate in global learning communities that stimulate innovation, creativity, and digital collaboration they need to model this proactive approach to powerful learning for their teachers. Participants will learn about establishing learning networks around educational initiatives that connect schools with meaningful learning happening beyond the school walls.
The content for this session will come from my ISTE book, Connect to Lead. Reconnecting our leadership means that school and district leaders create partnerships that will leverage learning for their students, as well as for their teachers. The session will share examples from successful learning networks who have developed professional learning opportunities focused on creativity and innovation in schools. We will provide ways that connected leaders can develop partnerships that will increase access and equity in their schools but also in others. Lastly, educators will be equipped with resources that, through the power of technology, can enhance professional learning and collaboration by breaking down barriers and providing access to all learners.
Session introduction and overview (3-5 min)
Participants will reflect on their existing learning network using a visible thinking routine to map out their networks. The thinking routine will culminate with large group sharing. (10 min).
Next participants will envision ways to expand their network through collaboration and partnerships through small group discussion. They will also consider the ways that learning networks are formed and how those learners grow and develop professionally through the strategic leadership of innovative school administrators. (10 min)
The presenter will share the POWER UP model (as detailed in an upcoming ISTE publication) for professional learning and provide examples for what this looks like in educational settings. The model (Personalized, Opportunities, Welcoming, Engaging, Relevant, Unconventional, Possibilities) will highlight different strategies as well as the way that technology can enhance learning networks. (10-15 min)
The presentation will feature the stories and learning experiences from successful learning networks and provide attendees with pathways that will increase equity and create viable networks in their regions. (lecture and video 10 min)
Next, resources/templates will be shared for leaders to use as they power up their leadership skills. (5 mi)
To end the session, participants revisit the thinking routine from the beginning of the session and add new knowledge based on the session (5 min)
This session is aligned to current research out of the Center for Collective Intelligence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management. Researcher Peter Gloor is leading a project called Collaborative Innovation Networks (COIN) which explores the power of learning networks. Gloor’s research shares that within an innovative network there will be visionaries, collaborators, and communicators. Not only do these characteristics connect with the 4Cs in education, but also with the new ISTE Standards for Administrators. The idea behind the research is that leaders can employ principles of creative collaboration, knowledge sharing, and social networking to encourage educators to be more creative, productive, and efficient.
In addition, The Center for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) has done extensive research around the world identifying innovative pedagogies for powerful learning through established networks from North America to France, Finland, and Japan. They have studied the creation and sustainability of learning networks and their ability to create access and connectivity to educators working to improve their practices through the support of a collaborative group.
Web resources and related articles:
https://remakelearning.org/
http://www.i-open.org/research/peter-gloor-research-scientist-coins-collaborative-innovation-networks
https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/professional-learning-network-practices
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