This course was designed for current and emerging creators, disruptors, doers and change makers. We explored the beliefs, mindsets, tools & dispositions of creatives across industries. We applied design thinking processes & principles throughout the course and made iterative connections between theory and practice. This course was designed to draw the connection between and among innovative school leadership, culture, deeper learning, and equity. We interrogated “innovation” and explored concrete observable behaviors, processes, and conditions that support individual, collective and organizational capacity to move forward. We also explored the natural immunities to change and how to navigate them. We learned how to equitably support all learners, both student and adult learners. We had multiple opportunities to use design thinking, and as a result, we developed comfort in deploying the process in a “sprint” or a “marathon.” We engaged in empathy mapping, defining (need finding), ideating, prototyping and iterating through field work, mindfulness activities, interactions with experts, reading & writing, dialogue & discussion, analysis, synthesis, and creation.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What is innovation and why should I care? Why does who I am matter in leading innovation in schools? How might we begin to create a school-wide culture of innovation?