Assessing Your Innovative Qualities

The field of research about what makes an innovative teacher is fairly new. Nevertheless, this research has explored and defined some of the qualities exhibited by innovative teachers. One of these qualities is the ability to be a reflective practitioner.

Task 1: Self-assessment (10 minutes)

1. Complete a self-assessment of how you perceive your own “innovative qualities” using the Innovative Teaching Qualities Checklist. (10-15 minutes).

Task 2: Discussion (15 minutes)

1. In groups of 3-4 discuss these questions:

• Can each of these qualities be present all the time?
• Which of these qualities do you feel are the most important for describing an innovative teacher?
• What prevents you from exhibiting these qualities more regularly? How can you overcome these obstacles?
• What is the relationship between expertise and innovation? Does someone need to be an expert before they can innovate?
• How could being an expert be a help or a hindrance to becoming an innovative teacher?