You Are Correct, Mr. Edison

Innovation Belongs Here

"Thomas Edison in the Bulb" by Cea. is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

"I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

-Thomas Edison

One of Thomas Edison’s most famous quotes reiterates the idea that trying without failing is not trying at all. Innovation can be described as the development of new ideas or concepts that change the direction in which something is going. In my opinion, innovation belongs everywhere, especially in educational settings. We need students to try without fear of feeling, collaborate to solve problems, and think like creators who have the power to change the world. As leaders in the classroom, it is important for educators to understand that education is innovating. It is constantly shifting and changing and moving in new directions. It is important that we grab onto that and be open minded to the idea that we don’t have to be set in our ways, and we can move forward, even if we are fearful of change.

When looking through the lens of educational technology, innovation belongs everywhere. Without it, we remain idle in a static world. Innovation has both complicated and simplified our world. Through creating and developing new ideas, we have conveniences through technology that make our everyday lives so much easier, yet the inner workings of such technologies are incredibly complex. The educational field is becoming increasingly complex year by year, and technological innovation is extremely beneficial in meeting the needs of students and educators.

I use various technologies daily within my career field.. I depend on technology to complete daily tasks and make things run smoother as an educator. Although I view myself as a “tech guru”, sometimes I even pump the brakes when it comes to learning new technologies. I often just prefer to use what I am accustomed to as a means of convenience. However, when I do branch out and try new things, I almost always end up liking the new technology and realizing it is better than what I am currently using. Throughout this entire program, I have discovered many platforms that I have deemed useful for learning purposes, however I am still learning how to best use those pieces of technology to their full potential. I feel like I have added many tools to my toolbelt, I just need to begin sharpening them and learning more about them.

Learning about multimedia design has been very interesting this session and I am really excited to find ways in which I can implement multimedia creations in my fourth grade classroom this year. I enjoy creating and I hope to do things in my classroom that encourage the educators around me to think like an innovator and implore ways in which technology can boost motivation and enhance engagement within their own classrooms.

In conclusion, Edison was exactly right. We simply cannot succeed without trying and we can't try with failing and learning from our mistakes. Innovation belongs here. And there. And there.