It has never been more important for individuals and organizations to be adaptable to change. Rapid technological advances in the 21st Century have brought with them the need for organizations to be constantly evolving in order to address new challenges and changing landscapes; the education system is no exception (Henriksen, Mishra, & Fisser, 2016). Adopting a model for continual growth is paramount for an organization’s success in the 21st Century. Through connectivity, personalized learning, and creativity, individuals and can avoid stagnation by engaging in practices that will keep them at the forefront of their fields, and help keep our organization relevant in an ever-changing environment.

 

The power of the 21st Century does not lie with technologies, but with the opportunities they provide to connect with individuals and information. In our perseverance to affect change within our organization and in the world, it is imperative that we build a community that can bolster our endeavors. As we continue to support each other at the local level, we must also utilize new technologies that enable us to connect to the world to both inspire and draw inspiration from those who are pursuing similar goals. Technology allows us to connect to all types of individuals and organizations, including ones that are quite different from ourselves. Harnessing this diversity will allow us access to varying perspectives which will lead us to more effective solutions to the new challenges that we will encounter (Torres, 2013).

 

As we (educators, administrators, and students) pursue our goals, we will surely encounter setbacks along the way. It is persistence through these challenges that will allow our organization to gain knowledge and skills and to grow beyond our current capabilities. If our organization is serious about providing an environment where people feel compelled to be creative and to continually grow, then we must allow all members to be driven by the passions that they hold dear to their practice. In his book, Out of Our Minds: Learning To Be Creative, Sir Ken Robinson states that, “Learning is personal, or it is nothing” (2011). I accept this statement as fact, and urge each of our members to pursue and learn about what matters to them, in the hopes that their passion and enthusiasm will spread to those connected to them.

 

In pursuing our passions, members must have the freedom to take risks and be creative. Our organization needs to be structured to allow members to create and pursue NEW (novel, effective, whole) ways of approaching teaching and learning (Henriksen, Mishra, & Fisser, 2016). We must embrace the creative process, which means embracing mistakes, and iterative design of practice. It is through the analysis of both our successes and our set-backs that we will learn deeply, and continually grow our practice and our organization.

 

The 21st Century brings change; with change comes opportunity. I encourage all members to pursue these opportunities for growth by connecting with a diverse community with which they share vision and passion. Together, we must have the courage to take risks and abandon practices that are no longer effective in our changing landscape (Torres, 2013). It is through supporting each other in our continual growth that we will grow stronger as an organization, and build a culture that is ready to take on any new challenges that come before us.

 

References:

Henriksen, D., Mishra, P., & Fisser, P. (2016). Infusing Creativity and Technology in 21st Century Education: A Systemic View for Change. Educational Technology & Society, 19 (3), 27–37.
 

Robinson, K. (2011). Out of our minds: learning to be creative. Oxford: Capstone.

 

Torres, R. (2013, October). Roselinde Torres: What it takes to be a great leader [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/roselinde_torres_what_it_takes_to_be_a_great_leader