George Couros - Innovate Inside the Box: Empowering Learners Through UDL and the Innovators Mindset

Innovate Inside the Box is a hard-headed guide to infusing innovation into the classroom. Couros and Novak show how to adopt an Innovators Mindsetand then offer page after page of intriguing ideas and catalysts for action. If youre looking to bring creativity to student learning amid all the constraints educators face, this is the book for you.

Daniel Pink, author of When, Drive, and A Whole New Mind

"No one articulates a more compelling, a more urgent, or a more motivating vision of educationfor both teachers and their studentsthan George Couros. No one articulates how that vision can be reachedfor every student and teachermore daringly, more practically, and more inclusively, than Katie Novak. Having them together in one book not only helps us reimagine the goals and practices of education, it reminds us of why we ever wanted to be teachers at all."

David Rose, PhD, CAST's cofounder and chief education officer, emeritus

An incredible book! Innovate Inside the Box speaks to educators who are the change agents in their sphere of influence. The insights from Novak and Couros, provided through relatable anecdotes and multiple opportunities to reflect, make this book a valuable resource for readers who are seeking to be the [proverbial] change.

Sarah Thomas, PhD, founder of EduMatch

George and Katies combined talents as spectacular storytellers drive this book. You will feel like you are flying through it and then realize how deeply you are learning. Both share the stage well as they intertwine the Core of Innovative Teaching and Learning, the Characteristics of an Innovators Mindset, and Universal Design for Learning. You will leave the pages feeling inspired, motivated, and restored.

Loui Lord Nelson, PhD, author of Design and Deliver and podcast host of UDL in 15 Minutes

Couros and Novak do an amazing job addressing the reality of constraints in education that we face. They share opportunities and ideas of how to overcome those barriers and Innovate Inside the Box we are given. This is a thought-provoking book I didnt want to put down, which left me feeling inspired and empowered. This is a must read if you are in any way involved with education.

Pam Erickson, elementary teacher, ISD 97

As a fan of Innovators Mindset, I knew that it would be hard to follow up with another book, but I was blown away by how inspirational this book was and how it provides practical ideas on how to lead meaningful change within the constraints of our systems. Innovate Inside the Box is both inspiring and filled with practical, real-world examples of how to empower learners to do amazing things while they are still in school that will develop our students as both the leaders of today and tomorrow.

A.J. Juliani, author of Empower and The PBL Playbook

A thoughtful and kind approach to innovation in education. It reads as more of a conversation than an evaluation of modern learning with a mix of inspiring yet vulnerable stories and practical ideas that can make an immediate difference with all learners. Innovate Inside the Box is the type of book that hits the sweet spot of making me uncomfortable while validating much of my path. I could not put this book down.

Meghan Lawson, coordinator of instructional services, Hamilton County Educational Service Center

Masterful! Couros and Novak have woven together a collection of timeless stories and practitioner-friendly insights that make innovation more accessible than ever before. Innovate Inside the Box contains a heartfelt array of resources that will stretch and affirm you, regardless of the position youre serving in. The relational underpinnings of innovative teaching and learning are on full display in this rare read, so much so that this book is sure to captivate and encourage generations of educators moving forward.

Brad Gustafson, principal at Wayzata Public Schools, author of Renegade Leadership and Reclaiming Our Calling

A wonderful conversational union of Innovators Mindset, UDL, and the practicality of HOW to shift your classroom and schools environment. George and Katie walking through each characteristic of the Innovators Mindset using a UDL lens really blew my mind! Specific examples of how and why to do things to truly innovate your own mindset as well as your learners! This is a must read for folks who are interested in UDL!

Lizzie Fortin, instructional coach/visual art teacher, Worcester Public Schools

The Innovators Mindset changed my trajectory as a teacher, so my expectations for Innovate Inside the Box seemed unrealistically high. It should come as no surprise, however, that my expectations were far exceeded. This book not only touches your heart, but Novak and Couros also provide countless meaningful ideas for teaching in a way that makes you feel as though they are exploring with you instead of telling you what to do. Every educator, no matter their role, needs to read this book.

Annick Rauch, grade 1 French immersion teacher, learner, mom

Couros and Novak address a fundamental problem prevalent in education today: Our systems move so slowly that we need, and have the power, to innovate inside the box! They challenge the reader to identify how to make a positive impact while understanding the obstacles we face and emphasize ways to be truly learner-centered. They state,... we must help students develop a learner orientation so they can see a deeper meaning to the learning that is happening within their school experience and take it with them wherever they choose to go. And that kind of learning requires innovative, learner-driven, evidence-informed teaching. This is one of the most powerful statements in the book and one of many that will resonate with all readers!

Dwight Carter, Eastland Career Center assistant director, leadership coach

Truly exceptional! George Couros and Katie Novak wrote something masterful with Innovate Inside the Box. As a follow-up to the best-selling book Innovators Mindset, they drive home the importance of focusing on nurturing the learner. Too often, we get stuck on trying to fix students deficiencies, struggles, and weaknesses rather than nurturing their talents, strengths, ideas, and the individual gifts they bring to the classroom. This book is thought-provoking and practical for both teachers and school leaders and is definitely a book I will be recommending to others.

Jimmy Casas, educator, speaker, leadership coach

As leaders in learner mindsets and UDL, George and Katie have joined forces to share characteristics and actions that focus on studentsnot as pawns for schools to use to attain higher state standings, but as people that we, as educators, strive to help reach their potential inside the classroom and beyond. While the ideas they present are research based, they have written them in a conversational tone that makes for an enjoyable reading experience. I am positive that, whether read as part of a group book study or individually, the reader will finish this book happy to realize that future interactions with students will be different because of it.

Josh Underwood, Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching recipient and Kentucky High School teacher of the year

In Innovate Inside the Box, Couros and Novak brilliantly fuse together key aspects of the Innovators Mindset and UDL Principles and offer a deep dive into their Core of Innovative Teaching and Learning