What happens when we stop focusing on delivering information and start creating the conditions for curiosity?

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, George Couros sits down with educator, instructional coach, and conference founder Olivia Odileke to explore why curiosity may be the most important skill we can cultivate in schools today.

Olivia shares the inspiration behind the Spark Curiosity EDU Experience, an immersive conference designed to help educators move beyond compliance-driven instruction and create learning experiences that spark thinking, wonder, and engagement. Together, they discuss the role of psychological safety, the difference between retention and learning, the challenges facing modern classrooms, and how educators can rediscover joy and purpose in their work.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

• Why curiosity is the foundation for problem-solving, adaptability, persistence, and deeper learning • How "discovery before delivery" can transform classroom experiences • The importance of psychological safety for both students and educators • Why changing student experiences starts with changing adult experiences • How AI can support instructional decision-making without replacing human connection • Practical strategies educators can use immediately to spark engagement and thinking

You'll also hear about innovative elements of the Spark Curiosity EDU Experience, including the Spark Wall, Shout-Out Wall, Fearless Educator Radio, and Olivia's Micro-Inquiry Framework.

Connect with Olivia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-odileke/

Learn more about the conference: https://sparkcuriosityedu.com/

Questions for Reflection and Conversation:

1. What are we doing in our classrooms that sparks curiosity before delivering information?

2. How can we create greater psychological safety for both students and educators to take risks and learn?

3. Are our students primarily consuming information, or are they actively uncovering and constructing understanding?

#Curiosity #Education #Teaching #Learning #InstructionalDesign #StudentEngagement #EducationalLeadership #InnovationInEducation #InquiryBasedLearning #TeacherDevelopment #EdChat #AIinEducation #TheInnovatorsMindset #SparkCuriosity #ProfessionalLearning

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👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros: X: https://x.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros: Forward, Together: https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Technology has made so many aspects of our lives easier. We can access information instantly, communicate in seconds, and use powerful AI tools with little training. But as technology removes friction, an important question emerges:

Are we helping students develop the capacity to do hard things?

In this episode, I explore ideas sparked by a recent TED Talk from Jonathan Haidt and reflect on the relationship between technology, attention, learning, and personal growth. While technology itself may be easier than ever to use, the work that leads to meaningful growth, deep learning, strong relationships, and thoughtful leadership often requires effort, persistence, and discomfort.

We discuss:

• Why learning technology is often easier than learning how to use it wisely • The connection between attention, distraction, and meaningful work • How convenience can sometimes work against growth and learning • Why difficult conversations, deep reading, and thoughtful writing still matter • What schools can do to help students embrace challenge rather than avoid it • The importance of becoming "techno-curious," balancing both skepticism and wonder

1. As technology becomes easier to use, what skills and dispositions become more important for students to develop?

2. Where might convenience be helping learning, and where might it be unintentionally limiting growth?

3. How can educators create experiences that encourage students to pursue meaningful challenges instead of always choosing the easiest path?

4. What is something difficult in your own life that ultimately made you better because you worked through it?

5. How do we help students use technology not just efficiently, but purposefully?

Referenced Blog Post:

The Easier Technology Gets, the More Challenge Matters https://georgecouros.com/the-easier-technology-gets-haidt/

This episode expands on the ideas shared in the blog and explores why, in a world where technology makes so much easier, helping students develop resilience, curiosity, critical thinking, and a willingness to embrace challenge may be more important than ever.

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👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros: X: https://x.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros: Forward, Together: https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

In this conversation with Nancy Chung, we explore what it really means to create a culture of belonging in schools, not only for students, but for educators as well. We discuss the importance of community in the classroom, why joy matters in education, and how educators can recover after difficult days without losing their passion for the work they do.

Nancy also shares her journey of becoming a content creator in education, how she started building her online presence, and practical advice for educators who want to begin sharing their voice and ideas through social media.

This episode is a reminder that strong schools are built through relationships, authenticity, resilience, and a willingness to keep showing up for one another.

Nancy Chung’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancynancyin5th/

Learn more about Nancy and her work:

Questions for Consideration:

1. What are some intentional ways we can help students and staff feel a true sense of belonging?
2. How can educators recover from difficult days while still maintaining joy in their work?
3. If you want to share your voice online, what is one small step you could take to start today?

___________

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/