Innovation Preparing Students for the Future

In this month’s Lower School Head Coffee and Conversation, I am interested in running a workshop to unpack the buzzword “Innovation” with our parent community. I am keen to hear our community’s thoughts on innovation in schools.

If we consider the definition of innovation to be the introduction of new ideas, methods, or products, then in the context of education, innovation means exploring new and creative ways to teach and learn, utilizing technology and other resources to enhance the educational experience.

In my short time at W+H, I have come to see that our school is committed to promoting innovation in a couple of areas:

1. Technology Integration: We are working to integrate technology into our classrooms in meaningful ways. This includes the use of digital tools such as interactive whiteboards, laptops, iPads, and educational software to enhance student learning.

2. Project-Based Learning: We believe that students learn best when they are engaged in real-world projects that allow them to apply what they have learned in meaningful ways. Some of our teachers are working to develop project-based learning experiences that allow students to explore topics in-depth and work collaboratively to solve problems.

We believe that innovation is essential to preparing our students for the future. By embracing new ideas and methods, we are creating a learning environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Innovation in schools has been a topic of discussion among educators for many years, and it's becoming increasingly important as we move towards a more technology-driven world. Ted Dintersmith and Tony Wagner are two experts in the field of education who have extensively studied innovation in schools. 

Just last month, I attended the Future FocusED Conference at the Beaver Country Day School, in Boston, Massachusetts. Tony Wagner was a keynote speaker who began the conference with a presentation and a video on the future of work. While already outdated, it sparked a few key questions:

What is it that we human beings can uniquely do that a computer cannot?

How can we best prepare young people for this new world and to develop their fullest capabilities?

In this blog post, I want to highlight the ideas of both Tony Wagner and Ted Dintersmith and their perspectives on the importance of innovation in schools.

Ted Dintersmith, a former venture capitalist and author of the book Most Likely to Succeed, argues that the current education system is outdated and needs to be reimagined. According to him, the focus on standardized testing and rote memorization has created a system that is not preparing students for the future workforce. Instead, he believes that innovation in schools is essential to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.

Dintersmith suggests that innovation in schools should focus on developing skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. He believes that schools should move away from a content-focused curriculum and instead provide students with opportunities to work on real-world projects and collaborate with their peers. Dintersmith argues that this approach will not only better prepare students for the workforce but will also lead to more engaged and motivated learners.

Tony Wagner, an education expert and author of The Global Achievement Gap, agrees with Dintersmith's perspective on the importance of innovation in schools. Wagner argues that the current education system is failing to equip students with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce. He suggests that innovation in schools should focus on developing skills such as critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.

Wagner believes that innovation in schools can be achieved through the adoption of project-based learning and the use of technology. He suggests that schools should provide students with opportunities to work on real-world projects that require them to apply their knowledge and skills in a practical way. Additionally, Wagner believes that technology can be used to create more engaging and interactive learning experiences.

Both Dintersmith and Wagner agree that innovation in schools is essential to prepare students for the future workforce. They suggest that schools should focus on developing skills such as critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity, and provide students with opportunities to work on real-world projects and use technology to create more engaging learning experiences.

In conclusion, innovation in schools is critical to prepare students for the rapidly changing world. Dintersmith and Wagner are two experts in education who have extensively studied innovation in schools. They both argue that the current education system is failing to equip students with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce and suggest that innovation in schools should focus on developing skills such as critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. By embracing innovation in schools, we can better prepare our students for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

As we continue to innovate and explore new ways to enhance the educational experience for our students at Wardlaw+Hartridge, I would like to invite all members of our W+H learning community to engage in this discussion and explore the following essential questions:

1. How do we expand the nature of school?

2. What's the future of teaching and learning?

3. What are the implications for our W+H learning community?

4. How can we help contribute to our students being future-ready?