Creating Innovators

Interdisciplinary learning, collaboration, risk taking, intrinsic motivation - these are all buzz words to describe ways to cultivate innovation.  Why is innovation so important and how to do we instill and cultivate it in our students?  We recently explored this question at our panel discussion last week. Five highly innovative and successful individuals joined us for an evening of dialogue, questions, and discussion.

While listening to the speakers, I was reaffirmed that we are cultivating innovation right here at Parker. Our teachers create learning opportunities, rather than teach kids to be consumers of knowledge.  Intrinsic motivation is nurtured and celebrated as kids become excited about a topic. Teachers in all grades create environments of inquiry, playfulness, creativity, and discovery. Students are encouraged to ask questions and form relationships with their teachers, who in turn, help kids to discover their passions and get excited about learning.

Over the past two weeks students have been practicing and rehearsing for our school-wide Shakespeare performance. Kids are given a chance to put themselves out there, take a risk, and get on stage in front of the Parker community.  I can't think of a better way to infuse their learning with a sense of playfulness and creativity. They are working together towards a common goal and supporting one another throughout.  

Tony Wagner, Harvard Educational Specialist, advocates for the importance of creating innovators in today's schools.  He argues that content should no longer be at the center of school.  Instead, he says a teacher’s main job should be to help students develop key skills necessary for when they leave school. He contends there are seven essential things young people need to be successful lifelong learners:

Formulate good questions
Communicate in groups and lead by influence
Be agile and adaptable
Take initiative and be entrepreneurial
Effective written and oral communication skills
Know how to access and analyze information
Be creative and imaginative

It's not enough to be just learning content - our children today need to learn how to learn.  Asking good questions, working in groups, being flexible, using teachers as mentors, and thinking creatively are all qualities a Parker education focuses on.  Through projects, performances, public speaking, and community service (and much more!) Parker kids are learning 21st century skills that will prepare them for a bright future.

Working together to formulate questions and find answers!