Innovation in education is crucial today because "tinkering isn’t enough!"

Recently, I signed up to participate in #IMMOOC, a global initiative to get educators hyper-focused on the content presented in @gcouros book titled “Innovator’s Mindset.”  This three-day seminar asked thousands of learning facilitators to Tweet, blog, and YouTube live about innovation in education.  Each session includes a blog post, and the first question presented was “Why is innovation in education so crucial today?”  Here is my response.

By definition, innovation calls for a “transformation” in education.  Something “new and better” is in line with modern efforts to move away from an Industrial Age model of education.  Phrases like “change is an opportunity to do something great” excites the base and moves us closer to an Information Age model that will “break the pattern of performance.” 

Starting with empathy and the golden question, “What is best for this student?”, Innovation in education is student-centered.  Focusing on what is best for learners and moving past engagement towards empowerment are attributes of an Innovator’s Mindset that prepare students to be future ready, and being prepared for the future is why innovation in education is crucial today! 

Further, employers all across the country consistently state the need for soft skills in their employees, and business is less and less interested in how much content a person knows or even where they learned it.  In today’s business world it is what you do with the information available that is the commodity. 

The personal attributes of empathy, problem-solving, resilience, and risk-taking are all characteristics of the Innovator’s Mindset, and they enable people to interact effectively in the Information Age.  Through innovation, having the freedom to take risks and even fail is important, and it supports the skills of resiliency and grit, attributes employers are looking for in their employees. 

Change in education is imminent.  We know that the assembly-line delivery of instruction is outdated, and as the plethora of information available to us becomes too much to memorize the move towards creation is taking shape.  This change will require innovation from all interested parties, and as @BeaMcGarvy said, “tinkering isn’t enough!”  Ideas like, Mass Customized Learning, and individualized learning plans for all students, new age learning spaces, and the use of technology to meet the needs of all learners simultaneously will require innovative thinking, and as we focus on developing talent for the future, it is innovation that will unleash this thinking.