Creating Innovators by: Tony Wagner Chapters 1 and 2 September 16, 2015 Dr. Dale Ellis

Why is Innovation Essential to Our Future?  Economics  Agriculture, Manufacturing, Service, to what’s next?  The demands of the world we live in are evolving and increasingly complex  The gap will widen between the haves and the have nots based upon intellectual curiosity and innovation. Where do we want the US to be in that transformation?  Creativity and innovation is the number 1 demand of 21 st century employers

What is Innovation? There are numerous definitions – How would YOU define it?

What is Innovation? – Cont.’  Using creativity to address an issue in a way that adds value in a way that has not been realized before. Doing something differently, but in a better way.  It is not simple regurgitation of the same facts. It requires knowledge of what exists but creativity to address problems in a new way.

The Seven Survival Skills ALL Kids Need  Critical thinking and problem solving  Collaboration across networks and leading by influence  Agility and adaptability  Initiative and entrepreneurship  Accessing and analyzing information  Effective oral and written communication  Curiosity and imagination

The Five Skills of the INNOVATIVE  Associating  Questioning  Observing  Experimenting  Networking

The Innovation Generation  These skills can be learned and nurtured  These learners are more restless because they live in a wired world  Access to information is easier so they are bored with simple access tasks  This restlessness will continue into adulthood, whether innovation has been taugh  t to students or not

How Do We Develop Young People to Be Innovators?  Play  Passion  Purpose Discuss your understanding of these three components with a neighbor. How can you incorporate these three things into your classrooms at your particular grade level?

Portrait of an Innovator – Kirk Phelps 

Kirk Phelps – Cont.’  Discuss with your tablemates… 1. What part did parenting play in the development of Mr. Phelps? 2. What part did his private school education play in his development? 3. What part did post-secondary education play in his development? 4. What part did his work environment play in his development?

What Kind of Spaces are WE Providing?  Chance favors the connected mind….

Debrief  How do we start the process of taking this knowledge, in conjunction with our other initiatives, and create a culture that nurtures innovation?  How do we nurture innovation when our students lack in basic skills?

Conclusion  Questions  Comments  Concerns