Creating Innovators

1/10/2015

Creating Innovators - Tony Wagner

"Education expert Tony Wagner provides a powerful rationale for developing an innovation-driven economy. He explores what parents, teachers, and employers must do to develop the capacities of young people to become innovators." - Amazon

Although there is little question that innovators are critical for economies and communities, how we actually develop more students as innovators is a whole other ball game. Tony Wagner has interviewed many innovators and their families to help us understand their journey. The book also includes great links to videos of many of Tony's interview for you to watch. If you were a fan of Ken Robinson's, The Element, you will love this book.

view

Are you currently reading this book?

Tell us what you think in the comments below, or join us for an online book club session in November to discuss the ideas from this book.

1 Comment

Gerard

5/10/2015 11:04:58 pm

Enjoyed reading the beginning of this book, before it was rudely taken from me and taken on a plane to Christchurch. I plan to follow in the next couple of days to rescue the book back and continue reading.

It has certainly opened my eyes in what the challenge of NCEA is bringing. I have spoken to some of my family who have just gone through the schooling system and the challenges that they faced. One spent year 13, not on the academic pathway, but more around exploring problems. This ended up him going to Hong Kong to compete in a world competition, The FedEx Express, Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge.
The other wasn't interested in all subjects in school. He was interested in three. These allowed him to pursue his interests. It wasn't until his mother went to a careers night where she found a way for him to develop these interests. He is now part way through a 3 year degree.

Why do we push students to go down a path...

Reading the book...
Many of the Innovation Generation are deeply worried about the future of the planet, seek healthier lifestyles, and want to make a difference more than they want to make money. But they are swimming against the tides of tradition. A lot of parents still harbor hopes that their children will persue prestigious careers and be economically better off than they are. Too many teachers and employers still reward the "old school" behaviours of deference to authority and striving for "success", conventionally defined - and count on carrots and sticks for motivation. The result is that many in the Innovation Generation are skeptical of adult authority and the institutions that their elders have presided over. School is a game the Innovation Generation knows they have to play to get "credentialed", but they do it with as little effort as possible. Most have no desire to climb the corporate ladder and wait twenty years to do something interesting or worthwhile. They have no patience with worksheets or busywork. They have dreams and ambitions that demand time and space - and active nurturing.

The problem is that many of those in their forties, fifties and sixties who work in established institutions don't make the time and space for the younger generation's dreams and ambitions. Leaders of conventional schools and businesses don't know what to do with this Innovation Generation. These young people have different dreams, different aspirations from their elders.
Page 19, Creating Innovators, Tony Wagner