Are our schools hotbeds for innovation and creativity? Does\u00a0our present curriculum\u00a0equip students with the tools and knowledge they will need for their futures?\u00a0 How can we ensure that our learning environments are neither hidebound by the familiar and comfortable nor blinded by innovation that might turn out to be an apparition?<\/p>\n
How are your schools addressing the groundswells that have reshaped the way the world now communicates and does business?<\/p>\n
When asked to envision your ideal classroom and ideal approach to teaching and learning what do you see? <\/span>Do your current teaching methods match your students\u2019 learning expectations?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Imagine if you could create just such a place, and teach and learn in just such a manner.\u00a0<\/span>How would this change the way you and your students think and create?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n This is the focus of my action plan.<\/span><\/p>\n We know the world is changing. We know most of the jobs or degrees of the future don’t yet exist. \u00a0So, how are we preparing students? \u00a0We need to create spaces for students and teachers where creativity, technology, and industry converge \u2014 as a matter of course.\u00a0\u00a0 Last year, my school committed to creating such a space in the form of a\u00a0<\/span>Digital Learning Studio<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(DLS).<\/span><\/p>\n I have delved into research and collaboration with schools at various stages in\u00a0their own shift toward a ‘Maker Movement’. Later this month, I will visit\u00a0<\/span>The Fessenden School<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in Newton, MA to meet with resident specialists\u00a0at their\u00a0<\/span>iLab<\/span><\/a>, as well as\u00a0<\/span>NuVu The Innovation School<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in Cambridge, MA to talk shop and learn from industry leaders. I also hope to visit experts on home turf, as I learn more about\u00a0<\/span>Velocity<\/span><\/a>\u00a0at University of Waterloo and other centres of innovation in the province.<\/span><\/p>\n Time to \u2018Make Room\u2019: Why<\/b><\/p>\n Producers not Consumers\u00a0<\/b>The digital world has two distinct groups: those who produce content and those who consume content. While the means of content production are now in the hands of the many, the know-how and experience remain the preserve of the few.<\/span><\/p>\n Tools For Life\u00a0<\/b>A hammer can build a house\u2026 or it can break a thumb. A computer can display the world\u2026 or it can distract from daily life. In both cases, the way we\u00a0<\/span>think<\/span><\/i>\u00a0about the tool dictates how we\u00a0<\/span>use<\/span><\/i>\u00a0it.\u2028 The DLS would give students the broader skills\u2014critical thinking, design thinking, storytelling, creativity, empathy, prototyping\u2014necessary for their digital future. While the most innovative equipment they will use is important, it too will one day be obsolete. But these broader concepts will never expire.<\/span><\/p>\n A location on campus has been designated for our future DLS. Selected tools and equipment have been screened, vetted, and short-listed for purchase, and some of it is already being used. \u00a0Teacher experimentation with new 3D printing<\/a> software is stretching\u00a0curriculum, student participation\u00a0in VEX <\/a>and Lego robotics clubs is on the rise, and teacher\u00a0engagement in Design Thinking<\/a>\u00a0professional development\u00a0directly links\u00a0innovation and student entrepreneurship. We are moving in the right direction. <\/span><\/p>\n At the heart of the DLS is the desire to support teaching and learning in and outside of the classroom. The studio space itself, nestled strategically between both our Upper and Lower Schools, will serve as a visual reminder of this commitment to innovation, design education, experimentation, and prototyping. <\/span><\/p>\n I am always looking for new ways to improve, innovate, and build on ideas.\u00a0 As I attempt to capture the\u00a0trials and triumphs\u00a0on\u00a0this journey, I’d love to hear from those on similar paths. I\u2019m also interested to hear from those on divergent tracks, those who have different perspectives on\u00a0this shift in education and have counterpoints to offer. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For anyone interested in the Maker Movement and would like to know more about this shift in education, a good starting point might be the documentary\u00a0<\/span>Most Likely To Succeed<\/span><\/i>\u00a0(Sundance 2015):<\/span><\/p>\n [vimeo]https:\/\/vimeo.com\/122502930%5B\/vimeo%5D[\/vimeo]<\/p>\n I also recommend viewing the short video Humans Need Not Apply<\/em>. \u00a0This video will prompt deep reflection about the “impending redundancy” of human labour and human creativity. \u00a0How are our schools preparing our students for this future? Food for thought.<\/p>\n [youtube]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7Pq-S557XQU#t=432[\/youtube]<\/p>\n I welcome your comments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Are our schools hotbeds for innovation and creativity? Does\u00a0our present curriculum\u00a0equip students with the tools and knowledge they will need for their futures?\u00a0 How can we ensure that our learning environments are neither hidebound by the familiar and comfortable nor blinded by innovation that might turn out to be an apparition? How are your schools … Continue reading “Making Room: Engineering Hubs of Creativity and Innovation”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,20,42,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-21st-century-curriculum","category-action-plan","category-design-and-innovation","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/shelleythomas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/shelleythomas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/shelleythomas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/shelleythomas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/shelleythomas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=932"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/shelleythomas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/932\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/shelleythomas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/shelleythomas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/shelleythomas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/shelleythomas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}