Write a reflection on this quote: 'In a time when there is hunger for
innovation everywhere, we think our primary responsibility is to help prepare a
generation of students to rise with the challenges of our times' (d.school).
How and why do you intend to create an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset
in your pupils? Or why not?
Today, much of the manual labor force is mostly found in the East. Many
Danish firms create products that are sold worldwide. The competition is
therefore fierce because of globalization and we have to find new ways to
compete with prices, functionality and design. This takes innovative minds.
We have to be able to think “out of the box”. Dare to try to do things
differently. Who would ever have thought that we would be a able to listen to
hundreds of songs while taking a run. When the creator of Apple, Steve Jobs,
invented the iPod it changed the way we bought and listened to music. It made
it easier, less costly and we suddenly did not have to buy a whole album but
could carefully select songs that we enjoyed the most and create playlists for
different occasions. That surely is innovative!
From my own experience working with innovation I see that there are 3
main things teachers should remember when working with innovation in schools:
1. Students need to
be open for all new ideas. We have to put our “yes hat” on and dare come up
with any idea even thought it might seem crazy.
2. Teachers have to
be able to create student groups. This means finding the right balance between
students who can learn to work together in a good group environment giving each
other space and listening to one another. Many minds are better at creating new
ideas than one mind alone as students can elaborate on each others ideas.
3. Innovation takes
time! You cannot rush this process. You have to take many important steps into
consideration.
A good innovation process may look like this:
•
Having a goal – what do we want to produce?
•
What kinds of values lie behind our group e.g. we use
organic materials, or all materials have to be made in Denmark, the ideas have
to be based on human rights etc.
•
We need to free ourselves from how we usually do
things or how we usually think when we start to create. If the class is very
critical towards each other then they need to focus on stop being critical.
This can be done in many ways. We can have all students write down what they
usually do and then keep all these comments in a suitcase. We can also go to a
lake and have each student throw a stone in to the lake while saying what they
need to break free from.
•
We need to remember to take breaks so our mind can
wonder about the product or idea. We also need to take breaks so we may create
new energy for our selves and our group.
•
Brainstorming ideas – this is an open process where we
have to dare come up with new ideas and help each other build upon these ideas.
•
Grouping ideas- the many ideas need to be sorted. They
need to be put into certain categories so that we are able to get an overview
of the ideas.
•
We need to validate these ideas. Two of the criteria
could typically be cost/ benefit but many other criteria could also be of
importance. We might want to consider first having one round of criteria and
then another.
•
Now we need to start visualizing the product. This
means drawing our idea or making a model of the product or writing the manual
for your projects.
•
The last step is putting our product into production.
This means considering who will make it, what will it cost, who shall we market
this product towards etc.
Innovation is an exciting process! But remember to be open and have time
to go in to depth with the innovation process. And remember to have fun:)!
In 2011 I took a course called Kunstgreb where I learned hot to use creative tools for innovation.
Danish readers can go to my website regarding my work with innovation:
www.janepejtersen.dk
In 2011 I took a course called Kunstgreb where I learned hot to use creative tools for innovation.
Danish readers can go to my website regarding my work with innovation:
www.janepejtersen.dk
There are many wonderful pages on Design for Change. But I must admit
that my favorite is Stories for change regarding inclusion. Having students
work together and help one another other regardless of their background, in the
case children with physical and mental disabilities, teaches students to
practice openness, tolerance and empathy towards each other. These are very important
skills to learn, as they teach students that no matter what we look like, where
we come from or how we are different that it is possible to establish a
positive learning and work environment.
Ashley primary school in the UK visits the Walton Leigh School. The
students have gathered around a Holiday theme to make Christmas decorations
together.
The description of the video:
This is our fourth visit to our link school Walton
Leigh School which is a co-educational secondary special school for pupils with
severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties aged between 11 and 19.
This time, the class linked up with the school to prepare the young people for
their Christmas Bazaar. We decorated the Hall with all things shiny, made
ceramic coasters to be sold at the bazaar, painted sleighs for the Santa's
Grotto and simply enjoyed the big reunion!
I found a great website that might be of inspiration for Danish teachers. Here you can learn how to use innovation and entrepreneurship in all the different subjects in school:
http://www.piif.dk
I found a great website that might be of inspiration for Danish teachers. Here you can learn how to use innovation and entrepreneurship in all the different subjects in school:
http://www.piif.dk
Dear Jane,
SvarSletGreat suggestions - thanks for the reference to the piif website.
Please stay in touch with Center for Innovation with all your knowledge and experience on innovation.
Best,
Lilian