Creating Innovators

Tony Wagner, Ed.D. Innovation Education Fellow

Technology & Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard tony_wagner@harvard.edu www.tonywagner.com

Copyright 2012, Tony Wagner, Harvard University

The formulation of the problem is often more essential than the solution. Einstein
Understanding the Impact of A Changing World on Education in the 21st Century:

Knowledge has become a free commodity--, growing exponentially, changing constantly

From scrolls to tablets to books to the internet

As a result, all students need new skills for continuous learning, careers, and citizenship Digital natives are differently motivated to learn than digital immigrants
Copyright 2012, Tony Wagner, Harvard University 2

So What? Now What?

The World No Longer Cares What You Know . . . The World Cares What You Can Do With What You Know: Do you have the skill? Do you have the will?
Copyright 2012, Tony Wagner, Harvard University 3

The Seven Survival Skills for Careers, College, And Citizenship

1. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving 2. Collaboration Across Networks and Leading by Influence 3. Agility and Adaptability 4. Initiative and Entrepreneurialism 5. Effective Oral and Written Communication 6. Accessing and Analyzing Information 7. Curiosity and Imagination

Copyright 2012, Tony Wagner, Harvard University

Creating Innovators:
The Culture of Schooling vs The Culture of Innovation

Individual Achievement versus Collaboration Specialization versus Problem-based, Multidisciplinary Learning Risk Avoidance versus Trial and Error
The resilience and self-confidence that comes from surviving failure

Consuming versus Creating Extrinsic versus Intrinsic Motivation

Play, Passion, and Purpose = perseverance
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What is The Global Achievement Gap? The Global Achievement Gap is the gap between what even our best schools are teaching and testing Versus The habits of mind and heart all students will need for careers, continuous learning, and citizenship in the 21st century What gets tested is what gets taught: Having the wrong metric is worse than having none at all
Copyright 2012, Tony Wagner, Harvard University 6

What Motivates The Digital Natives?

Accustomed to instant gratification and always-on connection Use the web for 1) extending friendships, 2) interestdriven, self-directed learning, and 3) as a tool for selfexpression Constantly connected, creating, and multitasking in a multimedia worldeverywhere except in school Less fear and respect for authorityaccustomed to learning from peers; want coaching, but only from adults who dont talk down to them Want to make a difference and do interesting/worthwhile work
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Implications for Reinvention: Graduating all Students Innovation-ready

From A Consumption-driven, Informationbased Learning System (what you know) Focus on Timeless Learning (academic content that has persisted over time) To A Creation-driven, Transformation-based Learning System (what you can do with what you know) Focus on using challenging academic content to master the competencies of Just-in-Time Learning
Copyright 2012, Tony Wagner, Harvard University 8

Redefining Rigor: 5 Habits of Mind Learning to Ask The Right Questions

Weighing Evidence
How do we know whats true and false? What is the evidence, and is it credible?

Awareness of Varying Viewpoints

What viewpoint are we hearing? Who is the author, and what are his or her intentions? How might it look to someone with a different history?

Seeing Connections/Cause & Effect

Is there a pattern? How are things connected? Where have we seen this before?

Speculating on Possibilities/Conjecture
What if? Supposing that? Can we imagine alternatives?

Assessing ValueBoth Socially and Personally

What difference does it make? Who cares? So what?
From www.missionhillschool.org
Copyright 2012, Tony Wagner, Harvard University 9

Questions Parents Might Want To Ask:

To your child: What do you want to explore? What are you curious about? What are you passionate about? To your childs teachers: What skills are you teaching, and how are you assessing them? Are students creators or consumers in your classes? To the school: What are you doing to improve instruction, and how do you know it is working? How well are your graduates prepared for college, careers, and citizenship, and how do you know?

Copyright 2012, Tony Wagner, Harvard University

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Some Questions for Teachers & Administrators To Consider

Evidence-driven Continuous Improvement:

What skills are you teaching, and how are you assessing them? How much time do students in your classes spend on applying what they have learned? What do they create and for whom? Are you a better teacher than 2 years agoif so, in what ways, and how do you know? What is the school doing to systematically improve instruction, and how do you know its working? How well are your students prepared for college, careers, and citizenship, and how do you know? Is your school adding value? How do you know?
Copyright 2012, Tony Wagner, Harvard University 11

Redefining Educational Excellence:

Accountability

1. Hold Ourselves Accountable for What Matters Most

Skills: Use The College and Work Readiness Assessment to assess analytic reasoning, critical thinking, problem-solving, and writing (www.cae.org) Motivation: Videotape focus groups with recent grads & survey students (High School Survey of Student Engagement) http://ceep.indiana.edu/hssse/index.htm

Copyright 2012, Tony Wagner, Harvard University

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Redefining Educational Excellence:

Academics

2. Doing the New Work: teaching & assessing the skills that matter most Develop strategies for teaching & assessing the 3 Cs: Critical & Creative Thinking, Communication, and Collaborationin every class and at all grade levels Pilot interdisciplinary courses around essential questions and capstone projects for 5th, 8th, and 12th projects. Require all students to have digital portfolios, work internships, and service learning projects
Copyright 2012, Tony Wagner, Harvard University 13

Redefining Educational Excellence:

Collaboration & Transparency

3. Doing the New Work in New Ways Isolation is the enemy of improvement Every teacher on teams for collaborative inquirylooking at student and teacher work Videotape teaching & supervision (lesson study versus evaluation) Peer-reviewed digital portfolios for teachers & leaders

Copyright 2012, Tony Wagner, Harvard University

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Coming April 17 to a Bookstore or E-Book near you

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(to see the trailer and order, go to: www.2mminutes.com)

And for your viewing pleasure . . .

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For Still More Information . . .

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And More Still . . .

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For more information: www.tonywagner.com

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