Surrounded by leading innovators I just returned from an invitation-only workshop in Washington DC called Educate to Innovate. Here we discussed possible roadblocks and action items to help change education to create innovators. I was joined by university leaders, large and small business leaders, policy makers, and K-12 representatives that were considered innovators. This workshop is part of an ongoing research project sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences in partnership with the University of Illinois department of Engineering. We met in the NAS building to listen to lectures and break out into small groups to share our ideas.
Entry way into the NAS building, DC I was so honored to be invited to this workshop and have a chance to share my ideas for elevating the role of the arts in K-12. I believe the arts teachers should be the leaders in creating a culture of creativity, open-mindedness, and collaboration with a freedom to take risks and learn from mistakes. This is what our art rooms look like everyday. I was so happy to share with this diverse group of leaders how important an art teachers' role is in nurturing curiosity and creativity at every stage in life. I took visual notes from our sessions. Take a look at the ideas that were being shared below.
UPDATE: I used my visual notes and photos to make a video reflection of my experience.
UPDATE: I used my visual notes and photos to make a video reflection of my experience.
Notes from Herbert Holden Thorpe, Provost, Washington University, St. Louis and C. Daniel Mote, Jr., President of National Academy of Engineering
Break out session one: what is innovation? Is it rewarded in our universities? Do we see interdisciplinary approaches to learning in higher ed?
What does innovation look like in K-12? Can we resist narrowing the curriculum and stop over testing our students? Can we reclaim the role of teacher as innovator-not robotic curriculum deliverer?
Innovators are irreverent and break icons. They are problem-solvers who learn through failure. Process is as important as product. Do schools kill creativity?
I felt like this trip put me WAY out of my comfort zone. I traveled alone, to meet with strangers, and was a lone voice in many ways.
This became the topic of the Arts Roundtable podcast I contributed to from DC on Tuesday night.
Listen to Carol, Brenda, Jen and I talk about stretching our teaching and learning beyond our comfort zones in this new podcast.
This became the topic of the Arts Roundtable podcast I contributed to from DC on Tuesday night.
Listen to Carol, Brenda, Jen and I talk about stretching our teaching and learning beyond our comfort zones in this new podcast.
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