Innovation: A Current Buzzword in Education
Written by: Jason Walke
Right now, the word innovation has taken over education. Our school just created an “Innovation Room.” A neighboring school recently built a new wing and named it the “Innovation Center.” I have sat through numerous education conferences, seminars and workshops over the past couple years, and I can say that “innovation” is a word that is consistently used.
However, what exactly does innovation mean when it comes to education? Webster’s definition is “a new idea, method, or device”. When thinking about the classroom and education system as a whole, that can seem a little out of place. Compulsory education has been around for over 100 years, and whether it is good or bad, it has not changed a whole lot. Even the new diploma requirements by the state of Indiana don’t revamp the education system. Students will still attend classes or work experience activities. They still will be adhering to state policy for the number of days they must be in session. They will still go through mandatory and elective classes that are taught to them in a classroom setting or online environment. Overall, it is not that big of a change. With that said, how can the word “innovative” be used so consistently when thinking about education?
Instead of looking at education at the macro level, you need to focus on the micro level. Innovation is happening in various classrooms in the schools in your communities and you may not be realizing it. How is this innovation happening? It can look very different to different subjects and teacher philosophies. Innovation in individual classrooms is changing the way the teacher teaches. It is a move away from the “traditional” classroom and a move to finding ways to get students to think critically, apply real-world applications, and develop various soft skills needed for when they go out and start their own careers.
“Innovation in individual classrooms is changing the way the teacher teaches. It is a move away from the “traditional” classroom and a move to finding ways to get students to think critically, apply real-world applications, and develop various soft skills needed for when they go out and start their own careers.”
I try to focus on being innovative in my own classroom as much as possible. This can look like a number of different ideas, but I do several things to show we are being innovative (think new ideas, just as Webster defines). In my Business Operations class, I work with local businesses to present issues they are having and have my students create real-life solutions that can be used for those issues and have my students present their solutions (read more about this). We actually call these “Innovation Days.” In a previous position, I worked with a fellow teacher in a World History class, and our students created our own Renaissance Faire, and we invited elementary students and community members to attend. My media class is working with a local videographer to learn about and create professional marketing videos. My Economics class learns the basics of design, supply and demand in a unit that teaches mortgages and interest through a project where they find a plot of land, design a house to build on it and then figure out the costs for everything and look into what a mortgage would be and the interest associated with that mortgage. We also learn about property taxes and what they are used for and how homeowner’s insurance works. In Entrepreneurship, we participate in an actual business conference built for students as well as participate in various business pitch competitions. These competitions have led to some of my students winning thousands of dollars and making connections to other business leaders who want to help bring their ideas to life. We are bringing real-life applications into the classroom and at the micro level, that is innovative.
Innovation can be done with any subject. AI has become a best friend when trying to brainstorm and think of new projects and ideas. Artificial Intelligence has the ability to be innovative within education, and many teachers are being innovative in their classrooms thanks to AI. Bringing innovation into my classrooms with how I teach has been a game changer. Students are more engaged. Students are more interested (even if it is a mandatory class that they would rather not be in). Students are honing their critical thinking skills. Students are developing other soft skills such as time management, discipline, communication, etc. These students are being prepared to conquer the real world when they graduate and I always look forward to following their successes after their high school years are over. Innovation can be done in any classroom at any level.
“Innovation can be done in any classroom at any level.”
Close your eyes, sit back and think…..”how can I bring innovation into my classroom?”
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