As a whole, I thought this book an interesting and thought provoking read. The author's main context, that we can create innovators with intrinsic motivation through a process of play, passion and purpose seems sound and intriguing to look into implementing. Tony Wagner does well to provide wide and varying support for his ideas through telling the stories of a number of young innovators, and what their stories mean for the future of parenting and education. At the same time, and maybe by intention, I am left wondering as the reader what changes I would need to push for to bring his ideals about in our current public school system. In fact, I still wonder if these changes to help create more innovators are possible with the current system at is stands.
From this book, I believe I developed two main concepts that will affect my learning: risk taking/learning from mistakes and looking for ways to play more. By play, I mean along the lines of creative exploration. This form of play can help me further develop my passions and purpose in life which I'm not so sure are completely solidified yet. For instance, I have a passion to make the world a better place certainly, and for helping youngsters grow in their learning. However, I am not completely sure I know what that will look like for the rest of my life. Right now, I believe my purpose is to teach mathematics, but who knows how that may transform with time. In terms of risk taking, this book seems to help push along a trend towards learning from mistakes that I have been on for some time now. I am thankful I read this book and the author's take on the power of mistakes in learning and success. Truly, I believe living with such willingness to get it wrong will help me continue to improve as an educator, coach, husband or any other role I play in life. If I gained nothing else from this book, those two principles alone would make the read worthwhile.
Finally, but certainly not lacking in importance, this book has done much to shape the types of activities and classroom I picture establishing in my career as an educator. Foremost in my mind, I will strive to create an environment where creative exploration, whimsy or play thrive. Ideally, such play will lead to the opportunity for students to develop their own passions regardless of conventional wisdom or convention. I can see trying project based learning styles, or at a minimum implementing more cross discipline style learning experiences as well. To be honest, I don't know exactly how to make this happen, but hopefully as I myself play with what works best for student learning, I can come up with an innovative solution.
Citations:
Wagner, T., & Compton, R. A. (2012). Creating innovators: The making of young people who will change the world. New York: Scribner.
From this book, I believe I developed two main concepts that will affect my learning: risk taking/learning from mistakes and looking for ways to play more. By play, I mean along the lines of creative exploration. This form of play can help me further develop my passions and purpose in life which I'm not so sure are completely solidified yet. For instance, I have a passion to make the world a better place certainly, and for helping youngsters grow in their learning. However, I am not completely sure I know what that will look like for the rest of my life. Right now, I believe my purpose is to teach mathematics, but who knows how that may transform with time. In terms of risk taking, this book seems to help push along a trend towards learning from mistakes that I have been on for some time now. I am thankful I read this book and the author's take on the power of mistakes in learning and success. Truly, I believe living with such willingness to get it wrong will help me continue to improve as an educator, coach, husband or any other role I play in life. If I gained nothing else from this book, those two principles alone would make the read worthwhile.
Finally, but certainly not lacking in importance, this book has done much to shape the types of activities and classroom I picture establishing in my career as an educator. Foremost in my mind, I will strive to create an environment where creative exploration, whimsy or play thrive. Ideally, such play will lead to the opportunity for students to develop their own passions regardless of conventional wisdom or convention. I can see trying project based learning styles, or at a minimum implementing more cross discipline style learning experiences as well. To be honest, I don't know exactly how to make this happen, but hopefully as I myself play with what works best for student learning, I can come up with an innovative solution.
Citations:
Wagner, T., & Compton, R. A. (2012). Creating innovators: The making of young people who will change the world. New York: Scribner.