Fostering Technological Innovation

      Once again, while watching a TED Talk video (which is a great way to stay informed of emerging technologies and what’s going on in the world of education) I felt compelled to blog my thoughts.  So here it goes….

    
     In grad. classes (such as Instructional Apps. of the Internet) we are pushed to use technology to create instructional materials (such as instructional websites, podcasts, webquests, and screencasts) that foster learning within classrooms (whether face-to-face or online).  As educators, we also encourage students to explore and use technology to create projects and share ideas.  However, sometimes I think we get so wrapped up with trying to keep up with emerging technologies that we fail to think much about where they come from and how they come to be.  I enjoyed Catarina Mota’s “Play with Smart Materials” talk that focused on describing and demonstrating a variety of “smart materials,” such as plastics that change shape, paints that conduct electricity, pigments that change color, fabrics that light up, jelly that makes music, and a window that turns from clear to opaque at the flip of a switch; she went on to stress how important it is that we really begin to understand, explore, and tinker with smart materials because “innovation has always been fueled by tinkerers.”    

     As I watched Mota’s talk, I was compelled to think about the way schools are typically structured today and how kids are expected to use technology and learn.  Does our current education system promote creative thinkers who are encouraged to tinker with materials and ideas in order to create?  Sadly, the answer is usually “no.”  Our educational system is set up to fill students with knowledge; however, we need to do a better job of encouraging students to explore that knowledge and discover how to apply it in creative ways.  It is not enough that students know how to use different types of emerging technologies; they should be encouraged more to invent new ways of using current materials/technologies and even to create new materials through discovery learning. 

     As educational technologists, it is our responsibility to help foster the creativity and innovation within students.  We need to lead by example how a 21st century classroom should be structured to promote learning through creative and exploratory means.  Students need to be provided with opportunities to problem solve and use critical thinking skills in a variety of meaningful learning experiences.  Learning needs to be authentic, engaging, and problem-based.  What good is having critical thinking and problem solving skills if students do not know how to effectively apply them to real-world situations?  For example, instead of simply telling my second grade students about magnetic poles and magnetic force, I have them experiment with magnets in learning centers.  I use problem-based learning activities (like how to move a metal toy car around a track without touching it) to get students to experiment with magnetic force, explore its properties, and find new ways to use it (not simply to stick stuff to the refrigerator).  Not only is this approach to learning exciting, motivating, and engaging for students, but they must use creative thinking, problem solving, and critical thinking skills to build their knowledge and create.  They become more independent learners and acquire a thirst for knowledge that is fueled by curiosity.  The students we help prepare today are the innovators of tomorrow; they are the key to a bright future flooded with emerging technologies.