Innovative students are capable of solving unanswered problems such as developing an unrefrigerated test for the Ebola virus. Innovative students understand how to use technology and contribute to global society. To educate innovators is to create students who are future ready. Innovating with technology is a new field of education. Globally educators and management teams are struggling with how technology is shifting education. The rate of change has left many school systems still catering for the industrial age. Innovating with technology is a powerful marketing strategy as parents and students are seeking technologically rich environments that equip students with the skills needed to be future ready. Innovating in education is complex and slow, yet there are indicators that mentoring, training and equipping staff with the right tools allows for a multiplication in innovation and transformation. Being accepted into the Google for Education Innovator Program was definitely one of those equipping experiences. However, I recently had a chance to present at the UNISA Innovation showcase and it made me think I would love to start an Innovation Showcase for students. I have been so inspired by the Google Science Fair YouTube Channel, so I started my own Innovation YouTube Play List. I was struck by how many students were motivated by empathy! It means the Google Summit talk I am preparing on how empathy fuels innovation is right on track! Now I just need to broaden the audience from teachers to students! One way to get students innovating could be entering the Google Science Fair and another could be organising a Student Innovation Summit. I am definitely going to put some thought into this and I am already starting to network with potential speakers e.g. I chatted to an amazing South African Innovator - Paseka Lesolang - Paseka Lesolang's invention that saves the world one toilet at a time.
I can't wait to see what students can come up with when you allow them the space to innovate!
