Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World

Abstract

Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World, by Tony Wagner. 2012. New York NY: Scribner. 270 Pages. Hardcover. $27.00Education expert Tony Wagner reveals how innovation can be nurtured among young people by parents, educators, and employers, and he explains why it is imperative for the U.S. economy to do so.It is not news to hear business leaders say that the U.S. economy needs more people creating innovations in the areas of science, technology and engineering, the so-called STEM field, in order to boost wealth and create jobs by developing new products and technologies that other countries want and need but cannot produce.In his previous book, The Global Achievement Gap, Wagner describes seven skills students will need for careers and college in the twenty-first century: problem-solving, collaboration, agility/adaptability, initiative/ agility, written and oral skills, assessment/analysis, and curiosity/ imagination. In this book Wagner argues that the U.S. educational system is not educating young people to become innovators. Because innovation is not taught, nor tested, in our school system, the U.S. will lag in an increasingly competitive global market if this does not change.What is innovation? Innovation is the ability to think creatively to address a problem, and to take risks and learn from mistakes, or it is "creative problem solving" to some. Wagner interviewed hundreds of young innovators and educators to determine if innovation could be taught and found that all innovators have sense of purpose and passion. In addition to the seven skills listed above, innovators possess qualities such as perseverance and ability to take calculated risks and tolerate failure.In interviews and focus groups with parents of young innovators Wagner noticed several recurring themes in their parenting. All encouraged their child to play creatively at an early age and to try out things and bounce back if a failure resulted. This was to him the child learn to overcome setbacks. Further, the parents encouraged their child to read and be exposed to new ideas, and to play with toys that encouraged imagination and invention. While all were actively involved with their children, they did not act as helicopter parents controlling every aspect of their child's life and protecting them from making mistakes and learning from them.Wagner interviewed outstanding educators who made intentional changes in their teaching style and classroom experiences to inspire innovation in their students, both in secondary and post-secondary environments. Students do not need more education but a different kind of education which converts classroom experiences into collaborative problem-solving events and tailors learning to the individual's learning experience. …