{"id":2128,"date":"2018-12-27T07:30:27","date_gmt":"2018-12-27T12:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/teachersfirst.com\/blog\/?p=2128"},"modified":"2019-04-05T18:59:20","modified_gmt":"2019-04-05T22:59:20","slug":"encouraging-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teachersfirst.org\/blog\/2018\/12\/encouraging-innovation\/","title":{"rendered":"Encouraging Innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There\u2019s a better way to do it – find it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas Edison<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>Have you read<\/span> articles like this one<\/span><\/a> that tell us about all of the jobs that may disappear in the next few years? Or, maybe you have been to a presentation where you\u2019ve heard all about the skills we teach students that may be obsolete in the future. The consensus is that the only way to prepare for an unknown future is to develop student skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and innovation.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is difficult to know how to prepare students for the unknown, but one way is certain – we must allow them time to explore, create, and innovate on their own. These explorations help develop essential skills such as critical thinking, working together in teams, and learning how to work through failures. In fact, students need to recognize that failure is an essential component of innovation and invention.<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> Classroom Connection Events Calendar<\/span><\/a> provided by TeachersFirst is an ongoing collection of competitions and events for students and teachers. Many of the offerings on the calendar include contests encouraging innovation and outside of the box thinking. Some of the upcoming events are perfect for inspiring and motivating students toward innovative thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n