Be the change

Schools, like most institutions, whether in the private or public sector, face the challenge of remaining relevant in the face of rapid change and an unpredictable future.

While companies unable to change with the times face going out of business, schools seem immune to such harsh realities. Perhaps this is due to the intangible nature of education’s “product,” student learning, or perhaps it is simply because schools are viewed as “too big to fail.” Whatever the reason, many schools find themselves providing a system characterized by siloed subjects and classrooms, teachers working in isolation and students learning and moving en masse from one class to the next. Such a framework is no longer up to the task of preparing today’s graduates to creatively navigate across the shifting currents of global change. In fact one study about divergent thinking, “a key component of creativity,” revealed that while 98% of 3-5 year olds “showed they could think in divergent ways,” the same study revealed that only 10% of 13-15 year olds and only 2% of 25 year olds were divergent thinkers. Sir Ken Robinson's comment hits the mark on these results: "The trouble is that nothing rewards people for thinking off-piste. Education is driven by the idea of one answer and this idea of divergent thinking becomes stifled." Of course, there are many factors at play here, but it’s hard to imagine that school isn’t one of them.

So how can schools create new programs and structures to meet the needs of today’s learner? In my view, lasting change can only be accomplished if all school stakeholders, not just educational leaders, are enlisted as allies and partners in this endeavor. Teachers, students and parents need to feel that they have a real voice in the future of their school. While schools include parents in many ways, to what extent do parents have a role to play in transforming our schools?

At the International School of Prague we have developed a variety of means to include parents in the change process. One successful initiative is a quarterly workshop series called “The Edge in Education.” The purpose of these ongoing gatherings is to engage parents in thinking about the major trends and research in education today. Through the Edge in Education series we can communicate what we educators are thinking about and why.

Over the years, the Edge series has presented the latest findings in learning, brain and motivational research, trends in curriculum development and the importance of skills such as creative and innovative thinking.

A workshop entitled “The Relevance Gap” presented the concept of “life worthy learning,” a term coined by David Perkins, author, researcher, professor and a founding member of Harvard Project Zero. In his book, Future-wise, Perkins argues that a meaningful curriculum is one which provides opportunities for “learning that is likely to matter in the lives learners are likely to live.” This workshop gave parents an opportunity to grapple with what Perkins calls the “relevancy gap,” the disparity between what we traditionally teach in school and what really will matter in the future lives of students. This workshop brought parents into the conversation of why we continue to evolve our curriculum and programs with an ever increasing focus on essential life skills like creativity, innovation and collaboration.

A workshop called “Future-ready” enlisted a panel of our parents who were asked to respond to the question: “What do today's employers look for in people entering the workforce?” The panelists, representing a variety of professions, talked about the importance of initiative-taking, creative thinking and the ability to collaborate effectively with others. This matched the results of a survey which found that 95% of 318 executives “give hiring preference to college graduates with skills that will enable them to contribute to innovation in the workplace.”

A “Mindset” workshop presented the findings of researcher Carol Dweck of Stanford University, who found two distinct attitudes people have when approaching a challenging task, with either a fixed or growth mindset. Of great importance, Dweck’s research revealed that mindsets are not permanent traits, but are ways of thinking that can be unlearned. Through her research, Dweck has shown that those individuals with a growth mindset are often able to succeed in mastering challenging tasks, as opposed to those with a fixed mindset who tend not to persevere. This research has significant implications for how we work with students at school and how parents can support their children at home.

The Edge in Education workshops have also brought in a number of guest speakers who have worked not only with parents, but also with teachers and students. One impactful visit came from artist, author, creative director, blogger, teacher and speaker, Danny Gregory, who spent a week at ISP as an "artist in residence.” During his visit Danny worked with students and teachers alike, helping them sharpen their creativity skills and teaching them how to better understand the world around them through the lens of keen observation and illustrated journaling. Danny’s central message to parents was that creativity is not something to be relegated to professional artists, but is an essential skill we all should develop.

Over the years, our Edge in Education series has proven to be a powerful means of engaging parents in the ongoing conversation about the future of education. We are gratified that attendance numbers at these forums continue to grow. All workshops are videotaped and posted on the school website so all community members have access. The Edge sends an important message to parents, that they are an integral part of the school. The Edge in Education has been one approach among other inclusive initiatives to empower not only parents, but teachers and students as well. By valuing all community members, embracing their participation and contribution and building a common understanding of our journey, schools have the potential to make meaningful and lasting change. As Mahatma Gandhi was reported to have said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”