I’ve been studying education for the past six years from a rather unique
past six years from a rather unique
past six years from a rather unique perspective I’m 18 and I still go to
perspective I’m 18 and I still go to
perspective I’m 18 and I still go to school and when I was 12 my friends and
school and when I was 12 my friends and
school and when I was 12 my friends and I became very disengaged we just thought
I became very disengaged we just thought
I became very disengaged we just thought that there must be more we could learn
that there must be more we could learn
that there must be more we could learn we’re spurred us on to enter a big
we’re spurred us on to enter a big
we’re spurred us on to enter a big international competition with 700
international competition with 700
international competition with 700 entries and over 3,000 participants from
entries and over 3,000 participants from
entries and over 3,000 participants from a few continents to design a school of
a few continents to design a school of
a few continents to design a school of the future now the guidelines of this
the future now the guidelines of this
the future now the guidelines of this competition mostly focused on a school
competition mostly focused on a school
competition mostly focused on a school building so questions like how can we
building so questions like how can we
building so questions like how can we design more energy-efficient classrooms
design more energy-efficient classrooms
design more energy-efficient classrooms and you could design your school for any
and you could design your school for any
and you could design your school for any type of a future that you wanted so it
type of a future that you wanted so it
type of a future that you wanted so it could look like something out of science
could look like something out of science
could look like something out of science fiction movie set 50 years from now but
fiction movie set 50 years from now but
fiction movie set 50 years from now but we wanted to examine how we were
we wanted to examine how we were
we wanted to examine how we were learning today we wanted to come up with
learning today we wanted to come up with
learning today we wanted to come up with an actual solution and so we chose a
an actual solution and so we chose a
an actual solution and so we chose a future that was a lot closer to home we
future that was a lot closer to home we
future that was a lot closer to home we set the opening date of our school to be
set the opening date of our school to be
set the opening date of our school to be five years from when we started with a
five years from when we started with a
five years from when we started with a realistic budget and before we designed
realistic budget and before we designed
realistic budget and before we designed the building we started by designing the
the building we started by designing the
the building we started by designing the learning process itself then we ended up
learning process itself then we ended up
learning process itself then we ended up winning the entire competition but was
winning the entire competition but was
winning the entire competition but was really interesting to us was the
really interesting to us was the
really interesting to us was the feedback we were getting from our jury
feedback we were getting from our jury
feedback we were getting from our jury members they said that what they found
members they said that what they found
members they said that what they found unique about our project was that we had
unique about our project was that we had
unique about our project was that we had focused on learning processes that could
focused on learning processes that could
focused on learning processes that could take place anywhere not just in the
take place anywhere not just in the
take place anywhere not just in the school built out of carbon nanotubes and
school built out of carbon nanotubes and
school built out of carbon nanotubes and equipped with holodecks if they got the
equipped with holodecks if they got the
equipped with holodecks if they got the if we got the right people they told us
if we got the right people they told us
if we got the right people they told us maybe we could actually do it so we
maybe we could actually do it so we
maybe we could actually do it so we thought how can we get the right people
thought how can we get the right people
thought how can we get the right people we contacted the government of our
we contacted the government of our
we contacted the government of our province of Alberta not really thinking
province of Alberta not really thinking
province of Alberta not really thinking that we would hear anything back but to
that we would hear anything back but to
that we would hear anything back but to our surprise we met with everyone we
our surprise we met with everyone we
our surprise we met with everyone we would need to make our vision a reality
would need to make our vision a reality
would need to make our vision a reality the premier minister of education
the premier minister of education
the premier minister of education infrastructure intergovernmental affairs
infrastructure intergovernmental affairs
infrastructure intergovernmental affairs all came to meet with in
all came to meet with in
all came to meet with in twelve-year-olds and since then I’ve had
twelve-year-olds and since then I’ve had
twelve-year-olds and since then I’ve had the opportunity to go around Canada and
the opportunity to go around Canada and
the opportunity to go around Canada and work with other governments and school
work with other governments and school
work with other governments and school boards I’ve also had the incredible
boards I’ve also had the incredible
boards I’ve also had the incredible opportunities to help design 23 actual
opportunities to help design 23 actual
opportunities to help design 23 actual schools and to work with international
schools and to work with international
schools and to work with international organisations and businesses in North
organisations and businesses in North
organisations and businesses in North America and Europe I’d like to use some
America and Europe I’d like to use some
America and Europe I’d like to use some of that experience to talk to you about
of that experience to talk to you about
of that experience to talk to you about your education so why do you go to
your education so why do you go to
your education so why do you go to school I think it’ll be apparent to
school I think it’ll be apparent to
school I think it’ll be apparent to everyone that we go to school to get
everyone that we go to school to get
everyone that we go to school to get knowledge the teachers give us
knowledge the teachers give us
knowledge the teachers give us information people formulas dates we
information people formulas dates we
information people formulas dates we learn them then we get tested on them at
learn them then we get tested on them at
learn them then we get tested on them at the end of this process your head is
the end of this process your head is
the end of this process your head is just crammed full of all of this
just crammed full of all of this
just crammed full of all of this knowledge but is it really
knowledge but is it really
knowledge but is it really the problem is that knowledge is not
the problem is that knowledge is not
the problem is that knowledge is not necessarily cumulative how many of you
necessarily cumulative how many of you
necessarily cumulative how many of you could score the same amount test that
could score the same amount test that
could score the same amount test that you took five years ago over some of the
you took five years ago over some of the
you took five years ago over some of the adults in the room fifteen years ago I
adults in the room fifteen years ago I
adults in the room fifteen years ago I have a little test of my own for you I
have a little test of my own for you I
have a little test of my own for you I tried to pick something that everybody
tried to pick something that everybody
tried to pick something that everybody should have gone over at one point in
should have gone over at one point in
should have gone over at one point in their schooling so what is the atomic
their schooling so what is the atomic
their schooling so what is the atomic mass of nitrogen I’ll give you a big
mass of nitrogen I’ll give you a big
mass of nitrogen I’ll give you a big hint it’s one of the numbers on that
hint it’s one of the numbers on that
hint it’s one of the numbers on that symbol okay it’s this one now I gave
symbol okay it’s this one now I gave
symbol okay it’s this one now I gave this to some adults before I came and
this to some adults before I came and
this to some adults before I came and even some the ones that got it right
even some the ones that got it right
even some the ones that got it right said they weren’t sure so if you did get
said they weren’t sure so if you did get
said they weren’t sure so if you did get it right why don’t you tell me where all
it right why don’t you tell me where all
it right why don’t you tell me where all the other numbers mean no I’m just
the other numbers mean no I’m just
the other numbers mean no I’m just kidding you can still pass so the point
kidding you can still pass so the point
kidding you can still pass so the point is that you may have known this at some
is that you may have known this at some
is that you may have known this at some time but you may have forgotten but it’s
time but you may have forgotten but it’s
time but you may have forgotten but it’s mattering less and less if you can
mattering less and less if you can
mattering less and less if you can remember these specific details because
remember these specific details because
remember these specific details because we’re currently living in a world where
we’re currently living in a world where
we’re currently living in a world where we’re surrounded by knowledge we’re
we’re surrounded by knowledge we’re
we’re surrounded by knowledge we’re living through the largest change in the
living through the largest change in the
living through the largest change in the way that people deal with information
way that people deal with information
way that people deal with information since the advent of written language
since the advent of written language
since the advent of written language five thousand years ago in all of that
five thousand years ago in all of that
five thousand years ago in all of that time if you wanted to look up a piece of
time if you wanted to look up a piece of
time if you wanted to look up a piece of information use them you were limited to
information use them you were limited to
information use them you were limited to what information was kept where you
what information was kept where you
what information was kept where you should only carry books of a certain
should only carry books of a certain
should only carry books of a certain size around with you and so if you
size around with you and so if you
size around with you and so if you wanted to use a piece of information
wanted to use a piece of information
wanted to use a piece of information instantaneously out with you wherever
instantaneously out with you wherever
instantaneously out with you wherever you were in the world it was better to
you were in the world it was better to
you were in the world it was better to at least try to memorize it even though
at least try to memorize it even though
at least try to memorize it even though you could forget it but now if you know
you could forget it but now if you know
you could forget it but now if you know that a piece of information exists but
that a piece of information exists but
that a piece of information exists but you can’t quite recall what it was
you can’t quite recall what it was
you can’t quite recall what it was you can instantaneously find it from
you can instantaneously find it from
you can instantaneously find it from almost any location mobile devices can
almost any location mobile devices can
almost any location mobile devices can expand the amount of information that
expand the amount of information that
expand the amount of information that you can use beyond what you have
you can use beyond what you have
you can use beyond what you have memorized in other words it’s okay that
memorized in other words it’s okay that
memorized in other words it’s okay that you’ve forgotten rather than build up a
you’ve forgotten rather than build up a
you’ve forgotten rather than build up a static knowledge trying to cram all
static knowledge trying to cram all
static knowledge trying to cram all these facts into our heads it’s much
these facts into our heads it’s much
these facts into our heads it’s much more important now that we have an
more important now that we have an
more important now that we have an adaptive knowledge and what I mean by
adaptive knowledge and what I mean by
adaptive knowledge and what I mean by that is we just need to know we’re going
that is we just need to know we’re going
that is we just need to know we’re going to use when we’re going to use it
to use when we’re going to use it
to use when we’re going to use it because in a world with information
because in a world with information
because in a world with information everywhere the demand isn’t for people
everywhere the demand isn’t for people
everywhere the demand isn’t for people who can cram a bunch in their head is
who can cram a bunch in their head is
who can cram a bunch in their head is for people who can take the information
for people who can take the information
for people who can take the information that’s all around them and do something
that’s all around them and do something
that’s all around them and do something with it and we don’t have a tremendous
with it and we don’t have a tremendous
with it and we don’t have a tremendous capacity to do just this I mentioned
capacity to do just this I mentioned
capacity to do just this I mentioned that our school of the future project
that our school of the future project
that our school of the future project required us to come up with energy
required us to come up with energy
required us to come up with energy efficiency solutions the site that we
efficiency solutions the site that we
efficiency solutions the site that we selected for our school was very close
selected for our school was very close
selected for our school was very close to an ice hockey arena and our course of
to an ice hockey arena and our course of
to an ice hockey arena and our course of researching we found out that the
researching we found out that the
researching we found out that the refrigeration equipment for these arenas
refrigeration equipment for these arenas
refrigeration equipment for these arenas produces a huge amount of waste heat
produces a huge amount of waste heat
produces a huge amount of waste heat that it’s actually quite common to use
that it’s actually quite common to use
that it’s actually quite common to use this heat to warm other buildings in the
this heat to warm other buildings in the
this heat to warm other buildings in the wintertime but we were wondering what if
wintertime but we were wondering what if
wintertime but we were wondering what if we could use the waste from this
we could use the waste from this
we could use the waste from this facility
facility
facility to cool our building in the summer as
to cool our building in the summer as
to cool our building in the summer as well I used to live across from one of
well I used to live across from one of
well I used to live across from one of these arenas and when they cleaned off
these arenas and when they cleaned off
these arenas and when they cleaned off the ice surface they would scrape the
the ice surface they would scrape the
the ice surface they would scrape the excess ice into a big pile there was so
excess ice into a big pile there was so
excess ice into a big pile there was so much ice that it would still be melting
much ice that it would still be melting
much ice that it would still be melting well into the spring months so we said
well into the spring months so we said
well into the spring months so we said what if he was scraped instead into an
what if he was scraped instead into an
what if he was scraped instead into an insulated trench with pipes running
insulated trench with pipes running
insulated trench with pipes running through it that were connected to your
through it that were connected to your
through it that were connected to your school’s air conditioning system we
school’s air conditioning system we
school’s air conditioning system we showed her idea to a sustainability
showed her idea to a sustainability
showed her idea to a sustainability expert who said that she was knowledge
expert who said that she was knowledge
expert who said that she was knowledge it had never been attempted before
it had never been attempted before
it had never been attempted before but he did some research and came back
but he did some research and came back
but he did some research and came back and told us that it would work if we
and told us that it would work if we
and told us that it would work if we used a specific chemical in the pipes
used a specific chemical in the pipes
used a specific chemical in the pipes now at the age of 12 we were coming up
now at the age of 12 we were coming up
now at the age of 12 we were coming up with solutions to real-world problems
with solutions to real-world problems
with solutions to real-world problems just using the information around us and
just using the information around us and
just using the information around us and this is becoming really important in a
this is becoming really important in a
this is becoming really important in a recent poll 90% of businesses described
recent poll 90% of businesses described
recent poll 90% of businesses described innovation as essential to their
innovation as essential to their
innovation as essential to their operation in a survey last year of over
operation in a survey last year of over
operation in a survey last year of over 76 million job postings – quite a
76 million job postings – quite a
76 million job postings – quite a comprehensive survey found the two most
comprehensive survey found the two most
comprehensive survey found the two most in-demand attributes in the world are
in-demand attributes in the world are
in-demand attributes in the world are number one oral in written communication
number one oral in written communication
number one oral in written communication and number two problem-solving so this
and number two problem-solving so this
and number two problem-solving so this would seem great we may not remember as
would seem great we may not remember as
would seem great we may not remember as well as we think we do but we just need
well as we think we do but we just need
well as we think we do but we just need to take some of the information that’s
to take some of the information that’s
to take some of the information that’s now all around us and integrated to do
now all around us and integrated to do
now all around us and integrated to do something the problem is that we’re not
something the problem is that we’re not
something the problem is that we’re not getting people who can do this in a
getting people who can do this in a
getting people who can do this in a recent survey seventy-five percent of
recent survey seventy-five percent of
recent survey seventy-five percent of businesses said that graduates were
businesses said that graduates were
businesses said that graduates were specifically ill-prepared in critical
specifically ill-prepared in critical
specifically ill-prepared in critical thinking analytical reasoning written
thinking analytical reasoning written
thinking analytical reasoning written and oral communication complex
and oral communication complex
and oral communication complex problem-solving innovation creativity
problem-solving innovation creativity
problem-solving innovation creativity and applying their knowledge and skills
and applying their knowledge and skills
and applying their knowledge and skills to real-world settings so how do we go
to real-world settings so how do we go
to real-world settings so how do we go about using information to do things and
about using information to do things and
about using information to do things and how can we shape education to deal with
how can we shape education to deal with
how can we shape education to deal with these new realities well when we were
these new realities well when we were
these new realities well when we were going through the school of the future
going through the school of the future
going through the school of the future project we noticed some interesting
project we noticed some interesting
project we noticed some interesting things the first thing was about
things the first thing was about
things the first thing was about ourselves now we had started that
ourselves now we had started that
ourselves now we had started that project because we were disengaged and
project because we were disengaged and
project because we were disengaged and bored and why was that it was because
bored and why was that it was because
bored and why was that it was because all we were doing was practice we get a
all we were doing was practice we get a
all we were doing was practice we get a worksheet we work on it it would go in
worksheet we work on it it would go in
worksheet we work on it it would go in the recycling we get another one and
the recycling we get another one and
the recycling we get another one and then start to forget about was on the
then start to forget about was on the
then start to forget about was on the first one we were like a sports team
first one we were like a sports team
first one we were like a sports team they kept practicing but never played a
they kept practicing but never played a
they kept practicing but never played a single game but we were now seeing
single game but we were now seeing
single game but we were now seeing firsthand that we could be applying this
firsthand that we could be applying this
firsthand that we could be applying this information to do something solve actual
information to do something solve actual
information to do something solve actual problems in the world now we talked with
problems in the world now we talked with
problems in the world now we talked with that sustainability expert but he wasn’t
that sustainability expert but he wasn’t
that sustainability expert but he wasn’t the only one we talked to
the only one we talked to
the only one we talked to we also talked with architects business
we also talked with architects business
we also talked with architects business people people from the government
people people from the government
people people from the government people from environmental protection
people from environmental protection
people from environmental protection agencies of all the people who requested
agencies of all the people who requested
agencies of all the people who requested a meeting with we never had a single
a meeting with we never had a single
a meeting with we never had a single person decline no matter how expert or
person decline no matter how expert or
person decline no matter how expert or busy they were and so we became really
busy they were and so we became really
busy they were and so we became really interested by this and myself and some
interested by this and myself and some
interested by this and myself and some other students side mat from across the
other students side mat from across the
other students side mat from across the United States and Canada sort a
United States and Canada sort a
United States and Canada sort a nonprofit organization which we called
nonprofit organization which we called
nonprofit organization which we called the spark foundation to see if we could
the spark foundation to see if we could
the spark foundation to see if we could connect these two things we thought what
connect these two things we thought what
connect these two things we thought what if we could make projects that weren’t
if we could make projects that weren’t
if we could make projects that weren’t just practice they were solving actual
just practice they were solving actual
just practice they were solving actual problems and students would work on
problems and students would work on
problems and students would work on these in their classrooms and they would
these in their classrooms and they would
these in their classrooms and they would be helped along the way their ideas
be helped along the way their ideas
be helped along the way their ideas could be vetted by actual experts and it
could be vetted by actual experts and it
could be vetted by actual experts and it didn’t go exactly as we thought but we
didn’t go exactly as we thought but we
didn’t go exactly as we thought but we learned some interesting things first of
learned some interesting things first of
learned some interesting things first of all we had a tremendous response from
all we had a tremendous response from
all we had a tremendous response from outside of the system better than we
outside of the system better than we
outside of the system better than we expected in our first five months of
expected in our first five months of
expected in our first five months of recruiting we got fifty four mentors
recruiting we got fifty four mentors
recruiting we got fifty four mentors from five countries which included
from five countries which included
from five countries which included architects businesspeople furniture
architects businesspeople furniture
architects businesspeople furniture manufacturers we had a Canadian Member
manufacturers we had a Canadian Member
manufacturers we had a Canadian Member of Parliament a seismologist
of Parliament a seismologist
of Parliament a seismologist and one of the heads of were the largest
and one of the heads of were the largest
and one of the heads of were the largest radio telescopes in the world when we
radio telescopes in the world when we
radio telescopes in the world when we tried to get these actual problems into
tried to get these actual problems into
tried to get these actual problems into classrooms we hit a wall
classrooms we hit a wall
classrooms we hit a wall we found that quite often school boards
we found that quite often school boards
we found that quite often school boards and teachers were hesitant to and state
and teachers were hesitant to and state
and teachers were hesitant to and state what they saw as an add-on if they
what they saw as an add-on if they
what they saw as an add-on if they didn’t receive an extra qualification or
didn’t receive an extra qualification or
didn’t receive an extra qualification or incentive for doing so so can the system
incentive for doing so so can the system
incentive for doing so so can the system because can the government provide an
because can the government provide an
because can the government provide an incentive well maybe it won’t come fast
incentive well maybe it won’t come fast
incentive well maybe it won’t come fast enough a few years ago I was invited to
enough a few years ago I was invited to
enough a few years ago I was invited to help write educational policy in my
help write educational policy in my
help write educational policy in my province of Alberta and when it became a
province of Alberta and when it became a
province of Alberta and when it became a part of this committee the government
part of this committee the government
part of this committee the government sent a package of materials to my house
sent a package of materials to my house
sent a package of materials to my house for me to review and the first time I
for me to review and the first time I
for me to review and the first time I went through it my jaw just about hit
went through it my jaw just about hit
went through it my jaw just about hit the floor because the latest draft that
the floor because the latest draft that
the floor because the latest draft that they had sent me which I confirmed was
they had sent me which I confirmed was
they had sent me which I confirmed was the latest draft in existence was 19
the latest draft in existence was 19
the latest draft in existence was 19 years old which was three years older
years old which was three years older
years old which was three years older than me at the time now in those 19
than me at the time now in those 19
than me at the time now in those 19 years we’ve gone from the corded phone
years we’ve gone from the corded phone
years we’ve gone from the corded phone to the smart phone we’re experiencing a
to the smart phone we’re experiencing a
to the smart phone we’re experiencing a fundamental change in the way that
fundamental change in the way that
fundamental change in the way that people deal with information that
people deal with information that
people deal with information that probably should have affected education
probably should have affected education
probably should have affected education so it’s not necessarily that there are
so it’s not necessarily that there are
so it’s not necessarily that there are not people within the system who will
not people within the system who will
not people within the system who will provide support or that there aren’t
provide support or that there aren’t
provide support or that there aren’t people trying from within the system but
people trying from within the system but
people trying from within the system but I think by the time we see meaningful
I think by the time we see meaningful
I think by the time we see meaningful change with that massive scale you’re
change with that massive scale you’re
change with that massive scale you’re going to be long graduated now we
going to be long graduated now we
going to be long graduated now we noticed something else really
noticed something else really
noticed something else really interesting through the spark foundation
interesting through the spark foundation
interesting through the spark foundation which wasn’t as obvious at the time
which wasn’t as obvious at the time
which wasn’t as obvious at the time and that was just a simple observation
and that was just a simple observation
and that was just a simple observation that we had the capacity the time to do
that we had the capacity the time to do
that we had the capacity the time to do all of us I spent an enormous amount of
all of us I spent an enormous amount of
all of us I spent an enormous amount of time working on these extra projects
time working on these extra projects
time working on these extra projects when I was in high school I once missed
when I was in high school I once missed
when I was in high school I once missed a continuous month of school going away
a continuous month of school going away
a continuous month of school going away speaking and trying to get mentors and
speaking and trying to get mentors and
speaking and trying to get mentors and to allow myself to do this I moved
to allow myself to do this I moved
to allow myself to do this I moved around my education I took classes
around my education I took classes
around my education I took classes online ahead of time I challenged exams
online ahead of time I challenged exams
online ahead of time I challenged exams so I didn’t have to be in a classroom
so I didn’t have to be in a classroom
so I didn’t have to be in a classroom for as long when I graduated had credit
for as long when I graduated had credit
for as long when I graduated had credit from three different schools in two
from three different schools in two
from three different schools in two different divisions we had seen that
different divisions we had seen that
different divisions we had seen that well the whole system is big and slow
well the whole system is big and slow
well the whole system is big and slow and seemingly a moveable that the
and seemingly a moveable that the
and seemingly a moveable that the individual inside of that big maze
individual inside of that big maze
individual inside of that big maze actually has tremendous capacity to
actually has tremendous capacity to
actually has tremendous capacity to modify it to suit their needs and so
modify it to suit their needs and so
modify it to suit their needs and so that’s why I’m not talking to the
that’s why I’m not talking to the
that’s why I’m not talking to the government or the school boards anymore
government or the school boards anymore
government or the school boards anymore I’m here talking directly to you because
I’m here talking directly to you because
I’m here talking directly to you because maybe we don’t have to change the whole
maybe we don’t have to change the whole
maybe we don’t have to change the whole system to make an impact right now we
system to make an impact right now we
system to make an impact right now we all have access to a profound amount of
all have access to a profound amount of
all have access to a profound amount of information and also a means of creation
information and also a means of creation
information and also a means of creation and distribution which means more so
and distribution which means more so
and distribution which means more so than ever before you can build your own
than ever before you can build your own
than ever before you can build your own education so how do we build an
education so how do we build an
education so how do we build an education what are the important
education what are the important
education what are the important building blocks
building blocks
building blocks well the Sparx foundation we failed to
well the Sparx foundation we failed to
well the Sparx foundation we failed to get our projects into classrooms like we
get our projects into classrooms like we
get our projects into classrooms like we wanted to because we didn’t recognize as
wanted to because we didn’t recognize as
wanted to because we didn’t recognize as clearly as we needed to that there are
clearly as we needed to that there are
clearly as we needed to that there are two pieces to education the first one is
two pieces to education the first one is
two pieces to education the first one is the one that everybody thinks of
the one that everybody thinks of
the one that everybody thinks of learning but the second one is just as
learning but the second one is just as
learning but the second one is just as important you need something that shows
important you need something that shows
important you need something that shows that process that demonstrates what you
that process that demonstrates what you
that process that demonstrates what you can do as a result and that’s a
can do as a result and that’s a
can do as a result and that’s a qualification that we usually think of
qualification that we usually think of
qualification that we usually think of qualifications as things like the
qualifications as things like the
qualifications as things like the diplomas or the degrees that you get at
diplomas or the degrees that you get at
diplomas or the degrees that you get at the end of your schooling but
the end of your schooling but
the end of your schooling but increasingly these conventional
increasingly these conventional
increasingly these conventional qualifications may not show people what
qualifications may not show people what
qualifications may not show people what they want to know they may not indicate
they want to know they may not indicate
they want to know they may not indicate that you can integrate the information
that you can integrate the information
that you can integrate the information around you to create value now degrees
around you to create value now degrees
around you to create value now degrees or qualifications but are all
or qualifications but are all
or qualifications but are all qualifications degrees well let’s think
qualifications degrees well let’s think
qualifications degrees well let’s think about if we’re going to invent something
about if we’re going to invent something
about if we’re going to invent something if you’re going to make an invention you
if you’re going to make an invention you
if you’re going to make an invention you do research you’d make some prototypes
do research you’d make some prototypes
do research you’d make some prototypes you gather all this information together
you gather all this information together
you gather all this information together into an application you file and if you
into an application you file and if you
into an application you file and if you were successful you’d get a patent which
were successful you’d get a patent which
were successful you’d get a patent which shows the process it shows what you can
shows the process it shows what you can
shows the process it shows what you can do and I would call that like an
do and I would call that like an
do and I would call that like an irrefutable degree in inventing now this
irrefutable degree in inventing now this
irrefutable degree in inventing now this is just one example of many things that
is just one example of many things that
is just one example of many things that I think you’ll find you have the
I think you’ll find you have the
I think you’ll find you have the capability to get started on right now
capability to get started on right now
capability to get started on right now you could make a product write a book
you could make a product write a book
you could make a product write a book start an organisation
start an organisation
start an organisation make an app make a film make a website
make an app make a film make a website
make an app make a film make a website and these things aren’t just practice
and these things aren’t just practice
and these things aren’t just practice they matter they can affect the lives
they matter they can affect the lives
they matter they can affect the lives around you and I think that if you
around you and I think that if you
around you and I think that if you choose a problem that matters to you to
choose a problem that matters to you to
choose a problem that matters to you to try to solve it’s going to change the
try to solve it’s going to change the
try to solve it’s going to change the way that you think about your life and
way that you think about your life and
way that you think about your life and it might even reveal capacities that you
it might even reveal capacities that you
it might even reveal capacities that you didn’t even know you had a few years ago
didn’t even know you had a few years ago
didn’t even know you had a few years ago Saskatchewan which is a province NL in
Saskatchewan which is a province NL in
Saskatchewan which is a province NL in Canada was facing a large school
Canada was facing a large school
Canada was facing a large school shortage and their solution was to
shortage and their solution was to
shortage and their solution was to design a whole bunch of schools in one
design a whole bunch of schools in one
design a whole bunch of schools in one sitting in a week-long process with all
sitting in a week-long process with all
sitting in a week-long process with all the stakeholders involved and so I was
the stakeholders involved and so I was
the stakeholders involved and so I was brought in to help facilitate student
brought in to help facilitate student
brought in to help facilitate student engagement now on the first day of the
engagement now on the first day of the
engagement now on the first day of the week all the students that were at the
week all the students that were at the
week all the students that were at the event got together there were 12 of us
event got together there were 12 of us
event got together there were 12 of us and we stood around in a circle just
and we stood around in a circle just
and we stood around in a circle just going around and introducing ourselves
going around and introducing ourselves
going around and introducing ourselves and as we went around the circle we came
and as we went around the circle we came
and as we went around the circle we came to one girl when it was her turn she
to one girl when it was her turn she
to one girl when it was her turn she just shook her head she wouldn’t speak
just shook her head she wouldn’t speak
just shook her head she wouldn’t speak now fast forward to the end of the week
now fast forward to the end of the week
now fast forward to the end of the week we’re in an enormous room we have our
we’re in an enormous room we have our
we’re in an enormous room we have our preliminary models and sketches posted
preliminary models and sketches posted
preliminary models and sketches posted up there’s all the hundreds of people
up there’s all the hundreds of people
up there’s all the hundreds of people that were at the event that are still
that were at the event that are still
that were at the event that are still there but now there’s also the Minister
there but now there’s also the Minister
there but now there’s also the Minister of Education all of the higher-ups from
of Education all of the higher-ups from
of Education all of the higher-ups from the government and there’s also
the government and there’s also
the government and there’s also reporters and television cameras lining
reporters and television cameras lining
reporters and television cameras lining the back wall and who do you think is in
the back wall and who do you think is in
the back wall and who do you think is in front of the entire scene sharing what
front of the entire scene sharing what
front of the entire scene sharing what we came up with that week it was the
we came up with that week it was the
we came up with that week it was the same girl at the beginning of the week
same girl at the beginning of the week
same girl at the beginning of the week she couldn’t talk to 11 other students
she couldn’t talk to 11 other students
she couldn’t talk to 11 other students at the end she was literally sharing her
at the end she was literally sharing her
at the end she was literally sharing her ideas with the world how was that amount
ideas with the world how was that amount
ideas with the world how was that amount of growth possible in just a few days we
of growth possible in just a few days we
of growth possible in just a few days we asked her in her exit interview and she
asked her in her exit interview and she
asked her in her exit interview and she said that it was because it mattered
said that it was because it mattered
said that it was because it mattered what she said wasn’t just going to be
what she said wasn’t just going to be
what she said wasn’t just going to be thrown in the recycling it was literally
thrown in the recycling it was literally
thrown in the recycling it was literally going to affect the lives of tens of
going to affect the lives of tens of
going to affect the lives of tens of thousands of students and these actual
thousands of students and these actual
thousands of students and these actual outcomes they increasingly matter to
outcomes they increasingly matter to
outcomes they increasingly matter to other people as well in a recent poll 71
other people as well in a recent poll 71
other people as well in a recent poll 71 percent of businesses said that they
percent of businesses said that they
percent of businesses said that they would consider hiring someone without a
would consider hiring someone without a
would consider hiring someone without a degree
degree
degree / someone with one but the really
/ someone with one but the really
/ someone with one but the really important thing is that ninety-one
important thing is that ninety-one
important thing is that ninety-one percent said that a demonstrated
percent said that a demonstrated
percent said that a demonstrated capacity to think critically to
capacity to think critically to
capacity to think critically to communicate clearly and to solve complex
communicate clearly and to solve complex
communicate clearly and to solve complex problems is more important than a
problems is more important than a
problems is more important than a candidate’s undergraduate major people
candidate’s undergraduate major people
candidate’s undergraduate major people are growing more receptive to these
are growing more receptive to these
are growing more receptive to these actual outcomes as qualifications
actual outcomes as qualifications
actual outcomes as qualifications because what better proof that you can
because what better proof that you can
because what better proof that you can do something than if you’ve already done
do something than if you’ve already done
do something than if you’ve already done it so I challenge you to move around
it so I challenge you to move around
it so I challenge you to move around your education to
your education to
your education to find a problem that matters to you to
find a problem that matters to you to
find a problem that matters to you to dive in and start trying to come up with
dive in and start trying to come up with
dive in and start trying to come up with an actual solution right now now this
an actual solution right now now this
an actual solution right now now this raises an important question what if you
raises an important question what if you
raises an important question what if you fail what if you spend all this time and
fail what if you spend all this time and
fail what if you spend all this time and you don’t produce what you originally
you don’t produce what you originally
you don’t produce what you originally wanted to well maybe you don’t have to
wanted to well maybe you don’t have to
wanted to well maybe you don’t have to in order to bring value all of the
in order to bring value all of the
in order to bring value all of the things that I’ve done have opened new
things that I’ve done have opened new
things that I’ve done have opened new doors and if you’ve been listening
doors and if you’ve been listening
doors and if you’ve been listening carefully you’ll see many of them failed
carefully you’ll see many of them failed
carefully you’ll see many of them failed to achieve what we originally hoped they
to achieve what we originally hoped they
to achieve what we originally hoped they would many times we decided to pivot
would many times we decided to pivot
would many times we decided to pivot because as we work with a big
because as we work with a big
because as we work with a big complicated messy actual problem you’re
complicated messy actual problem you’re
complicated messy actual problem you’re going to learn new things build up your
going to learn new things build up your
going to learn new things build up your adaptive knowledge have new ideas and
adaptive knowledge have new ideas and
adaptive knowledge have new ideas and insights and you’re going to want to act
insights and you’re going to want to act
insights and you’re going to want to act on those in the conventional idea of
on those in the conventional idea of
on those in the conventional idea of Education we have an end point people
Education we have an end point people
Education we have an end point people graduate we stay they’re educated right
graduate we stay they’re educated right
graduate we stay they’re educated right now we’re all supposed to be in this
now we’re all supposed to be in this
now we’re all supposed to be in this first part just practicing waiting for
first part just practicing waiting for
first part just practicing waiting for the real stuff but I’ve seen firsthand
the real stuff but I’ve seen firsthand
the real stuff but I’ve seen firsthand that we’re all capable of being out
that we’re all capable of being out
that we’re all capable of being out there of actually affecting the world
there of actually affecting the world
there of actually affecting the world around us and that in fact the best way
around us and that in fact the best way
around us and that in fact the best way to affect the world around you is to
to affect the world around you is to
to affect the world around you is to constantly be revising your solutions to
constantly be revising your solutions to
constantly be revising your solutions to be using what you’ve learned to make
be using what you’ve learned to make
be using what you’ve learned to make your ideas better so we started by
your ideas better so we started by
your ideas better so we started by wanting to build a school and then we
wanting to build a school and then we
wanting to build a school and then we decided that policy could probably
decided that policy could probably
decided that policy could probably affect more people so we decided to work
affect more people so we decided to work
affect more people so we decided to work with the government in making policy and
with the government in making policy and
with the government in making policy and then that wasn’t working out so well so
then that wasn’t working out so well so
then that wasn’t working out so well so we decided let’s work outside the
we decided let’s work outside the
we decided let’s work outside the government with the SPARC foundation to
government with the SPARC foundation to
government with the SPARC foundation to try to get projects into classrooms and
try to get projects into classrooms and
try to get projects into classrooms and then that didn’t work out how we thought
then that didn’t work out how we thought
then that didn’t work out how we thought it would but we saw the tremendous power
it would but we saw the tremendous power
it would but we saw the tremendous power of the individual to change their own
of the individual to change their own
of the individual to change their own education and now I’m on a stage which
education and now I’m on a stage which
education and now I’m on a stage which is literally 7,000 kilometers away from
is literally 7,000 kilometers away from
is literally 7,000 kilometers away from where I started talking to you and my
where I started talking to you and my
where I started talking to you and my point is even a failure to produce what
point is even a failure to produce what
point is even a failure to produce what you originally thought you would can
you originally thought you would can
you originally thought you would can still bring a large amount of value and
still bring a large amount of value and
still bring a large amount of value and still produce a very valid qualification
still produce a very valid qualification
still produce a very valid qualification because as long as you make something
because as long as you make something
because as long as you make something that shows your learning process it will
that shows your learning process it will
that shows your learning process it will also show your willingness to tackle new
also show your willingness to tackle new
also show your willingness to tackle new problems and to have new ideas it will
problems and to have new ideas it will
problems and to have new ideas it will show your growth and afterall is growth
show your growth and afterall is growth
show your growth and afterall is growth not the goal of Education you can change
not the goal of Education you can change
not the goal of Education you can change your education by doing things that
your education by doing things that
your education by doing things that matter and I challenge you to start
matter and I challenge you to start
matter and I challenge you to start coming up with actual solutions as part
coming up with actual solutions as part
coming up with actual solutions as part of a continual process that lasts for
of a continual process that lasts for
of a continual process that lasts for the rest of your life thank you
the rest of your life thank you
the rest of your life thank you [Applause]
”
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