all right good afternoon everybody um I think it’s a fairly well established
think it’s a fairly well established
think it’s a fairly well established truth that the education system is built
truth that the education system is built
truth that the education system is built upon a Victorian foundation and Charles
upon a Victorian foundation and Charles
upon a Victorian foundation and Charles Dickens over 160 years ago recognized
Dickens over 160 years ago recognized
Dickens over 160 years ago recognized even then that it was a flawed system
even then that it was a flawed system
even then that it was a flawed system and I think it’s interesting that
and I think it’s interesting that
and I think it’s interesting that despite the fact he was one of the
despite the fact he was one of the
despite the fact he was one of the greatest social commentators of his age
greatest social commentators of his age
greatest social commentators of his age we have largely ignored the warnings
we have largely ignored the warnings
we have largely ignored the warnings he’s given in a number of places
he’s given in a number of places
he’s given in a number of places including in the opening of one of his
including in the opening of one of his
including in the opening of one of his novels hard times I’m just going to read
novels hard times I’m just going to read
novels hard times I’m just going to read you the opening paragraph that in mind
you the opening paragraph that in mind
you the opening paragraph that in mind as I read now what I want its facts
as I read now what I want its facts
as I read now what I want its facts teach these boys and girls nothing but
teach these boys and girls nothing but
teach these boys and girls nothing but facts facts alone are wanted in life
facts facts alone are wanted in life
facts facts alone are wanted in life plants nothing else and root out
plants nothing else and root out
plants nothing else and root out everything else you can only form the
everything else you can only form the
everything else you can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon facts
minds of reasoning animals upon facts
minds of reasoning animals upon facts nothing else will ever be of any service
nothing else will ever be of any service
nothing else will ever be of any service to them this is the principle on which I
to them this is the principle on which I
to them this is the principle on which I bring up my own children and this is the
bring up my own children and this is the
bring up my own children and this is the principle on which I bring up these
principle on which I bring up these
principle on which I bring up these children stick to facts sir so as mr.
children stick to facts sir so as mr.
children stick to facts sir so as mr. Gradgrind points out the education
Gradgrind points out the education
Gradgrind points out the education system is built upon a very specific
system is built upon a very specific
system is built upon a very specific measurable kind of success which today
measurable kind of success which today
measurable kind of success which today we see as being the exam system I think
we see as being the exam system I think
we see as being the exam system I think what’s interesting is that despite the
what’s interesting is that despite the
what’s interesting is that despite the passing of time that system hasn’t
passing of time that system hasn’t
passing of time that system hasn’t softened at all in fact it’s probably
softened at all in fact it’s probably
softened at all in fact it’s probably hardened to the point where our young
hardened to the point where our young
hardened to the point where our young people teachers and parents have never
people teachers and parents have never
people teachers and parents have never been more anxious about succeeding
been more anxious about succeeding
been more anxious about succeeding against this very specific criteria I
against this very specific criteria I
against this very specific criteria I think that there’s very much an
think that there’s very much an
think that there’s very much an individual teacher or
individual teacher or
individual teacher or an individual school can do to fight
an individual school can do to fight
an individual school can do to fight against that system at the moment
against that system at the moment
against that system at the moment perhaps the one thing it can do is make
perhaps the one thing it can do is make
perhaps the one thing it can do is make a conscious decision to shift its focus
a conscious decision to shift its focus
a conscious decision to shift its focus I remember reading about disruptive
I remember reading about disruptive
I remember reading about disruptive thinking about a year or so into my
thinking about a year or so into my
thinking about a year or so into my teaching career and the example given
teaching career and the example given
teaching career and the example given was of the fizzy drinks industry and it
was of the fizzy drinks industry and it
was of the fizzy drinks industry and it said that the fizzy drinks industry is
said that the fizzy drinks industry is
said that the fizzy drinks industry is built upon store 3 amove herbal pillars
built upon store 3 amove herbal pillars
built upon store 3 amove herbal pillars that a drink has to be tasty it should
that a drink has to be tasty it should
that a drink has to be tasty it should be cheap and it should be sold with a
be cheap and it should be sold with a
be cheap and it should be sold with a kind of carefree fun lifestyle attached
kind of carefree fun lifestyle attached
kind of carefree fun lifestyle attached to it
to it
to it I sort of thought about the many fizzy
I sort of thought about the many fizzy
I sort of thought about the many fizzy drinks I’ve consumed over the years and
drinks I’ve consumed over the years and
drinks I’ve consumed over the years and ticked those off repeatedly and agreed
ticked those off repeatedly and agreed
ticked those off repeatedly and agreed that that seemed about right now
that that seemed about right now
that that seemed about right now disruptive thinking aims to flip an
disruptive thinking aims to flip an
disruptive thinking aims to flip an industry on its head so if you take that
industry on its head so if you take that
industry on its head so if you take that to its ultimate conclusion it means
to its ultimate conclusion it means
to its ultimate conclusion it means we’re looking for a drink that might not
we’re looking for a drink that might not
we’re looking for a drink that might not be concerned with being tasty it could
be concerned with being tasty it could
be concerned with being tasty it could be expensive and it sells a lifestyle
be expensive and it sells a lifestyle
be expensive and it sells a lifestyle that might be something like functional
that might be something like functional
that might be something like functional and I was wondering how on earth that
and I was wondering how on earth that
and I was wondering how on earth that could be a formula for success and it
could be a formula for success and it
could be a formula for success and it get to the end of the article and it
get to the end of the article and it
get to the end of the article and it reveals the product and the product was
reveals the product and the product was
reveals the product and the product was Red Bull my mind was blown about how how
Red Bull my mind was blown about how how
Red Bull my mind was blown about how how clever they had been in in subverting a
clever they had been in in subverting a
clever they had been in in subverting a really well-established industry now
really well-established industry now
really well-established industry now innovation doesn’t have to be as
innovation doesn’t have to be as
innovation doesn’t have to be as disruptive as that example but if you
disruptive as that example but if you
disruptive as that example but if you look at the great examples often
look at the great examples often
look at the great examples often disruption plays a role think about
disruption plays a role think about
disruption plays a role think about pretty much anything james dyson has
pretty much anything james dyson has
pretty much anything james dyson has invented you know a vacuum cleaning
invented you know a vacuum cleaning
invented you know a vacuum cleaning without a bag I think my mum’s mind was
without a bag I think my mum’s mind was
without a bag I think my mum’s mind was blown when she saw that for the first
blown when she saw that for the first
blown when she saw that for the first time you know a fan that doesn’t have
time you know a fan that doesn’t have
time you know a fan that doesn’t have blades and these are things that are
blades and these are things that are
blades and these are things that are really unsettling when you first sort of
really unsettling when you first sort of
really unsettling when you first sort of hear about them and see them but
hear about them and see them but
hear about them and see them but ultimately they’re really successful
ultimately they’re really successful
ultimately they’re really successful examples of disruption and innovation so
examples of disruption and innovation so
examples of disruption and innovation so what can a school do to innovate and be
what can a school do to innovate and be
what can a school do to innovate and be disruptive well I think it needs to ask
disruptive well I think it needs to ask
disruptive well I think it needs to ask itself the most fundamental of questions
itself the most fundamental of questions
itself the most fundamental of questions what is a school for so if a school
what is a school for so if a school
what is a school for so if a school isn’t going to be about passing exams
isn’t going to be about passing exams
isn’t going to be about passing exams what’s it going to be for if it’s not a
what’s it going to be for if it’s not a
what’s it going to be for if it’s not a place where you go to get filled up with
place where you go to get filled up with
place where you go to get filled up with facts what’s it going to do
facts what’s it going to do
facts what’s it going to do so what if a school were a place that
so what if a school were a place that
so what if a school were a place that celebrated creativity above everything
celebrated creativity above everything
celebrated creativity above everything else what if a school were a place where
else what if a school were a place where
else what if a school were a place where the curriculum bent around the needs and
the curriculum bent around the needs and
the curriculum bent around the needs and the desires and motivations of the young
the desires and motivations of the young
the desires and motivations of the young people that walked through its doors
people that walked through its doors
people that walked through its doors what if a school were a place where the
what if a school were a place where the
what if a school were a place where the teachers weren’t the ones with all the
teachers weren’t the ones with all the
teachers weren’t the ones with all the knowledge would that be like and what
knowledge would that be like and what
knowledge would that be like and what about what about if a school was
about what about if a school was
about what about if a school was somewhere that actually felt relevant to
somewhere that actually felt relevant to
somewhere that actually felt relevant to the young people that came in every day
the young people that came in every day
the young people that came in every day it wouldn’t that be an interesting thing
it wouldn’t that be an interesting thing
it wouldn’t that be an interesting thing now there’s no denying that facts are a
now there’s no denying that facts are a
now there’s no denying that facts are a really important part of Education you
really important part of Education you
really important part of Education you know and without facts lots of things
know and without facts lots of things
know and without facts lots of things don’t make sense science basically would
don’t make sense science basically would
don’t make sense science basically would go off the timetable
go off the timetable
go off the timetable you know facts and rules are a
you know facts and rules are a
you know facts and rules are a fundamentally important part of life
fundamentally important part of life
fundamentally important part of life because if you don’t know facts and
because if you don’t know facts and
because if you don’t know facts and rules you don’t know what to challenge
rules you don’t know what to challenge
rules you don’t know what to challenge you don’t know what to change and you
you don’t know what to change and you
you don’t know what to change and you don’t know when to break them you know
don’t know when to break them you know
don’t know when to break them you know but beyond all of that you know we’ve
but beyond all of that you know we’ve
but beyond all of that you know we’ve got to be teaching them transferable
got to be teaching them transferable
got to be teaching them transferable skills because if you consider the
skills because if you consider the
skills because if you consider the average child starts education in this
average child starts education in this
average child starts education in this country at four years old
country at four years old
country at four years old okay and they leave at the earliest at
okay and they leave at the earliest at
okay and they leave at the earliest at sixteen and you know sometimes
sixteen and you know sometimes
sixteen and you know sometimes significantly after that so that’s a
significantly after that so that’s a
significantly after that so that’s a minimum of 12 years in education so
minimum of 12 years in education so
minimum of 12 years in education so consider that 12 years ago there was no
consider that 12 years ago there was no
consider that 12 years ago there was no such thing as an iPhone but today you
such thing as an iPhone but today you
such thing as an iPhone but today you could walk around the corner and buy an
could walk around the corner and buy an
could walk around the corner and buy an iPhone that unlocks using your face as
iPhone that unlocks using your face as
iPhone that unlocks using your face as the passcode you know 12 years ago no
the passcode you know 12 years ago no
the passcode you know 12 years ago no one really talked about sustainability
one really talked about sustainability
one really talked about sustainability you couldn’t be a social media manager
you couldn’t be a social media manager
you couldn’t be a social media manager there was no such thing as a drone pilot
there was no such thing as a drone pilot
there was no such thing as a drone pilot and you couldn’t be a driverless car
and you couldn’t be a driverless car
and you couldn’t be a driverless car engineer because no one had invented
engineer because no one had invented
engineer because no one had invented driverless cars yet okay the point is 12
driverless cars yet okay the point is 12
driverless cars yet okay the point is 12 years ago perhaps we didn’t see these
years ago perhaps we didn’t see these
years ago perhaps we didn’t see these jobs coming a YouTube is only just about
jobs coming a YouTube is only just about
jobs coming a YouTube is only just about 12 years old and who would have thought
12 years old and who would have thought
12 years old and who would have thought then that young people would be making
then that young people would be making
then that young people would be making for the enormous in comes just from
for the enormous in comes just from
for the enormous in comes just from videoing themselves in their bedrooms
videoing themselves in their bedrooms
videoing themselves in their bedrooms talking to camera it’s a remarkable
talking to camera it’s a remarkable
talking to camera it’s a remarkable thing and the thing is we’ve got to be
thing and the thing is we’ve got to be
thing and the thing is we’ve got to be preparing them for a future where these
preparing them for a future where these
preparing them for a future where these jobs that I’m talking about might be
jobs that I’m talking about might be
jobs that I’m talking about might be redundant
redundant
redundant and that future is unknown now there are
and that future is unknown now there are
and that future is unknown now there are some people and they may well be people
some people and they may well be people
some people and they may well be people in this room that think we’re on the
in this room that think we’re on the
in this room that think we’re on the cusp of a singularity which basically
cusp of a singularity which basically
cusp of a singularity which basically means there’s not going to be a lot of
means there’s not going to be a lot of
means there’s not going to be a lot of jobs for people because the very bots
jobs for people because the very bots
jobs for people because the very bots are going to do them all I just not sure
are going to do them all I just not sure
are going to do them all I just not sure that our young people are going to
that our young people are going to
that our young people are going to accept that future you know I think
accept that future you know I think
accept that future you know I think that’s the necessarily a future that
that’s the necessarily a future that
that’s the necessarily a future that they’re going to want and I think our
they’re going to want and I think our
they’re going to want and I think our responsibility is to provide them with a
responsibility is to provide them with a
responsibility is to provide them with a toolkit that at least allows them to ask
toolkit that at least allows them to ask
toolkit that at least allows them to ask ask that question you know we need to
ask that question you know we need to
ask that question you know we need to show them that they can start making
show them that they can start making
show them that they can start making decisions about their future now and
decisions about their future now and
decisions about their future now and that there’s a path that they can choose
that there’s a path that they can choose
that there’s a path that they can choose that might be different to the ones that
that might be different to the ones that
that might be different to the ones that we’re talking about at the moment how
we’re talking about at the moment how
we’re talking about at the moment how can we do that
can we do that
can we do that well we can show them how to take the
well we can show them how to take the
well we can show them how to take the facts that they know and smash those
facts that they know and smash those
facts that they know and smash those together with creativity and we can tell
together with creativity and we can tell
together with creativity and we can tell them that those individual subjects they
them that those individual subjects they
them that those individual subjects they learn in 35 40 minutes Lots can be mixed
learn in 35 40 minutes Lots can be mixed
learn in 35 40 minutes Lots can be mixed up and blurred so that you can’t tell
up and blurred so that you can’t tell
up and blurred so that you can’t tell the difference between English and
the difference between English and
the difference between English and science and maths and friends yeah and
science and maths and friends yeah and
science and maths and friends yeah and we can take the technology that they use
we can take the technology that they use
we can take the technology that they use everyday outside of school and we can
everyday outside of school and we can
everyday outside of school and we can bring that into school and repurpose
bring that into school and repurpose
bring that into school and repurpose re-educate them about what that’s for
re-educate them about what that’s for
re-educate them about what that’s for because if technology’s going to be a
because if technology’s going to be a
because if technology’s going to be a big part of their future and let’s face
big part of their future and let’s face
big part of their future and let’s face it looks like it is then we have a duty
it looks like it is then we have a duty
it looks like it is then we have a duty I think to make sure they know what it
I think to make sure they know what it
I think to make sure they know what it can do and more possibilities that it
can do and more possibilities that it
can do and more possibilities that it offers are because if we teach them
offers are because if we teach them
offers are because if we teach them about what is possible then they can
about what is possible then they can
about what is possible then they can start to challenge that and reach for
start to challenge that and reach for
start to challenge that and reach for the as yet impossible and we keep on
the as yet impossible and we keep on
the as yet impossible and we keep on innovating so my own school we have
innovating so my own school we have
innovating so my own school we have given every every people an iPad and
given every every people an iPad and
given every every people an iPad and we’ve done that for a whole range of
we’ve done that for a whole range of
we’ve done that for a whole range of different reasons not one of those
different reasons not one of those
different reasons not one of those reasons was to improve exam results you
reasons was to improve exam results you
reasons was to improve exam results you know and I get visits from schools all
know and I get visits from schools all
know and I get visits from schools all around the world they kind of sit in my
around the world they kind of sit in my
around the world they kind of sit in my office and we talk about technology and
office and we talk about technology and
office and we talk about technology and eventually I noted them on to actually
eventually I noted them on to actually
eventually I noted them on to actually talk about education and I always try
talk about education and I always try
talk about education and I always try and ask them why it is they want to
and ask them why it is they want to
and ask them why it is they want to bring technology into their school and
bring technology into their school and
bring technology into their school and it’s amazing the variety of answers that
it’s amazing the variety of answers that
it’s amazing the variety of answers that you get to that question most in a
you get to that question most in a
you get to that question most in a roundabout sort of way understand that
roundabout sort of way understand that
roundabout sort of way understand that technology in a school can be
technology in a school can be
technology in a school can be a great tool for advancing learning some
a great tool for advancing learning some
a great tool for advancing learning some people really don’t know they just kind
people really don’t know they just kind
people really don’t know they just kind of feel like they should because that’s
of feel like they should because that’s
of feel like they should because that’s the way things are going
the way things are going
the way things are going some people come in because they’ve got
some people come in because they’ve got
some people come in because they’ve got they wanted to be a unique selling point
they wanted to be a unique selling point
they wanted to be a unique selling point that another school can’t offer and some
that another school can’t offer and some
that another school can’t offer and some people really do think that’s going to
people really do think that’s going to
people really do think that’s going to be a kind of magic bullet and the truth
be a kind of magic bullet and the truth
be a kind of magic bullet and the truth is you know technology doesn’t change
is you know technology doesn’t change
is you know technology doesn’t change anything on its own it doesn’t make a
anything on its own it doesn’t make a
anything on its own it doesn’t make a poor teacher a good teacher doesn’t make
poor teacher a good teacher doesn’t make
poor teacher a good teacher doesn’t make an unmotivated people are motivated
an unmotivated people are motivated
an unmotivated people are motivated people it only works when it’s part of a
people it only works when it’s part of a
people it only works when it’s part of a bigger picture a bigger picture of
bigger picture a bigger picture of
bigger picture a bigger picture of innovation and engagement so we’ve got
innovation and engagement so we’ve got
innovation and engagement so we’ve got iPads in the classroom and what that
iPads in the classroom and what that
iPads in the classroom and what that means is our students can do things that
means is our students can do things that
means is our students can do things that those of us sitting in this room could
those of us sitting in this room could
those of us sitting in this room could only have dreamt about when we were at
only have dreamt about when we were at
only have dreamt about when we were at school impossible things and now
school impossible things and now
school impossible things and now possible in the classroom but also they
possible in the classroom but also they
possible in the classroom but also they can do things the way that we do things
can do things the way that we do things
can do things the way that we do things in the world of work
in the world of work
in the world of work because how often in the world of work
because how often in the world of work
because how often in the world of work do you get asked to sit in a room in
do you get asked to sit in a room in
do you get asked to sit in a room in silence without no access to the digital
silence without no access to the digital
silence without no access to the digital world so that you can write down
world so that you can write down
world so that you can write down everything that you know about
everything that you know about
everything that you know about photosynthesis well the final act of a
photosynthesis well the final act of a
photosynthesis well the final act of a salary you know in the real world get us
salary you know in the real world get us
salary you know in the real world get us to presents you’re asked to research
to presents you’re asked to research
to presents you’re asked to research you’re asked to create you know and at
you’re asked to create you know and at
you’re asked to create you know and at the tip of your fingers is that digital
the tip of your fingers is that digital
the tip of your fingers is that digital world with all sorts of inspiration
world with all sorts of inspiration
world with all sorts of inspiration available to you and we have an a GCSE
available to you and we have an a GCSE
available to you and we have an a GCSE Italian class and they’ve been really
Italian class and they’ve been really
Italian class and they’ve been really helped along their journey over the last
helped along their journey over the last
helped along their journey over the last two years because they conference called
two years because they conference called
two years because they conference called a school in Italy and that means that
a school in Italy and that means that
a school in Italy and that means that fifteen or sixteen year old boys and
fifteen or sixteen year old boys and
fifteen or sixteen year old boys and girls in England are speaking learning a
girls in England are speaking learning a
girls in England are speaking learning a language from fifteen or sixteen year
language from fifteen or sixteen year
language from fifteen or sixteen year old boys and girls in Italy and it
old boys and girls in Italy and it
old boys and girls in Italy and it probably comes as no surprise that they
probably comes as no surprise that they
probably comes as no surprise that they take that quite seriously because it’s
take that quite seriously because it’s
take that quite seriously because it’s one thing for your teacher to point at
one thing for your teacher to point at
one thing for your teacher to point at you and say any talk for 30 seconds
you and say any talk for 30 seconds
you and say any talk for 30 seconds about what your favorite food is in
about what your favorite food is in
about what your favorite food is in Italian it’s another thing entirely when
Italian it’s another thing entirely when
Italian it’s another thing entirely when that question or something similar comes
that question or something similar comes
that question or something similar comes from somebody your own age you know that
from somebody your own age you know that
from somebody your own age you know that interaction really matters and on the
interaction really matters and on the
interaction really matters and on the matter of interruptions the other thing
matter of interruptions the other thing
matter of interruptions the other thing that we’ve had to do is is renegotiate
that we’ve had to do is is renegotiate
that we’ve had to do is is renegotiate what technology is for and that’s been a
what technology is for and that’s been a
what technology is for and that’s been a conversation with student
conversation with student
conversation with student some with parents so if any of you’ve
some with parents so if any of you’ve
some with parents so if any of you’ve got a teenager I’m sure you’re very
got a teenager I’m sure you’re very
got a teenager I’m sure you’re very familiar with their face but in
familiar with their face but in
familiar with their face but in particular you’re probably quite
particular you’re probably quite
particular you’re probably quite familiar with their face as lit from
familiar with their face as lit from
familiar with their face as lit from underneath with a sort of stark blue a
underneath with a sort of stark blue a
underneath with a sort of stark blue a white light usually seen in the middle
white light usually seen in the middle
white light usually seen in the middle of the night when you thought they’ve
of the night when you thought they’ve
of the night when you thought they’ve been asleep for two hours and you hear a
been asleep for two hours and you hear a
been asleep for two hours and you hear a strange beeping noise that alerts you to
strange beeping noise that alerts you to
strange beeping noise that alerts you to some strange activity in their room so
some strange activity in their room so
some strange activity in their room so it’s no it’s no great secret that you
it’s no it’s no great secret that you
it’s no it’s no great secret that you know young people like technology and in
know young people like technology and in
know young people like technology and in particular social media you know I guess
particular social media you know I guess
particular social media you know I guess social media is kind of like what rock
social media is kind of like what rock
social media is kind of like what rock and roll was to kids in the 50s no it’s
and roll was to kids in the 50s no it’s
and roll was to kids in the 50s no it’s this sort of secret language that adults
this sort of secret language that adults
this sort of secret language that adults aren’t supposed to fully understand and
aren’t supposed to fully understand and
aren’t supposed to fully understand and so what we’ve had to do is is sort of
so what we’ve had to do is is sort of
so what we’ve had to do is is sort of show you them this technology from a
show you them this technology from a
show you them this technology from a different perspective yeah so what we’ve
different perspective yeah so what we’ve
different perspective yeah so what we’ve done is we’ve shown them that that that
done is we’ve shown them that that that
done is we’ve shown them that that that phone or that tablet or that laptop can
phone or that tablet or that laptop can
phone or that tablet or that laptop can be a tool for creating content not just
be a tool for creating content not just
be a tool for creating content not just passively receiving cat videos it can be
passively receiving cat videos it can be
passively receiving cat videos it can be a tool for problem solving rather than
a tool for problem solving rather than
a tool for problem solving rather than escapism and it can be at all most
escapism and it can be at all most
escapism and it can be at all most importantly for learning you know and
importantly for learning you know and
importantly for learning you know and can be a tool for learning rather than
can be a tool for learning rather than
can be a tool for learning rather than just entertainment and we’ve taken our
just entertainment and we’ve taken our
just entertainment and we’ve taken our parents on that journey as well and so
parents on that journey as well and so
parents on that journey as well and so every year we invite them in for an
every year we invite them in for an
every year we invite them in for an evening and we give them an iPad and we
evening and we give them an iPad and we
evening and we give them an iPad and we sit them down in our hall and we teach
sit them down in our hall and we teach
sit them down in our hall and we teach them a lesson not in a sinister way but
them a lesson not in a sinister way but
them a lesson not in a sinister way but we sit down and they sort of do an
we sit down and they sort of do an
we sit down and they sort of do an English lesson or a maths lesson and
English lesson or a maths lesson and
English lesson or a maths lesson and they use the technology in exactly the
they use the technology in exactly the
they use the technology in exactly the way our children do and they walk out of
way our children do and they walk out of
way our children do and they walk out of our school feeling inspired and a bit
our school feeling inspired and a bit
our school feeling inspired and a bit jealous of all the cool things that
jealous of all the cool things that
jealous of all the cool things that their children can do but they really
their children can do but they really
their children can do but they really understand what it is we’re trying to
understand what it is we’re trying to
understand what it is we’re trying to achieve with technology so over the
achieve with technology so over the
achieve with technology so over the summer I launched a coding competition
summer I launched a coding competition
summer I launched a coding competition which I cleverly called Summer of Code
which I cleverly called Summer of Code
which I cleverly called Summer of Code the premise affair is really simple as
the premise affair is really simple as
the premise affair is really simple as an optional activity and the children
an optional activity and the children
an optional activity and the children had to go away and create a game or an
had to go away and create a game or an
had to go away and create a game or an app and the only guidance I gave them
app and the only guidance I gave them
app and the only guidance I gave them was a theme which was the planet Earth
was a theme which was the planet Earth
was a theme which was the planet Earth and there was a deadline and there was a
and there was a deadline and there was a
and there was a deadline and there was a promise of a prize for the top three
promise of a prize for the top three
promise of a prize for the top three entries that was it and I think I think
entries that was it and I think I think
entries that was it and I think I think I need to tell you is that entries that
I need to tell you is that entries that
I need to tell you is that entries that came back with just amazing
came back with just amazing
came back with just amazing the headmaster and I got to sit in his
the headmaster and I got to sit in his
the headmaster and I got to sit in his office playing games and we will try and
office playing games and we will try and
office playing games and we will try and get high schools not die power up level
get high schools not die power up level
get high schools not die power up level up all that sort of things you expect
up all that sort of things you expect
up all that sort of things you expect from a really good game and it sort of
from a really good game and it sort of
from a really good game and it sort of struck me we didn’t really teach them
struck me we didn’t really teach them
struck me we didn’t really teach them how to do that but more strikingly we
how to do that but more strikingly we
how to do that but more strikingly we didn’t teach them to do the thing that
didn’t teach them to do the thing that
didn’t teach them to do the thing that they did next
they did next
they did next I found that two out of the three top
I found that two out of the three top
I found that two out of the three top three entries had already monetized
three entries had already monetized
three entries had already monetized their game one was listed on Kickstarter
their game one was listed on Kickstarter
their game one was listed on Kickstarter net rate he’d raised a goodly sum and
net rate he’d raised a goodly sum and
net rate he’d raised a goodly sum and the other was already on the App Store
the other was already on the App Store
the other was already on the App Store along with about a dozen our other apps
along with about a dozen our other apps
along with about a dozen our other apps he’d already had already created making
he’d already had already created making
he’d already had already created making money through advertising
money through advertising
money through advertising I was just astonishing that that’s a
I was just astonishing that that’s a
I was just astonishing that that’s a self-taught innovation was amazing so
self-taught innovation was amazing so
self-taught innovation was amazing so there’s no doubt in my mind that the
there’s no doubt in my mind that the
there’s no doubt in my mind that the Summer of Code was a success but I
Summer of Code was a success but I
Summer of Code was a success but I didn’t feel like it was quite finished I
didn’t feel like it was quite finished I
didn’t feel like it was quite finished I thought there was more we could do so
thought there was more we could do so
thought there was more we could do so we’ve now got a grief of students
we’ve now got a grief of students
we’ve now got a grief of students building that right now building a
building that right now building a
building that right now building a classic six-foot arcade machine and that
classic six-foot arcade machine and that
classic six-foot arcade machine and that machine is going to play the games of
machine is going to play the games of
machine is going to play the games of those those winning entries and the
those those winning entries and the
those those winning entries and the machines got a coin slots and it’s going
machines got a coin slots and it’s going
machines got a coin slots and it’s going to stand somewhere in school and it’s
to stand somewhere in school and it’s
to stand somewhere in school and it’s going to raise money for charity kids
going to raise money for charity kids
going to raise money for charity kids going to play games it’s going to raise
going to play games it’s going to raise
going to play games it’s going to raise money for charity and that’s amazing and
money for charity and that’s amazing and
money for charity and that’s amazing and and for me that project has been the
and for me that project has been the
and for me that project has been the embodiment of innovation really it’s
embodiment of innovation really it’s
embodiment of innovation really it’s brought together a really diverse group
brought together a really diverse group
brought together a really diverse group of people you know different ages
of people you know different ages
of people you know different ages different genders different skills we’ve
different genders different skills we’ve
different genders different skills we’ve got coders doing the interface we’ve got
got coders doing the interface we’ve got
got coders doing the interface we’ve got people doing technical drawings
people doing technical drawings
people doing technical drawings musicians writing a school all sorts of
musicians writing a school all sorts of
musicians writing a school all sorts of different things going on and we’ve also
different things going on and we’ve also
different things going on and we’ve also got wannabe economist tracking every
got wannabe economist tracking every
got wannabe economist tracking every single penny that we spend at the end of
single penny that we spend at the end of
single penny that we spend at the end of it once we built it they’re going to
it once we built it they’re going to
it once we built it they’re going to tell me whether or not there’s a viable
tell me whether or not there’s a viable
tell me whether or not there’s a viable business at the end of it and if there
business at the end of it and if there
business at the end of it and if there is then even more people get to be
is then even more people get to be
is then even more people get to be involved with marketing and business
involved with marketing and business
involved with marketing and business planning and web design for me that that
planning and web design for me that that
planning and web design for me that that is innovation you know some of these are
is innovation you know some of these are
is innovation you know some of these are skills that we have taught them and some
skills that we have taught them and some
skills that we have taught them and some of them are skills that they’ve taught
of them are skills that they’ve taught
of them are skills that they’ve taught themselves I’ll be the first to admit I
themselves I’ll be the first to admit I
themselves I’ll be the first to admit I do not know how to build an arcade
do not know how to build an arcade
do not know how to build an arcade machine
machine
machine I know Dickens
I know Dickens
I know Dickens I couldn’t code as complex again as they
I couldn’t code as complex again as they
I couldn’t code as complex again as they have coded but it turns out I don’t need
have coded but it turns out I don’t need
have coded but it turns out I don’t need to what I needed to do was show them how
to what I needed to do was show them how
to what I needed to do was show them how to take the facts that they knew and
to take the facts that they knew and
to take the facts that they knew and apply them in a creative way I needed to
apply them in a creative way I needed to
apply them in a creative way I needed to get them to collaborate in a space where
get them to collaborate in a space where
get them to collaborate in a space where they felt free to challenge themselves
they felt free to challenge themselves
they felt free to challenge themselves and make mistakes and just get on with
and make mistakes and just get on with
and make mistakes and just get on with them that’s how the innovation happened
them that’s how the innovation happened
them that’s how the innovation happened and so innovation in education is a
and so innovation in education is a
and so innovation in education is a really essential thing the the the the
really essential thing the the the the
really essential thing the the the the world that they become adults in is not
world that they become adults in is not
world that they become adults in is not our world yeah and we have a
our world yeah and we have a
our world yeah and we have a responsibility to try and help them
responsibility to try and help them
responsibility to try and help them navigate that path but we also have a
navigate that path but we also have a
navigate that path but we also have a responsibility I think to make sure that
responsibility I think to make sure that
responsibility I think to make sure that they see what education could and should
they see what education could and should
they see what education could and should be there should be something
be there should be something
be there should be something collaborative it should be something
collaborative it should be something
collaborative it should be something creative it should be something that
creative it should be something that
creative it should be something that celebrates the blending of facts and
celebrates the blending of facts and
celebrates the blending of facts and skills and it should feel relevant to
skills and it should feel relevant to
skills and it should feel relevant to them at all times and it should also
them at all times and it should also
them at all times and it should also allow them to engage with technology in
allow them to engage with technology in
allow them to engage with technology in a meaningful way so in other words one
a meaningful way so in other words one
a meaningful way so in other words one Elon Musk is great but we need more
Elon Musk is great but we need more
Elon Musk is great but we need more people with big ideas and the
people with big ideas and the
people with big ideas and the wherewithal to see them through so that
wherewithal to see them through so that
wherewithal to see them through so that the future is not written by an elite
the future is not written by an elite
the future is not written by an elite group of visionaries but by everyone
”
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