Kindergarten Engineers What the What?

Ahhhhh I wrote an article that I can now safely call my best piece of writing ever (I can only say that because I somehow did not save it, and that is how I will choose to remember it)  Because I don't have the heart right now, I am going to just write out a skeleton, a thin shell of that masterpiece.

There was some lovely, flowery writing about a To Sir With Love esque kindergarten teachers, there were some solid comparisons to Michelangelo, and there was a cautionary tale about, a chimp, a hula hoop, and youthful optimism.

I'll see what I can recreate, but no promises.

I was once again thinking about the importance of engagement in learning and once again thinking that the same principles that hold true for the classroom, hold true for the workplace, life...

So I attended this conference and was so inspired by what is happening in some classrooms.

Lots of teachers are incorporating Project Based Learning and  Learning by Design.

What the teacher did:

1. Noticed her kids were extremely interested in a type of toy, it wasn't GI Joes or legos, but some specific brand that alludes me now.

2. Had them play on the playground

3. Wrote a letter (likely on fancy official paper) from the toy company asking for the kids help.  She sat the kids down and read this very official letter that asked the kids to design a playground for these toy people. 

The letter had guidelines but limited

4.  Supported the children by future exploration opportunities, time, and material supplies 

5.  Supported the children with opportunities to test their buildings, showed the children a structure for testing their designs and for recording their findings

4. Gaped open mouthed at the amazing things the children created

In other words the teacher:

1. PAID ATTENTION TO WHAT THE KIDS WERE INTERESTED IN

2. SET UP EXPERIENCES FOR THEM TO OBSERVE/GAIN EXPERIENCE

3. DESIGNED AN ENGAGING, CHALLENGING PROJECT THAT ALLOWS FREEDOM and CREATIVITY and  INCORPORATES WHAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN  

4. OFFERED SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE, but LET THE STUDENTS DO THE HEAVY LIFTING

THESE PRINCIPLES SHOULD BE THE STANDARD WAY OF DOING THINGS:

If we want to reach optimum potential of human capital

The current situation in many schools and workplaces remind me of Monsters Inc.  The monsters scared children to generate power.  The crazy thing was it was way more fun to make children laugh than cry and it produced a heck of a lot more power.

"More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than has been taken from the earth."

Napoleon Hill

Hashtag, you rock Napoleon Hill Hashtage pure gold (yeah, yeah, yeah I realize I am not using the hashtag properly but I like it)