087 | Education Through Innovation | Don Wettrick

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087 | Don Wettrick, CEO and co-founder of StartEdUp Innovation program, and a current high school teach, talks about the cultivating innovation and creativity in the classroom, harnessing a learner’s internal motivation, and giving students opportunities to solve problems they’re passionate about.

• Why and how did Don create an Innovation course at his school, and ultimately the StartEdUp Innovation program?
• What was challenging about getting his students involved during the early stages, when it was just extra time during his class?
• When do students lose their curiosity or learning?
• How much does a reward really motivate students?
• What would the process look like to develop and nurture internally motivated learners through elementary school?
• What’s the difference between creativity and imagination?
• How can a parent help their child be more innovative outside of school?
• What does Don recommend as a good consumption v. production ratio?
• How does changing consumption habits – how much, and what – impact the way Don’s students and own children think?
• How does building community within a cohort of “creators” impact a student’s relationship?
• Does participation in Don’s high school class impact his students other grades?
• How do mastery, autonomy and purpose mix together best?
• What does it look like to be in Don’s Innovation Class?
• • 6-7 weeks of class
  • • Basics of innovation
    • How to think creatively
    • Building a professional social media presence
  • Remainder of class is “open source learning”
  • Volunteer with struggling non-profits, to see problems close up
  • Statewide student “Pitch” competition
  • Helping struggling local businesses
• What sort of projects have his students build?
• What story do you tell yourself, about yourself?
• Is there a difference between improvement and new opportunity?
• How would Don hope to integrate innovation development into schools in his 10-year dream?
• Contact: @DonWettrick on Twitter
• What did Don’s father mean when he told him to “Pay himself first”?
• Why does Don think it’s important to fail?

Links:

“Daniel Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation”

Freakonomics

You Will Lose Your Job to a Robot—and Sooner Than You Think