March 15, 2017
By Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School
Although winter is not yet ready to let go, as evidenced by Sunday’s snowfall, spring is beginning to make itself known at Mounds Park Academy. It has been a rather busy week with several rites of spring making their appearance. The Upper School is in the throes of final exams, Middle School is in i-Term, and Lower School students are embarking on a series of project-based learning experiences. The energy level is building as Friday approaches.
I was away from school for several days in early March attending the annual conference of the National Association of Independent Schools. A central theme of the conference was innovation. It is also a buzzword in educational circles as well as in business and industry. People in all sectors tend to confuse technology and innovation. They are not synonymous and technology is only one piece of the innovation puzzle.
Innovation begins with a culture that gives permission to create and explore. It also places the appropriate value on making mistakes and celebrating failure. In a school, it also entails giving students a voice in their learning, accompanying them on a journey of self-discovery, and being attentive to their passions. As internationally known author and educational reform leader, Sir Ken Robinson, articulates, “Passion is the driver of achievement in all fields. Some people love doing things they don’t feel they’re good at. That may be because they underestimate their talents or haven’t yet put the work in to develop them.”
I believe our Middle School i-Term is a window through which to view innovation at work at MPA. The “I” in i-Term expresses several elements important to cultivate innovation: independent thinking, inquiry, individualization, intrinsic motivation, and investigation, to name a few. I’ve spent time this week visiting with Middle School students, learning about what they are doing, and asking them about their experience. As I wander the hallways, I am impressed with what I see and hear. For example:
- Students in a “making” course were printing fabric, designing totes, and using sewing machines to produce them. Imagine the skills they were acquiring as they struggled with threading the needle and bobbin.
- Across the hall, students were experimenting with Arduino microcontrollers to build their own version of the popular Simon game.
- This morning, I greeted a group of students who were on their way to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to view the collection of Japanese art as part of their study of art and culture from around the world.
- My own daughter is in Arkansas at Heifer International, learning about global hunger and poverty.
i-Term is just one example of innovation at MPA and there are many others. As we look to the future, the new Makerspace will be yet another means to strengthen the culture of innovation at MPA. Harvard Professor Tony Wagner and Global Entrepreneur Ted Dintersmith stated in a recent publication that the purpose of education is to engage students with their passions and growing sense of purpose, teach them critical skills needed for career and citizenship, and inspire them to do their very best to make their world better. I find their words affirming and encouraging and strive each day to ensure MPA truly does empower students to live, learn, and thrive in today’s world.
Whatever your plans for spring break, I hope you enjoy quality time with family and loved ones.
