Education Innovators and Makers

Innovators in education are often seen as visionaries, transformers, and leaders. These individuals may present new procedures or methods that transform the education system.

Many of the innovators in education described on the PBS website have characteristics similar to educators in the modern classrooms including tireless determination, boundless energy, educational advocates, and problem solving abilities. While the legacy of the educators might not gain them a space on the PBS website, their daily efforts are making differences in the legacies of students.

A modern innovator on the PBS website is a strong advocate for enhancing democracy and equity, but against standardized testing. Deborah Meier emphasizes active learning and involves educators and parents in providing leadership for the learning of the students. I admire her progressive theories and truly innovative approaches. On her website (www.deborahmeier.com), one of her quotes from a recent interview is that “teaching has reinforced my belief in human possibility.” I hope that we can all have faith in the possibility of students and learn from Meier’s leadership and innovation in education.

The makers of education were presented in a negative light on the Gatto website. I think it is important to consider that these individuals may have had an influence on education because they were attempting to better prepare students for the opportunities available to them. I do agree that these makers would be directly benefitting from their recommended change to the education system, but individuals would also be benefitting by gaining the necessary skills to be gainfully employed.

I still believe that it is vital to provide students with the three traditional purposes of instruction that were identified on the Gatto site: 1) to make good people, 2) to make good citizens, and 3) to make each student find some particular talents to develop to the maximum. It seems to me that the third purpose is where the makers are having an impact on education. They have been able to identify the skills and talents needed for the workplace.

Makers who are not listed on the Gatto site, but who are having an impact on today’s educational system are the computer and web developers. With all the technological changes, these individuals are important for providing input on where the future direction of business. They are having a direct impact on education. In fact, web professionals from across the country recently met in Chattanooga to discuss web-education based standards and teacher resources (http://www.wdef.com/news/web_innovators_hold_education_standards_summit_in_chattanooga/08/2009).

Both the innovators and the makers seem to realize the importance of changing over time to avoid being stagnant and irrelevant. These individuals are important to make a difference in the field of education since input is needed both from those who are involved with preparing students (innovators) and those who will be employing students (makers).