TAKING RISKS WITH EDUCATION SYSTEMS : WHY TAKING RISKS IS IMPORTANT FOR INNOVATION
BY : SHADY ELKASSAS
Expo-2022 Dubai has officially ended after a magical 182 days of incredible innovation and collaboration between 192 countries . Connecting Minds , Creating the Future , and a chance for countries , businesses and people to come together and demonstrate sustainability , mobility , and opportunity worldwide , was the main focus of EXPO 2020 . I was inspired by the unique and innovative ideas that were showcased in this magnificent exhibition . As an educator and innovation advocate , one question kept lingering in my mind ; How can we make Expo2020 a catalyst in promoting innovation in our schools ? It was such a great innovation exhibition that brought the best practices from more than 192 countries . All of these practices were innovative and geared to bring pioneering breakthroughs in the near future . I believe that the gamechanging practice that promoted such a great innovative exhibition was incubating the idea of taking risks . Risk taking is the twin of innovation . The essential question now is ; how do we promote a risk-taking environment in our school systems ?
Education systems play a crucial role in the diffusion of innovative practices . They serve as a socialization ground for new ideas , norms and behaviours , and tend to be conservative in nature . However , this does not mean that they cannot be used as a springboard for innovation . In fact , many education systems have been extremely innovative throughout history by adopting new pedagogical practices , rethinking the way subjects are taught , and experimenting with new teaching methods . It is only through risk-taking that these education systems were able to innovate . Innovation , in this case , does not mean inventing something new but rather challenging the status quo , breaking away from established traditions , and , instead , breaking new ground . In this blog post , we will be discussing why it is important to take risks with education systems and why we should embrace change and innovation in our education systems .
What are the benefits of taking risks in education ?
A sense of adventure and independence :
When children are introduced to new concepts and ways of thinking , they are able to set their own goals , choose their own interests and are not forced to do what they are told . Instead , they are encouraged to explore and think for themselves . By taking risks , children learn to be self-reliant and acquire the necessary skills to function independently in the future .
Learning through doing :
Taking risks allows children to learn by doing . They try new things , and , most importantly , they experience failure - something that is very important for the development of the human brain . Research has shown that experiencing success and failure can enable the human brain to develop and be able to learn new skills and overcome obstacles .
20 Term 3 Apr - Jun 2022
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