My teaching partner Carolyn Brambles with our BMO business partner Gordon Mills, we have been mentoring and guiding students' innovations for a social justice entrepreneurship. The Grade 5 students venture will be fundraising for the Shepherds of Good Hope and the Grade 6 students' venture will be fundraising for Free The Children.
For four weeks the students have been developing their innovations around the SMART goal and making sure their concept is attainable, reasonable and realistic. After several meetings in teams and measuring their ideas to the SMART template, today was the day to present and convince the Den and their colleagues of their innovation.
This has been a significant journey as students unpacked many skills along the way. The students had to collaborate, be responsible, persevere, determine and reflect as a team in order to make their concepts real.
By defending their concept through many questions from the Den, students today unleashed the power of innovation:
- Being curious
- Being imaginative
- Initiated in meaningful conversations about their idea
- Self-motivated
- Reinforcing positivity among each other
- Resilient to pursue the complexity of the concept.
- Collaborative thinkers
- Building on each others' ideas
- Having a vision and creativity
- Critical Thinkers
- Problem solvers
- Risk takers
- Having unique and genuine voices
- Being reflective for opportunities of growth
- Self-directed learners
- Decision makers
- Being accountable
As educators how are we empowering students to be innovative and take their own actions in developing their skills?
Looking forward to supporting our newest entrepreneurs in their pursuit to raise awareness and funds for such worthy social justice initiatives. Like any educated consumer, I appreciate knowing the process and the people behind the products I purchase. I hope that students see the value of this connection and apply it to their own purchasing choices! Another fantastic innovative opportunity in your class! This makes me so hopeful for a generation who has so much promise to change the world! Bravo!
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