Innovators and Makers

When reading, I was more interested in the informaion on the innovators. As I read through each innovator I found myself relating their theories to topics/ideas that I have witnessed or experienced in my 15 years as an educator. I had a hard time choosing one innovator but I decided on John Dewey. His no drill-and-recitation theory is so relevant to my current job and the SLC initiative in high schools today. We are encouraging projects, presentations, and group work; more real-world relevance for students not drill and recite.

The maker that I chose was Henry Ford. He is notorious for his assembly line but he donated money to education and he created the Ford Foundation that continues to provide money and research to schools today. While I disagree with the policy declaration that was introduced in the 1960's that encouraged due process before disciplining children, I think the Foundation still had and has positive impacts on education. The main reason that I chose Henry Ford is the work that the Foundation is doing today. http://www.fordpas.org/ Metro Nashville Public Schools has partnered with Ford for years and we continue to increase the use of their Ford PAS curriculum. The curriculum is academic interdisciplinary in areas such as business, economics, engineering and technology. It is inquiry and project based.

My thoughts on innovators and makers are simple. Innovators influenced education because education was their purpose (desegregation, bilingual, educating women). The makers influenced education even though it was not their intent or purpose (steel, oil, assembly line).