Thinks Innovatively

Dalat students think innovatively by reflecting critically and seeking creative solutions to everyday challenges.

The pace of life these days is fast. Historians point to the telegraph as the invention that most changed the pace of life for people. Suddenly, news was available almost immediately, and the world felt much smaller. Prior to the telegraph, people had fewer anxieties as they were unaware of issues and concerns until after the incident had concluded. You heard about the event and its outcome simultaneously, which did not encourage as much anxiety. This pace has only continued to accelerate with the inventions of radio, telephones, and especially the internet.

One of the things we have lost due to the business and ‘tyranny of the urgent’ is reflection. We don’t often take time to reflect on things that have already happened, as our attention is instantly drawn to the next piece of news. As a school leadership team, we are taking the time to debrief on situations we have experienced, asking ourselves what went well, what we could have done differently, and what we have learned. It takes a great deal of self-discipline to pause from the frantic pace of life and take time to reflect, but it is extremely important for our continued growth and well-being.

Thinking innovatively requires critical reflection. I’m sure you’ve heard many stories about how many times Thomas Edison tried and failed in the process of inventing the lightbulb, or the Wright brothers in developing airplanes. We know that major inventions often result from a series of unsuccessful attempts before achieving success. Edison must have taken the time to critically reflect on each attempt, coming up with a plan to tweak one or more variables each time. Just blindly trying random attempts would not lead to a successful invention!

Our kids need to learn to reflect critically on their own learning and activities so that they can continue to grow and improve. As adults, we can encourage this by modeling it ourselves and by asking questions that prompt the kids to think. Critical reflection requires us to slow down, but it is essential in navigating the fast pace of the world.