In her talk at TEDxUBC, Carla Rieger teaches change leaders the fine art of reinvention. Reinvention is an overused term especially these days as individuals and organizations struggle to stay relevant in the face of constant change. But what does it actually mean to reinvent? And what would it really take for our education system to reinvent itself so that students are actually prepared for a future that we can't even begin to predict?
Maybe teaching people how to love learning makes more sense than teaching a topic that will be irrelevant by the time they hit the job market. Having spent years in the arts while also coaching change leaders, Carla couldn't help but notice that leaders with some kind of artistic training could lead change and reinventions more fluidly than those without. What did they have that others didn't have? The ability to let go of assumptions, thrive in chaos, and reframe ... in other words they could learn on a dime.
The most indispensable people in the world today therefore are those who know how to learn -- they can de-invent and reinvent, unlearn and relearn, and deconstruct and reconstruct. So is our education system doing enough to prepare students to be indispensible in this way, or is it just preparing them to good contestants on Jeopardy?
There are thousands of students who would actually contribute greatly to the world, but who can't survive a system that only rewards factual regurgitation. The good news is that the forest floor is alive with new life; with alternative forms of education that prepare students to thrive in our brave new world.
