How Are Your Imitation, Collaborative, and Problem Solving Skills?
So here are some things I’ve been reading that informed this post:
ReWork — By the guys behind 37 Signals
The Imitation Economy –Drake Bennett
Gainful Employment — Daniel Pink
I still remember when I had my first experience with “Plagarism.” I took a paper to the writing center in 10th grade to get the first draft of a paper critiqued by another teacher before I re-worked the second draft. I sat there as he read it. After he finished reading the first words out of his mouth were, “Did you write this?”
I sat there and assured him that no, I didn’t copy it from the Internet.
Everyone will tell you that plagiarism, copying and remixing are becoming increasingly ubiquitous. Here’s a fun example: Look at this copy of “Super Mario Galaxy” by a Chinese software company:
All throughout school, even in college, you are told not to copy words, let alone ideas, and to credit every single source, even if it was a drunken conversation with a friend at 3 AM.
It makes sense that intellectual property exists, and that educational institutions take plagiarism so seriously. The only thing a professor can sell is their ideas and writing. Beyond this cynical economic look, I see the value in intellectual honesty. I believe in crediting your sources.
At the same time, this emphasis on individual learning does not prepare students to work in today’s connected and collaborative global economy. I’m of the firm opinion that collaboration, and social creativity rather than isolated paper writing, while you quiver in fear of copying an idea too closely, is more conducive to today’s global business realities.
This is not to say that traditional liberal arts education is not important, but along side teaching the value of analysis and synthesis we need reward students who best utilize the technology available to connect with minds and experts beyond the classroom, to join relevant communities, and use the internet to expand and improve classroom experiences.
For me the future of work lies in collaboration. Let’s reward kids who find ways to solve problems quickly, resourcefully, and creatively– and not just the ones who follow directions. Stop obsessing over ideas and start obsessing over how you can make current ideas better. What can you build? How can you fix something?
How can we teach kids to collaborate, remix, and problem solve more effectively?
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