The Innermost Cave
...The Innermost Cave
Approaching the unknown may cause doubt and fear. It might force us to reflect on our journey and the road ahead as we find the courage and the focus to continue. As we pause before the cave, we begin to understand the magnitude of the adventure that awaits. We build anticipation and face our ultimate test...
Learning and working with the Design Thinking process allows students to gain confidence by realizing a creative, structured process for problem-solving and shaping the world around them. They know how to take action to face a problem or challenge because they have structured steps and experience doing so. However, it is not enough to just learn about a process. Students benefit when we can actually help them experience the need for the skills--when they see others, especially adults, utilizing the skills on the job.
Taking students on a trip to AutoDesk with Junior Achievement provided that opportunity for my students. Although the Innovation District in Boston is only three or so miles from our school, most of my students had never even been there. The excitement and interest generated by the trip carved an impression on my students and emphasized the importance of why we are doing this work in our classroom. They saw people using the machines, for among other things, ideating to help jaundiced babies, creating public art, and working to save our national coral reefs. Nearly any area the students might be interested in was covered in the work happening at AutoDesk. Tonight I'll participate in a webinar designed to help educators strengthen skills and knowledge when using Tinkercad. Once I feel comfortable using TinkerCad myself, and able to instruct my students to use it, I hope they might consider immersing themselves even further in this work. Now they have entered the cave and realized that they too belong there.
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