Creating Innovators' first chapter did not say much that is new. I agreed with what Wagner said and the comments and expertise of others, yet I felt some of it has been said in the past.  Yes, it is true that "What we urgently need is a new engine of economic growth for the twenty-first century," but the twenty-first century is here and many have cried out for the need for years.

Let me explain.  Many years ago - back in the late 90's, early 2000's, I served as the Business Education Director for all of Greenville County Schools.  At that time, we had one central office, with a team of 4 support staff and we placed over 2000 high school students and 600 middle school students, in one-on-one shadowing opportunities.  We also helped place speakers and provided information on the SOFT SKILLS businesses were crying for -- those skills needed for the workplace on the horizon.  Businesses were already talking about the communication skills, the critical thinking skills, the motivation needed to succeed in the marketplace.  Businesses were already complaining about ill-prepared students and the lack of innovation.  Obviously that is just one small example, but the heads of Michelin, GE, 3M, Cryovac, and later BMW were already concerned with the lack of student motivation.  Later the department was folded and the new Career Development Facilitator program was started.  That has now dwindled.  Career Center offerings rose.  Now many of the programs are coming back to the school level, for example, Greer High just got several of the programs formerly offered at Bonds And Enoree Career Centers.

Our speaker perhaps hit the nail on the head, when she said it needed to come from the school level.  Maybe the mistake has been that much of what has been done has been pushed down from the top.  Maybe the answer is changing teaching to help students regain the creativity of yesteryear and develop critical and strategic thinking skills.  I agree that creativity is in short supply.  The instant gratification of video games, smart phones, amazing graphics and special effects - students do not seem to "imagine" and "pretend" as they once did.  As Wagner quotes the 3M exec as stating, "This generation comes in wanting to have an immediate impact."

The Seven Survival Skills listed by Wagner are important and certainly mesh well with a PBL approach to student learning.  I do not mean to be cynical.  I do agree with Wagner and hope, as I move through the book, I will glean new insight.  And, as the book points out, "you cannot innovate from nothing," so good teaching will still be important.  We need to lead the students as they innovate.