Connection Leads to Innovation

In his book “Where Good Ideas Come From,” Steven Johnson explores the origins of groundbreaking ideas and arrives at an interesting conclusion: Good ideas don’t just erupt, but are the result of an incubation process. Good ideas also hinge upon the resonance of other ideas. In this way, social media allow humans (especially educators) to leverage new ways to connect and improve upon our own ideas. I appreciate Johnson’s ideas, as they have significant implications for teaching and learning, particularly in K-12 settings: Our learning environments should foster collaboration, thoughtfulness, and lingering in critical thinking and questioning. Few class rooms afford these pedagogical opportunities. From this perspective, online learning (when intentionally and strategically employed for discovery and innovation rather than a cash cow for corporate America) can dramatically deepen and extend the knowledge and understanding and engagement among learners of all ages—and especially young people. The RSA Animate clip below gives us a taste of Johnson’s book, which you can order through the PLAY store (all profits go towards supporting the work of Project Literacy Among Youth).