"The world has become increasingly complex. Education of the future will need to be more nimble and adaptable, and it will need to ask our students to be more nimble and adaptable. It will test their resilience and ask them to actively participate in their education through innovative thinking. Some kids and some schools already do this - but others have struggled and will continue to struggle as long as they hold onto the old ways of thinking and being. In this book, Peter Gamwell and Jane Daly explore how schools can change their learning environments to foster the growth of innovative thinking in students. Fostering this "brilliance" in our students is the ultimate goal. Gamwell and Daly share insights about how to cultivate innovation, exemplified by detailed case studies of schools that are paving the way: We must look at the unique needs of each individual, classroom, organization, and community. Partnerships are essential because they not only enable synergy and the ability to do more with less, but they interconnect us as a community. All ages need to learn how to properly research, to analyze conflicting viewpoints, and to think critically. We need to embrace commonality and the things that hold us together, and nurture diversity while moving to a culture of inclusivity. In an age of complexity, we can no longer focus learning on just two or three subjects. We need to understand the problems the world faces as living, changing systems. We need to think big, even while we start small"-- Provided by publisher

includes index

Foreword / by Yong Zhao
Thinker, Learner, Dreamer, Doer: Innovative Pedagogies for Cultivating Every Student's Potential
The Uncomfortable Chapter
What Is Brilliance?
Seeds of Yesteryear: Jesus Christ Superstar
Fiona's Story: Finding Fertile Ground
Rebecca's Story: The Courage to do Things Differently
Blue Sky School: Rooted in Innovation
Road Trip: Seeds Take Flight
Golden Hills: Seeds Take Root
Mud Lake and Carseland: Where Learning Comes Naturally
Odyssey's North Star: How to Build a Strong Community
The But, But, But, But Chapter: Assessment & Evaluation