Cultivating a New Generation of Problem-Solvers

This week, I was invited to talk with a group over dinner in regional Western Australia about innovation and investment in regional areas. The bonus was assisting in judging 11 & 12-year-olds pitch their ideas for climate solutions beforehand.

I'm fortunate and grateful to occasionally attend some of these events where kids get to pitch their ideas to a group of their peers, family, teachers and strangers like me. By far, they are the most exciting groups to see present an idea, filled with enthusiasm and that anything is possible. It reminds me how imaginative and creative they can be before it is slowly eroded by the world and the norms they are expected to adopt, whether consciously or subconsciously. This might seem cynical, but as adults, we lose some of our ability to think freely and unfiltered like many kids.

To see these kids stand up in front of a group of people and put themselves out there is fantastic. It's not easy and only for some, so I respect anyone prepared to put themselves in front of an audience, especially in an environment where their ideas will be officially judged. Judged on their concept, solution, originality, and quality of presentation, among other criteria, then to be open to feedback. Hats off to you.

The kids who presented had been through a shortlisting process within their schools over a couple of weeks, including pitch coaching and opportunities for feedback. I congratulate the schools and their champion teachers who participated and allowed their students to explore solutions to complex problems. The solutions were equally complex but well thought out, and they clearly explained how they would solve the problem, which brings me to the point.

My vision for the world is for an environment where anyone with a well-thought-out idea can call upon a diverse range of skills to help them execute their vision or, at the very least, obtain constructive feedback. A world where a 6, 16 or 60-year-old can start something and know that there is a mindset of creativity, entrepreneurial will, funding pathways and a community that wants to see them succeed wherever they live. I understand this is a utopic vision that is unlikely to be realised everywhere, but let's start with why not me and why not here.

These school-based entrepreneurial programs typically rely on an individual or group of teachers within a school to champion them as they fall out of the set curriculum. I appreciate this adds to educators' already busy programs; however, I believe it should be part of every child's school journey, starting in grade 1 through to the end of high school. The programs do not necessarily need to be solely provided by teachers but in collaboration with existing external organisations that offer real-world experience and insights to provide valuable resources to support teachers and students. The mindset of creativity, entrepreneurialism, collaboration, and critical thinking have applications across all areas of life and education streams.

Included in this process must be financial literacy. It's beyond me that this is not included in the school curriculum. No matter what someone pursues, money and finances are inevitable, and our ability to understand them can significantly impact our lives for better or worse. This is easy to say, not being a teacher. However, the solution must be implemented at a government level, and serious thought must be given to implementing programs within all schools and age groups. Most of us have to figure this out by trial when, for a few hours a term, kids can leave school with a sound understanding of how money works. At least it will be easier to explain why you need to learn it compared to explaining why to my non-mathematically minded 12-year-old son who needs to learn algebra.

Coupled with developing a culture of creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and financial literacy complimented by the existing school curriculum, we will undoubtedly give our kids the best opportunity to become capable adults. And this should apply to all demographics and economic status. Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to be delivered to these programs consistently, and the results will speak for themselves.

The future starts with our kids, so why shouldn't we give them every opportunity to succeed and for future generations? Each to outperform the one prior, developing diverse, sustainable, prosperous, resilient communities for everyone to benefit.

It all starts with programs such as the one these kids went through, and wouldn't it be great to see every child be given the opportunity?

This week, I was invited to talk with a group over dinner in regional Western Australia about innovation and investment in regional areas. The bonus was assisting in judging 11 & 12-year-olds pitch their ideas for climate solutions beforehand.

I'm fortunate and grateful to occasionally attend some of these events where kids get to pitch their ideas to a group of their peers, family, teachers and strangers like me. By far, they are the most exciting groups to see present an idea, filled with enthusiasm and that anything is possible. It reminds me how imaginative and creative they can be before it is slowly eroded by the world and the norms they are expected to adopt, whether consciously or subconsciously. This might seem cynical, but as adults, we lose some of our ability to think freely and unfiltered like many kids.

To see these kids stand up in front of a group of people and put themselves out there is fantastic. It's not easy and not for everyone, so I respect anyone prepared to put themselves in front of an audience, especially in an environment where they and their ideas will be officially judged. Judged on their idea, solution, originality, and quality of presentation, among other criteria, then to be open to feedback. Hats off to you.

The kids who presented had been through a shortlisting process within their schools over a couple of weeks, including pitch coaching and opportunities for feedback. I congratulate the schools and their champion teachers who participated and allowed their students to explore solutions to complex problems. The solutions were equally complex but well thought out, and they clearly explained how they would solve the problem, which brings me to the point.

My vision for the world is for an environment where anyone with a well-thought-out idea can call upon a diverse range of skills to help them execute their vision or, at the very least, obtain constructive feedback. A world where a 6, 16 or 60-year-old can start something and know that there is a mindset of creativity, entrepreneurial will, funding pathways and a community that wants to see them succeed wherever they live. I understand this is a utopic vision that is unlikely to be realised everywhere, but let's start with why not me and why not here.

These school-based entrepreneurial programs typically rely on an individual or group of teachers within a school to champion them as they fall out of the set curriculum. I appreciate this adds to educators' already busy programs; however, I believe it should be part of every child's school journey, starting in grade 1 through to the end of high school. The programs do not necessarily need to be solely provided by teachers but in collaboration with existing external organisations that offer real-world experience and insights to provide valuable resources to support teachers and students. The mindset of creativity, entrepreneurialism, collaboration, and critical thinking have applications across all areas of life and education streams.

Included in this process must be financial literacy. It's beyond me that this is not included in the school curriculum. No matter what someone pursues, money and finances are inevitable, and our ability to understand them can significantly impact our lives for better or worse. This is easy for me to say, not being a teacher. However, the solution must be implemented at a government level, and serious thought must be given to implementing programs within all schools and age groups. Most of us have to figure this out by trial when, for a few hours a term, kids can leave school with a sound understanding of how money works. At least it will be easier to explain why you need to learn it compared to explaining why to my non-mathematically minded 12-year-old son who needs to learn algebra.

Coupled with developing a culture of creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and financial literacy complimented by the existing school curriculum, we will undoubtedly give our kids the best opportunity to become capable adults. And this should apply to all demographics and economic status. Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to be delivered to these programs consistently, and the results will speak for themselves.

The future starts with our kids, so why shouldn't we give them every opportunity to succeed and for future generations? Each to outperform the one prior, developing diverse, sustainable, prosperous, resilient communities for everyone to benefit.

It all starts with programs such as the one these kids went through, and wouldn't it be great to see every child be given the opportunity?

AV