A Whole New Mind

Hearing Dan Pink talk about his work, particularly ideas from his best-seller, A Whole New Mind, at last week's National Middle School Association annual conference in Indianapolis was terrific. Although I have read and used AWNM for several semesters, I always pick up new ideas that I haven't seen before as well as ways of thinking about the six senses that Pink describes in depth.

Of course, as an educator, I always try to apply his work to schools and students and finding such applications is not difficult at all. At NMSA he summarized some key points using (to me at any rate) some different language than I had heard his use before. Again, another way to think about these important ideas.

1. Explore new metrics—measure more than IQ which gets lots of play in schools, but doesn't begin to include the full range of intelligences.

2. Get real about STEM—of course math and science and engineering are important, but so are the arts, literature, foreign languages, physical education and many other areas that have traditionally been part of the K-12 curriculum, but now receive less time and emphasis.

3. Re-think motivation—not surprising since Pink has a new book (Drive) on motivation soon to hit the bookstores. Stress doesn't work as an incentive, nor fear, nor many of the things that we use as motivators in schools.

4. More forest, less terrarium—more need for the big picture; also, we need to have a larger view when dealing with problems. Time to consider alternatives, like Google's notion of allowing employees to spend 20% of their work time on projects they are interested in. (Many of the creative aspects of Google have come out of that 20% time.)

5. Finally, infuse the arts throughout the curriculum. No question how important this is.

Suggestion for all, read or re-read Pink's A Whole New Mind.