What happens when learning at school is more like working at a startup? No homework. No grades. No exams. No scheduled class periods. No teachers (we’ll get back to this one). A starting point and ending point. A space to gather and work. Opportunities to expand networks and gain experiences. Near continuous feedback. Guidance. If this sounds more like the “real world” and less like “school”, then perhaps schools are not following the wisdom of John Dewey, who stated that school must reflect life, and life must reflect school. Through a combination of storytelling, small group brainstorming, and a mini design project of our own, you will leave with ideas for encouraging entrepreneurial and innovative thinking at any scale and for any age group.
