State of the Union: Educated vs. Life Long Learner

I listened to President Obama’s State of the Union 2010 address with rapt attention. Some had called it a “pep rally” and I felt it had that intention. Which, as a life coach, was a boon to me to stay engaged in listening, rather than expecting to hear another retread of the dry, boring “We are all in crisis, it’s time to pull up by the bootstraps” speech of years past and changing the channel.

Part of what caught my attention during the speech was the call to Innovation and trying new approaches, even though they are a risk. I applaud the recognition that it is time to try something new and let the old models be. Looking ahead is always a personal and professional way of life for me and I owe that attitude, in part, to my educational experiences over my lifetime.

Even though I may not currently use all aspects of the “facts” my education provided daily, other aspects of being educated are used every day. The process of becoming educated provides an intangible foundation that goes beyond the mere measure of test scores, rankings and diplomas that are required to become “innovative.”

How does education influence innovation? A well rounded education supports innovation by an indivdual:

* developing critical thinking skills
* sparking creativity creating the desire to continue learning in that field
* providing the opportunities to explore and fail in a safe environment

We live in a world of language, so as the new education policies come into play, I call for the policies to really call for the creation of a nation of Life Long Learners rather than rote education if innovation is truly the goal.