In this article, originally posted to academica forum, WinCan’s Co-principal Catalyst and Academic Partners Lead, Tom Carey, identifies four ways in which all post-secondary students can develop the capability for workplace innovation.
Carey begins with the claim that “The classroom IS a workplace”, explaining that if post-secondary institutions want to increase opportunities for work-integrated learning, they need to treat their learning environments as workplace environments.
He continues with the need for reflection “at the activity level”, whereby students assess their instructors’ delivery of new learning practices like employees would reflect upon the risks of innovations in the workplace.
Carey’s third method of introducing workplace innovation into the classroom is to encourage multiple perspectives “at the program level”.
Finally, he encourages a “… culture for teaching and learning” in which faculty commit to engaging “with innovations in teaching and learning, and to serve as living examples of Workplace Innovation” (Carey 2017).
Carey ends this article with international and Canadian examples of how workplace innovation is already being integrated into the classroom and sums it up with the belief that “Canada can become an international leader in developing all our graduates – the “top 100% - in their ability to engage effectively with innovation and change in the workplace.” (Carey 2017)
To read Tom Carey’s article in full, click here to view on academica forum.