In the book,
A More Beautiful Question
(highly recommended
to all educators by the way)
Author Warren Berger tells the story of
Edwin Land and his Polaroid camera.
The idea for the Polaroid camera
came from Land’s three year old daughter,
who after having her picture taken by her father
simply asked why they had to wait for the picture.
Land was particularly well positioned
to answer this question and within months
he had a working prototype.
About four years later,
the Polaroid camera
was a product that could be bought.
It‘s a remarkable story.
But what Berger pointed out about it,
is also remarkable.
It wasn’t “the expert” that raised the initial question,
it was a three year old.
Berger’s point: ANYONE can ask
beautiful questions that impact the world.
Questions, not answers, expand possibility.
Questions, push boundaries.
Questions are the start of creativity, innovation,
social change.
Great accomplishments don’t start with answers,
they start with questions.
Questions need to be as much a part of a school day as answers.
Maybe even more so.
Trevor (@trevorabryan)