‘Rural Genius’: same skills needed to compete in global economy

The Appalachian Kentucky traditions of ingenuity, adaptability, craft, and blacksmithing have prepared the region to be successful in the New Digital Economy. The pioneers and their ancestors who have lived in these hills have displayed a rural genius that translates into the same skills required to compete in the global economy.

My first job in eastern Kentucky was with the Appalachian Learning Laboratory at Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Ky., where we collected oral histories, photographs and traditions of mountaineers. I learned about the creative means the people used to live off the rugged environment using their hands, available resources, and their minds.
I recall visiting Cody Jacobs’ farm up Onion Blade Holler not far from the college to find a large array of unique homemade gadgets and implements as tools or technology to open gates or work the land. Cody represented that group of industrious, creative mountaineers who built a life for their families while passing down the traditions of their work experience.

As a native of North Dakota and my dad’s family being ranchers and farmers in Montana, I witnessed a similar “rural genius” as they used their hands and minds to till the land and work the cold, windswept prairie. The mountains and prairie encouraged a creative spirit to survive and be successful.

MILLsawIn the isolated mountains, blacksmithing was a key skill necessary to repair wagons and agricultural tools since the pioneers were essentially on their own. This trade with a history of over 3,500 years became a necessary set of skills for men. The blacksmith “tickled the anvil” with their hands creating innovative products and the necessities of life.

This same creativity and set of skills used in the Iron Age and passed down to our mountain youth is critical in the “Silicon Age.” The available technologies have changed from the Stone Age to the present, but, the need for creative problem solving and critical thinking skills remained paramount throughout time.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, an organization founded in 2002, with members from national education organizations, major businesses, and education institutions has studied the need for necessary Information Age skills in the workforce. They highlight two key set of skills: Learning and Innovation Skills (creativity and innovation skills, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, communication and collaboration skills); and Life and Career Skills (flexibility and adaptability, initiative and self-direction, social and cross-cultural skills, productivity and accountability, leadership and responsibility). These skills are the same ones used by our children’s ancestors as blacksmiths and self-sufficient farmers in these hills.

There is a renaissance of this skill development going on in the K-12 classrooms of eastern Kentucky preparing students to be the newest captains of industry in the New Economy. The Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative’s (KVEC) Race to the Top “Appalachian Renaissance Initiative” is empowering students to be entrepreneurs and community leaders using Next Generation Classroom technology connecting teachers and students to the world.

First graders are tweeting, middle grade students are creating phone apps and starting businesses,  high school students are creating software to use 3D printing to make prostheses, and the list goes on.

IMG_0788A great example of building on the heritage of their ancestors and their creativity, is the KVEC regional entrepreneurial award winner in Johnson County High School.  A team of two students created “glow-in-the-dark horse shoes” to aid horse riders in the dark.  They conducted community surveys to see if the need was present for the item.

Once the need was established, students researched for the right kind of materials, advertising, pricing and sales strategies to make their business successful.  The students put together a business plan that outlined their intent.  They contacted many businesses and companies to garner partnerships in everything from creating the glow in the dark horse shoe to selling it. Tractor Supply agreed to give the students shelf space and help them advertise.  If sales increase, shelf space will increase also.  Students plan to use the internet for marketing purposes to reach out beyond Eastern Kentucky.

IMG_9913Over 500 students are taking computer science and another 70 plus students taking aviation classes under the Appalachian Technology Initiative last fall. KVEC is providing innovative professional learning to our K-12 educators (creative workforce training) enhancing the teachers’ and K-12 leaders’ ability to prepare their students for the New Economy. Our teachers are mentors for the new digital workforce.  The teachers are using the largest roll out of Next Generation Classroom technology in rural America’s history to accomplish the innovative instruction.

Building on the traditions of the past and rural genius, students will be creating their own jobs and businesses in the digital economy and are excited about the proposed expansion of broadband enabling the region to compete globally.

 

This was originally published by KY Forward, you can see the original post here.

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