Target 6 is a response to the question "Why FLoW21?"

If educators and parents don't know what the world, society, and work force will look like in the future, how do we prepare children for success?

The answer may sound odd: Give them the opportunity to fail.

Facing challenges and finding ways to overcome them is a necessary part of the development process. Children need to learn determination, reflection, and adaptation to solve a problem in the face of adversity. In the last decade, we've seen the rise of new industries based on nanotechnology, genetics, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, digital communication, and big data that didn't exist while their creators were in school. Many companies and individuals who have been inflexible have been unable to remain relevant in in the face of change. Schools too must change if they are to remain relevant for our children. Those that demonstrated an ability to innovate and adapt have thrived. This is what we want for our students.

What we don't know is how will the speed of technological advances and the constantly changing workplace impact the lives of our students as they mature into adulthood?

What we do know is this: Our students need to be adaptable, innovative, resilient, and life-long learners capable of regularly re-inventing themselves.

	Conventional education attempts to create a linear learning journey: study information, have an assessment, and then move to the next level of learning. We now know that people do not learn this way, and we know this model does not prepare students to face unanticipated adversity. What we want to see is a learning journey that allows students to face academic and social challenges head on, learn from mistakes, think critically about struggles, and remain determined to succeed.
	Our teachers, themselves life-long learners, will encourage students to push personal boundaries and be at the edge of their ability (which is different for every child). In addition to essential subject content, teachers provide time for students to learn from previous mistakes to improve both knowledge and resilience.
	Parents recognize that when a child is working at the edge of their ability, failure is a necessary step in the learning process, not a final destination. Parents can support their children in challenging environments to think critically, problem solve, and continue to learn.