Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in one of the prominent education conferences in the country, the renowned North by Northwest gathering in Hudson, New York. This event brought together ed tech visionaries, respected funders, and influential reformers who shared appreciative words about one another while savoring small salads with pine nuts and spinach leaves.

One of the most star-studded panels that attracted an enthusiastic audience was the keynote session featuring two eminent education thinkers of our time: the 22nd-century Skills expert (and former vacuum salesman) Paul Banksley and the “actionizing thinkiness” guru Tait Smoogen from the Extraordinary Learning Foundation. I was honored to moderate this session and they shared invaluable insights.

I began by asking them to briefly explain the impact of their work.

Tait Smoogen emphasized the importance of relationships, connection, engagement, and kindness in his work. Paul Banksley, on the other hand, highlighted the significance of words in his sales approach, aiming to introduce customers to new ideas and possibilities beyond the current trends. Their discussion ventured into the industrial revolutions and the need for visionary thinking in education.

As the dialogue continued, the audience was captivated by their innovative approaches and philosophies.

When asked about their strategies for engaging learners with transformative vocabulary, Smoogen and Banksley offered compelling insights. Smoogen discussed the power of creating new words and concepts to enhance the learning experience, while Banksley emphasized the importance of focusing on the future and inspiring change.

Their exchange resonated with the audience, sparking enthusiastic participation and discussions.

The session concluded with valuable advice for aspiring edupreneurs from Smoogen and Banksley. Smoogen emphasized the importance of packaging educational concepts in unique and proprietary ways, while Banksley underscored the idea that innovation often involves repackaging existing ideas in a fresh light.

The audience was left in awe of their wisdom and insights, showcasing the impact of visionary thinking in education.

Frederick Hess is an executive editor of Education Next and the author of the blog “Old School with Rick Hess.”