The Theory of Disruption in education should be taking place
now. If we analyze what NCLB and standardized testing are doing to students,
there should be an innovator that steps in and makes a difference. Because
there is very little competition in what happens in education, disruption is
obviously minimized.
Education in America is at a crossroads. Something needs to
happen to move it to a new, corrective action that benefits all children. I
have been saying continuously that we claim to differentiate instruction in the
classroom but we do not. We teach children the same thing at the exact same
time and some get it and others, “oh well”.
If we know everyone has two or three ways they learn best,
why not teach in the way the learn best? If teaching to each student is not
cost effective in the classroom or in schools, innovative technology could make
this type of instruction a reality. The example of the virtual chemistry class
created at Brigham Young is ideal.
I am very interested in the advertisements recently for kids
to complete school on-line. Innovative for sure and also amazing that we trust
students is use technology to learn from home. Adults have been completing advanced
degrees this way for years now.
I think online learning is a real opportunity for disruption--underserved students present a large pool of "non-consumers".
ReplyDeleteEducation has likely been at a crossroads before, but I would venture to say that the crossroads has never has as sharp of a turn as it faces at this juncture. I agree with you that technology holds great promise for differentiating learning for individual students. The disruption might provide a niche market for software platforms that help teachers/mentors/coaches to take advantage of the wealth of resources available in way that is efficient and helps to ensure quality of the resource selected.
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