As Featured In:
Tragic. No one wants to see a school close due to economic reasons. However, the education “industry” is rooted in strong tradition and plagued by unions – much as the US auto industry was just a few years ago. Economic shock serves as a wake up call to fix broken systems.
Skyrocketing special education costs were the first warning sign. The mixed results from No Child Left Behind were another. The current education model was developed almost 100 years ago and resembles a factory assembly line.
There is another option. Use budgetary constraints to gain flexibility from the teachers unions, just as the automotive industry did. Use the pressure of “no other option” but to change to embrace innovation.
As the co-founder of TutaPoint.com, a company providing education services in math and science online, I have become aware of a new, but quickly growing industry of providing certain curriculum and services virtually. The student receives instruction in subjects they couldn’t access at their own school, and the district saves greatly delivering instruction this way. Students still attend school, but the dynamic is changed, focused on the student and delivering services efficiently.
Recently I read the book "Disrupting Class" by Clayton Christensen, Curtis W. Johnson and Michael B. Horn. While it may seem abstract, the student-centric model described makes common sense. Allowing technology to play a larger role in educating our children will likely produce more engaged students and greater success while easing education budgets.
Previously, new learning technologies that reduced some teacher's role and added responsibilities to others were blocked by the unions. Now a continued reduction in enrichment programs and implementations of four-day school weeks will allow new technologies to enter the traditional education system because these technologies will no longer replace but instead will be the only option.
Kansas City, there are many people out there with the tools to ensure students here will thrive. We are all willing… begging to help.
With every challenge comes opportunity. The current budgetary struggles local school boards now face might be the catalyst for innovation and reinvention. Let’s hope so.
Skyrocketing special education costs were the first warning sign. The mixed results from No Child Left Behind were another. The current education model was developed almost 100 years ago and resembles a factory assembly line.
There is another option. Use budgetary constraints to gain flexibility from the teachers unions, just as the automotive industry did. Use the pressure of “no other option” but to change to embrace innovation.
As the co-founder of TutaPoint.com, a company providing education services in math and science online, I have become aware of a new, but quickly growing industry of providing certain curriculum and services virtually. The student receives instruction in subjects they couldn’t access at their own school, and the district saves greatly delivering instruction this way. Students still attend school, but the dynamic is changed, focused on the student and delivering services efficiently.
Recently I read the book "Disrupting Class" by Clayton Christensen, Curtis W. Johnson and Michael B. Horn. While it may seem abstract, the student-centric model described makes common sense. Allowing technology to play a larger role in educating our children will likely produce more engaged students and greater success while easing education budgets.
Previously, new learning technologies that reduced some teacher's role and added responsibilities to others were blocked by the unions. Now a continued reduction in enrichment programs and implementations of four-day school weeks will allow new technologies to enter the traditional education system because these technologies will no longer replace but instead will be the only option.
Kansas City, there are many people out there with the tools to ensure students here will thrive. We are all willing… begging to help.
With every challenge comes opportunity. The current budgetary struggles local school boards now face might be the catalyst for innovation and reinvention. Let’s hope so.
No Reply Found