Innovation and Education
in 2012
i had the incredible privilege of
presenting a tedx talk
where i touched on how schools are
evolving
with the rapid development of technology
and its implementation
within the classroom and beyond i made
it very clear that the internet is going
to play a crucial role
in the future of education while
expressing concern
over the inequity of the digital divide
i pointed out that if the poorest
communities were given access to faster
internet
and affordable devices it would go a
long way
to leveling the playing fields
high-speed internet
would provide students with greater
access to information
ideas people the world
and even beyond technology
is producing opportunities at an
exponential rate
we are immersed in technology and our
age
is sadly very easily identifiable
by the apps that we use while teachers
are living
in a facebooking tweeting and
whatsapping world
our students are living in a
tick-tocking
instagramming and snapchatting world
our personal growth has been quite
gradual
until now then along comes
2020 this year will be remembered
for many things but sadly most of them
rather unpleasant
the devastating bushfires in australia
volcanoes erupted major earthquakes
and floods two airliners crashed
even the duke and duchess of sussex
applied for a separation from the royal
family
we also had the george floyd
incident social unrest
amongst many others but to top it off
the covert 19 pandemic put a
stranglehold
over the world schools businesses and
borders
literally shut down frontline medical
personnel
are putting themselves in harm’s way to
save lives
every day teachers had to be upskilled
overnight they had to offer
distance learning education
was forced to contemplate the idea that
change is possible but if the truth be
told
it is inevitable 2020
has not just brought us heartache it has
given us
the gift of 2020 vision
we have been blessed with an opportunity
to look through new eyes
and to revisit the way we educate our
students
conduct business and deal with people
and
how we shape the students today for the
world
of tomorrow we have a chance
to redesign and innovate the way forward
i want to place a spotlight on education
for now
and in order to develop a plan on how
best to prepare our students
for the workforce of tomorrow i believe
we need a
three-pronged approach address
assess and adjust
let’s focus on each one address we need
to discuss
and plan for the future trajectory
of education regarding the ever-changing
job market
we must strategize on how we are going
to educate our students
will it be in person online or
perhaps a hybrid of the two
are we going to push for access to
high-speed internet
and affordable devices how are we going
to mold the leaders
of tomorrow and provide them with the
tools and the requisite skills they need
to reach their full potential
we need to ask the tough questions
on what skills our students must have
to play a meaningful role in society
it’s time to engage
in robust debate on possible ways
forward
is university still the end goal
will degrees play an important role
in landing jobs of the future
now we move on to assess we have to
honestly examine what is relevant
and what is missing from our curriculum
when we are preparing our students for
the future
we need to take a very hard look at
where we have failed
and how we can improve we need to test
out
various modalities did we cope with
teaching and learning during lockdown
how effective were the various digital
tools
what were our greatest obstacles
what did we do well and where can we
improve
and now we move on to adjust
we need to commit to making changes
and move with the times education needs
to keep up with a rapidly changing world
it is evident that there is no point in
teaching
students with 19th and 20th century
methodologies and curriculum while we
are living
in the 21st century we
are the custodians of the legacy that we
want to leave behind
for future generations now is the time
to show leadership we need to be bold
over the past few months students around
the world
experience the convenience that comes
with access to the internet
and the ownership of a device it is
growing evident
that the use of technology is changing
how we teach
how we learn and how we conduct business
some examples include distance learning
during covet 19 moocs which are massive
online courses artificial intelligence
which is ai
differentiated learning for people of
different levels
webinars workshops online conferences
festivals tournaments video conferencing
and even tedx talks like this one
global collaboration is flattening
classroom walls
and allowing students access to
resources
and allowing them to engage with
international peers
technology is being incorporated into so
many parts
of our lives and especially in education
we must expect a massive growth
in video apps software to curate
our work portfolios design programs that
allow us to create projects
from an idea to a 3d prototype
project-based learning tools that allow
groups to collaborate
simultaneously gamification of content
and a very wide variety of additional
digital tools
it is inevitable that the adoption of
technology
is going to accelerate the evolution of
education
if we are ready to climb out of our
comfort zones
we will achieve real growth
this is the perfect opportunity to make
changes now
for the benefit of generations to come
but wait this comes
with a warning education in the future
will involve humans interacting
with each other we need this
as a species we must
ensure that when we innovate how we
educate
we should never forget education was
created
by people for people the importance of
human connection
is critical we cannot allow for quality
education
to be denied to so many due to poverty
our new models must include equity
and access an increase in technology
should not correspond with a decrease
in humanity education will need to
promote
empathy problem solving and creativity
we must use technological tools to solve
problems
and not create new ones education
must leverage the technology to improve
the learning experience
and ensure maximum outcomes we need to
think creatively
on how all students with varying levels
of ability
can participate effectively in their own
education
let us encourage the redesign of the
problems
that need to be solved we must move away
from how many cupcakes jenny will have
left over to working out how can we
ensure that
students do not arrive at our schools
with no food in their tummies when
covert 19 hit
schools around the world were caught off
guard teachers and students proved
that with creativity and grit innovative
solutions
were found many valuable lessons have
been learned
by all stop and ask yourself the
following
should students even return to school
should teaching return to how it was
before covert 19 should schools use the
covert 19 experience
as a foundation for change do you think
your school is brave enough to be a
pioneer
in education and
will teachers ever be ready to walk away
from the mute all button
my message to schools is the following
innovate and redesign yourselves
now schools 2.0 this is your chance to
be a part
of the wave of change that you want to
see in your students
you cannot preach innovation and
creativity
without practicing it yourself schools
2.0
take a moment and ask yourself are we
preparing students to complete
a curriculum or to enter society with
useful knowledge
and skills schools 2.0
we need to ensure that students will
still have
real life interactions with teachers and
friends
and not just have online classes
schools 2.0 this is our chance
to create an environment where all
students irrespective
of economic circumstances color country
of origin
sexual orientation or creed are welcomed
as valued members of the community
because diversity makes us stronger
schools 2.0 if there ever was a time
to show leadership it is now
i wish you all the best of luck