Teaching and learningin an era of

disruptive innovation

Dr. Scott McLeodCASTLE

What is a disruptive

innovation?

Disruptiveinnovations

change the game

1.Socially functional

2.Mastery of information landscape

3.Economically productive

Newinformationlandscape

We arehyper-

connected

Anytime/anywhere content production,

connection, collaboration…

We all now have a voice

(and can find each other, share,

connect, collaborate)

Newspapers& magazines

music

radio

television

movies

books &reading

maps, travel,travel agencies

business, personal finance,

& money management

medicine& health

postal service

politics

universities

Information-oriented

P-12 schools

Globalizationof economy

Percentile change in importance of task type

in U.S. economy

Autor, D., Levy, F., & Murnane, R. J. (2003). The skill content of recent technological change: An empirical exploration. Quarterly Journal of Economics 188, 4. [updated, D. Autor, 2008]

Abstract

Routine

Manual

critical thinking problem solving

collaboration

adaptability

entrepeneurialism

creativity

effective speaking

effective writinginnovation

information literacy

media fluency

synthesis

analytical skills

curiosity

global awareness

Growth of the creative class

Florida, R. (2002). The rise of the creative class (p. 332). New York, NY: Basic Books.

Growth of the creative class

Florida, R. (2002). The rise of the creative class (p. 332). New York, NY: Basic Books.

Can someone overseas do it cheaper?

Can a computer do it faster?

1 big problem

1.Socially functional

2.Mastery of information landscape

3.Economically productive

The fundamental dilemma

Schools were designedfor this …

but now areexpected to

do this

uniquenessuniqueness

one right answer

No generation in history has ever been so thoroughly prepared for the industrial age.

David Warlick

http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/?p=298 dangerouslyirrelevant.org

Takeaways

1.1. K-12 education isK-12 education isfacing multiplefacing multipledisruptive innovations.disruptive innovations.

2.2. The existing The existing educational model educational model is not a given.is not a given.

3.3. Good organizations with Good organizations with good people will good people will disappear if they don’t disappear if they don’t understand the ‘natural understand the ‘natural laws’ of disruptive laws’ of disruptive innovation.innovation.

4.4. It’s very difficult for It’s very difficult for existing successful existing successful organizations to organizations to become dominant become dominant players in the new players in the new market.market.

5.5. This is sneaking up This is sneaking up on most school on most school organizations.organizations.

goodenough

goodenough

goodenough

Implicationsfor NEA

& teacher unions

1.1. Replacement of some Replacement of some teaching functions by teaching functions by offshoring and software.offshoring and software.

2.2. Dispersion of teaching Dispersion of teaching functions will erode functions will erode membership base (and membership base (and thus financial / political thus financial / political power)power)

Thank you!

Scott McLeod, J.D., Ph.D.Director, CASTLE

dangerouslyirrelevant.org/nea.html

critical thinking problem solving

collaboration

adaptability

entrepeneurialism

creativity

effective speaking

effective writinginnovation

information literacy

media fluency

synthesis

analytical skills

curiosity

global awareness