The theory of disruptive innovation describes a process by which a product or service transforms an existing market by introducing simplicity, convenience, accessibility, and affordability.
Anyway, the blog I was reading, "Could local innovation networks be a key to adopting blended learning?" which provided an example of blended learning at Reynoldsburg City Schools.
Blended learning involves leveraging the Internet to afford each student a more personalized learning experience, meaning increased student control over the time, place, path, and/or pace of his or her learning. The definition of blended learning is a formal education program in which a student learns:
- at least in part through online learning, with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace;
- at least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home;
- and the modalities along each student’s learning path within a course or subject are connected to provide an integrated learning experience.
Here is a short video of blended learning from The Learning Accelerator.
I found this notion of blended learning similar to topics we discussed on how to create new learning environments in the classroom that offers collaborative (affinity) spaces, as well as taking into account different learning skills of individual students.
The SXSWedu.com site that I found is pushing the envelope in designing many new innovations in education. You can see a video there of some examples. But what impressed me most was the 2014 Features Session by Jack Andraka. Here is a HS kid (some kid) who took on the challenge of finding a better, cheaper way to scan for cancer cells. It's worth watching.
Some things to think about:
- What do you think of the blended learning idea? Investigate other new learning innovations either at SXSWedu.com or other sites and comment on them.
- What did you take away from Jack Andraka's talk?
Honestly the first thing that came to mind was the Aaron Swartz-MIT controversy back in 2011. Here is the response from Anonymous. I thought of this because of Andraka's comment on how difficult it was for him to acquire the background research that he needed for his experiment. I think he makes a great analogy when he compares how cheap it is to buy a Katy Perry single as compared to a science article. Swartz was an advocate for a free and open Internet as well as ease of access to information. Who would benefit more than kids like Andraka who have a genuine interest in science but may be prohibited due to the "pay wall"?
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