Shifting to an innovation paradigm in education – How things stand in the future. (Part 2 of 2)

In Part (1) of “Current Education Paradigm and Innovation” We looked together on “The way things currently stand”

“The current situation in schools fosters competition to score higher grades in standardized test and is based on uniformity. Different subjects simulate isolated islands. Creativity which is the stimulus of innovation is not embraced by schools as it should be. With the many reforms taking place in education around the world students are still treated like facts containers which consume rather than explore knowledge to build learning skills to cope with the rapid change in Knowledge sector.”

Here in part (2) I will view “How things stand in the future”, I will unleash my imagination to look at the innovation schools model in the future. For Schools to become innovation learning hubs Curriculum, Instruction and assessment should be radically transformed with Technology to play a key role in this transformation. Teacher role should be promoted to a facilitation role for the diverse learning models that will evolve. Teachers will embrace more leadership skills and roles.

Curriculum in innovation learning hubs

Curriculum in innovation learning hubs is inter-disciplined. With personalized learning taking place – as will be discussed later in this article- flexibility is a key feature for curriculum units. The teachers have the autonomy to adapt the curriculum according to the learning approach for each learner (mobile, open learning, informal schools …). While very loose curriculum standards are present, a dynamic personalized learning plan decides on the: what when and how of learning. This plan is the achievement road map developed by: parents, learner and the facilitator (called teacher in the old days). Age -graded learning is one of many other alternatives. Learners are given the chance to have a competency pre-evaluation before starting a new learning thread that will enable them to skip to the next level. Elective courses are available all along the learning journey. Learners will have the chance to taste various flavors to explore which they are more innovative in.

Learning strategies in innovation learning hubs

Learners in the driving seat: With the blast of knowledge economy and the rich environment it created for innovation learning, learners are leading the journey. Rather than simply absorbing knowledge from the teacher, learners are critical thinkers and problem solvers, they explore and create knowledge in real world problems context.

With Personalized learning (The tailoring of pedagogy, curriculum and learning environments to meet different needs of individual learners) as the frame work of the paradigm, learning strategies are deeply personalize. The innovation learning hubs, comes in different setups. Learners do have the option to achieve their personalized learning plan in a combination of learning approaches. Learners can chose to have their course face to face, online, blended, or home based. Learning strategies differ accordingly. However, regardless of the learning strategy, learners will outreach community with their projects, data collection, art exhibitions, movies they produce and the list goes on.

Assessment in innovation learning hubs

Diffusion of learning into different forms, will result in various assessment forms. With the learning strategies having students at the center of the process tests are no more the accountable assessment tool. Assessment is no longer a test session, it is basically “achievement project”, where students end up with a product (experiment, research, debate, exhibition, computer program…) that is evaluated in phases and per tasks. Originality, creativity, real world problem integration, reaching community are all important evaluation criteria, self-assessment is the start of a reflective evaluation between the facilitator and the learner. In a project students play different roles simulating career experiences. Technology helps in evaluating the knowledge part which is of minimal weight, while competencies are evaluated in a thorough on going reflective process.

Tech in innovation learning hubs

Technology is shifting the world around us and learning is another aspect that is profoundly transformed by it. In the new paradigm educators have a parallel official roles as facilitators and consultants for e-learning solution providers. Learners have learning sessions where virtual and augmented reality solutions take them beyond imagination and spark their creativity. This is where mobile, blended and open learning is taking place and in Face to face when needed. Learners don’t recall a day when they had a printed book and assessment in some areas is Tech enhanced. Technology made the virtual innovation learning hubs a reality, where many schools don’t exist on ground. Learners can chose to learn anywhere, anytime any pace.

Teachers in innovation learning hubs

They are called facilitators now and they embrace leadership roles. Without maintainable attitude towards continuous improvement, facilitators can no longer support the innovative learners. They need sustainable professional growth to be accountable for the autonomy they have to decide on curriculum delivery as mentioned earlier. With the rapid changes taking place every day facilitators are decision makers in learning hubs that embrace a flattened leadership style. Facilitators are innovators. With radical transformation made to curriculum, assessment, instruction and the overwhelming tech toleration only their innovation capabilities will make them proficient to adapt to the best of learners in a dynamic learning environment.

Challenges, Limitation, boundaries… not realistic, excuse me for having such a wild imagination about innovation in education, but the “True sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination” Albert Einstein and one more quote for the astonishing creativity advocate Sir Ken Robinson “Imagination is the source of all human achievement “

Image courtesy Victor Habbick at FreeDigitalPhotos.net