Why Innovations in Education Fail—and How They Can Succeed: From K to Gray

EDU A012 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

The world is experiencing an unprecedented rate of change thanks to technology. Education—schools, companies, systems—must adapt rapidly, but our current tools and structures are failing students and society. 

This course offers tested theories and frameworks grounded in real-world case studies to help you understand the current landscape and take an active role in reshaping education. Whether you are a (future) founder, a learning designer, a policymaker, an administrator, a teacher, an investor, or someone who simply wants to make a meaningful impact in education, this course will equip you to analyze different organizations/companies/systems and push for change at various levels of impact—from the system to the classroom. The theories we study will also explain why some innovations succeed while others fail.

Each class, we learn about a theory, such as disruptive innovation, and ground it in the work of real organizations and education companies from around the world. Students will use these frameworks to understand system dynamics, identify opportunities for change, and design solutions that are both effective and sustainable. 

A012 is essentially a flipped classroom model. Class sessions are fully interactive. Students will engage in case studies, group discussions, simulations, and active learning. They will teach core theories to one another and apply them collaboratively to real-world education problems. 

Many class sessions include visits (either in-person or virtually) from the individuals featured in the case studies. These conversations create opportunities to engage directly with people who are driving innovation in real-time. The course also draws on examples from around the world, including North America, Africa, Asia, and beyond. Students are encouraged to bring their own experiences and contexts into classroom discussions. 

Course assessment includes two major assignments: in addition to participation, there’s a midterm paper applying one or two theories to an education innovation, and a final group project using multiple theories to analyze an education venture, intervention, or idea.

Importantly, A012 becomes a tight-knit community with strong friendships between its members that transcend the classroom beyond graduation.