Educational Transformations Enabled by Technology

1. Educational Transformations Enabled by Technology Robert Tinker The Concord Consortium http://concord.org

2. The Problem INNOVATION and APPLIED RESEARCH are: • Essential to major advances in education that technology makes possible • Under funded • Overlooked in most policy debates National Academy

3. A single development does not lead to classroom change Instead Insights and innovations cascade from more basic to more applied research New materials draw from many sources of insight and innovation It’s a Long Way from Basic Research to Improved Schools National Academy

4. This all takes place in “Pasteur’s Quadrant” (Don Stokes) The Research Spectrum CurriculumInnovations TechnicalInnovations Tools and Platforms IT-based Curricula Cognitive Research Implementation Research New Technologies Educational Applications Basic Applied Human Resource Development National Academy

5. Implementation Research • Focus on in-schools studies. • Examples • Use of models across the curriculum • New approach to political science in which students design institutions and role play • Intuitive calculus in elementary grades followed by major curriculum changes • Atomic physics before molecular biology National Academy

6. Implementation Research • Characteristics • Like medical field trials (somewhat) • The step before large-scale implementation • A few years ahead of current practice • Large numbers of students and teachers • Technology and training may be needed National Academy

7. Example: Implementation Research • Modeling Across the Curriculum • Three-year longitudinal study • Thirteen schools and 10,000 students • Consistent approach to modeling • Random assignment of treatments • Look for cumulative improvements in basic problem-solving skills National Academy

8. Example: Guidance and Assessment Using Tools Embed the tool into lessons. Kids can learn from these through exploration. Careful design and testing with students needed. National Academy

9. Educational Innovations • Transformative, large scale educational innovations • Are feasible • Require large scale applied R&D • Are based on basic research and technical innovation • Draw from IT developments in other areas: games, science research, etc • Should be open source/open content National Academy

10. Who Creates Innovations? • The funding picture • MSP: $1B total for implementation • Labs, Resource Centers, Systemic Initiatives: $1B/yr for dissemination • Centers for Teaching and Learning: $1B total for human resource development • No major government program for IT-based innovation • Business can reach large audiences • Where are the inputs? National Academy

11. Who Creates Innovations? Where are IT-based educational innovations going to come from that transform K-14 education? • Not basic research • Not business • Not schools National Academy

12. A Missing Link Basic Research New Technology Implementation Research and Innovation Teacher Professional Development Dissemination Improved Teaching and Learning National Academy

13. Recommendations • To realize the educational potential of information technologies, a research strategy is needed that is balanced between pure and applied • Innovation in technology and curricula must be central to the strategy National Academy

14. Education Accelerators • Promote, support, and study large-scale change in schools • School-centered • Large-scale change has risks • Cannot make mistakes with students • Schools need insurance and assurance • Theory-based change supported by evidence • Support for teachers, administrators, parents • Extensive formative assessment: early-warning system in place National Academy

15. Education Accelerators • Applied research requires interdisciplinary teams • Centers, analogous to research centers in the sciences, are needed: Education Accelerators • Centers must have close connections to schools and colleges • By concentrating resources and expertise the research is more efficient and effective National Academy

16. Education Accelerators • Need base funding for staff and a general research agenda • Five-year, renewable grants • Bulk of funding comes through peer reviewed projects to affiliated institutions National Academy

17. The Cost • Cognitive research: 75 projects at $200K/yr = $20M/yr • Technology: 50 projects @ $500K/yr = $25M/yr • Software: 50 projects at $1M/yr = $50M/yr • Curriculum: 50 at $1M/yr = $50M/yr • Implementation: 50 at $2M/yr = $100M/yr • Accelerators: 10 at $5M/yr = $50M/yr • Human Resources: 200 @ $50K/yr = $10M/yr • Total: $300M/yr for ten years National Academy

18. Worth it? • $3B total over ten years • 50 times current levels for innovation and applied research • Tiny compared to the educational enterprise • Comparable to current dissemination expenditures • Can transform education National Academy

19. Contact: bob@concord.org Information, free software, research results, reviews, and more at: http://concord.org Fin National Academy