How Could New Ideas Change Education?

Chris Brogan recently asked a brilliant question.your SAT, it makes absolutely no difference in how
Actually, he asked 5 brilliant questions:you perform at the task of relating to and teaching
+ How could new ideas change education?kids.
+ How can younger generations learn from the bodyIn the name of trying to make a better decision,
of work of their successors?we're spending all this money and spending all this
+ How can we marry up all the great resources oftime and none of it is having any effect. In fact, we
people who know something great to those of usare doing the very thing that actually defeats the
who could stand to learn more?cause of finding better teachers. We're narrowing -
+ How can I help those of us who lived in the cubiclewhat we should be doing is broadening the pool as
farms, and what can I do to share that information inmuch as possible - to find as many of these people
a way that will empower others?with this ineffable, elusive gift called "being a good
+ How can we equip our youth and/or our studentsteacher" but instead what we do is narrow the pool.
and/or our business professionals?Founded on the above tenants, the centerpiece for
Each of these questions dances around a singularthis new education model is the idea of mentorship.
issue: Today's learning models are inadequate. ThisNot traditional Boys & Girls Club mentorship, but
message is similar to one Charlie O'Donnell has beena radically new kind of mentorship. One that requires
spreading: "Structures for industry specific learning,accountability, elicits insightful knowledge sharing and
particularly when it comes from learning from thehelps build deep relationships. This new education
accumulated wisdom of successful and experiencedmodel re-envisions mentorship and calls for real world
professionals, is horribly inefficient." So, we've gotprofessionals to become the new class of educators.
two really smart guys highlighting the exact sameHow does this model work?
issue. Could this spell business opportunity? MethinksThis new model is brilliant in its simplicity. Professionals
so...are given a curriculum - one that facilitates real
Note: What you are about to read is a radicallyconversation and real-world knowledge transfer.
different idea. This idea serves as the backbone forStudents are matched to a professional in their
my company, a provider of real world educationchosen career field (each professional is screened on
services.multiple levels). The pair meets (either in person or via
You see, a new model for education is quietlyphone) and builds a relationship around the given
emerging. One fully endorsed - and championed - bycurriculum. Each side records his / her thoughts
my company. This new model definitively solves Chrisfollowing every meeting, and reports relationship
Brogan's riddles and answers Charlie O'Donnell's call byprogress intermittently. In the event of negative
establishing an efficient structure for industry specificfeedback, Mentors are replaced, ensuring only the
learning.best "teachers" remain.
A new idea that will change educationNow, for this model to work, an incentive structure
Before unveiling this new education model, we mustmust exist. Why? To ensure engagement from both
first review its foundational principles. If thesethe student and the professional. In this model,
assumptions were to prove false, then the modelstudents pay the curriculum provider and the
would fall apart:curriculum provider pays its Mentors (Professionals)
+ Individual, customized learning is better than afor their time. Over time, the curriculum provider
generic, one size fits all approach.becomes much smarter about each professional on
+ Adults learn best when they are involved in theits platform. And it tests and molds its curriculum
diagnosing, planning, implementing, and evaluating ofbased on community feedback. As time passes, the
their own learning.system gets better!
+ Life's reservoir of "experience" is a primary learningWhat is required to make this model successful? For
resource; the life experiences of others enrich thethis model to be successful, three things are required:
learning process.+ A renowned curriculum that guides each
+ Distributed learning (learning which occurs overrelationship.
time) is a more efficient learning method than+ Students that understand the importance of
massed learning because it allows for absorption andprofessional relationships in the context of their
understanding (note: massed learning is also known ascareer (and are willing to pay for these relationships).
cramming).+ Industry professionals that are willing to offer
+ If provided the right tools, anyone can be aninsight and perspective in exchange for monetary
educator.compensation.
Note: This is the most critical principle of this newWhy will this model work so well?
education model. The current model has built invisibleThis model recognizes the biggest flaw of our current
barriers of entry around the teaching profession -resource constrained model: the number of educators
barriers like certification and credential requirements.for each student (the student:teacher ratio is one of
This new model assumes no barriers to becoming anthe keys to delivering quality education). This new
educator. This assumption is borne from Malcolmeducation model leverages industry professionals as
Gladwell's mismatch hypothesis. He explains:its force multiplier to dramatically increase the
There is no difference between the performance ofeffectiveness and delivery of education. This
credentialed teachers and non-credentialed teachersmarket-based approach is unlike anything that exists
when it comes to increasing student performance.today. Will this new model work? It already does.
Whether you have a Master's Degree or not,P.S. Thoughts? Please join the conversation!
whether you scored 1400 on your SAT or 1200 on