Reinventing Schools
The Spirit on Entrepreneurial Change
Dennis Campbell, Brianna Bruce, and Angela McWilliams
CUR/505 – Social and Global Perspectives of Teacher Leadership
February 10, 2013
Dr. Patricia Thorpe
How might schools in the United States be reinvented to better serve students?
To reinvent schools systems within the United States, we need to shift our focus to what really matters! The student, the individual, the heart, the creative person. Rather than concentrating on data, statistics, standardized test performance, and mass academic achievement, educators MUST sharpen their focus on "rebooting" the educational process. Educators MUST resist conforming to the traditional structure of academics and seek out new and innovative ways to educate our children. Teachers and teacher leaders NEED to stoke the fire of the global entrepreneurial spirit and rekindle their passion for teaching to the student, NOT the test. The United States education systems NEEDS to rethink its stance on education and remember that education is a tool to encourage and enable individuals to discover their passion and potential while fostering freedom and creativity.
Where Do We Start?
In Your community, on Your campus, in Your Own Classroom and Right Now!
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Ghandi
Social entrepreneurial attitude can affect school change
"The Khan Academy provides an opportunity for each students to develop an ownership of their education and use that entrepreneurial attitude to drive their success" (Khan, 2012).
How?
In 2013, The Khan Academy, won the School Entrepreneurship Award for their ability to create an entrepreneurial spirit in the K-12 classroom. Their attitude and approach to teaching helps students to achieve academic success both individually and collectively, based on their own strengths and abilities.
Khan Academy frames its program around the core entrepreneurial concept of self-paced, distinct, student-centered learning. Students are responsible for their own education, and because their motivation is both intrinsic and extrinsic, they see value and strive to succeed. Khan allows students to tackle concepts at their own pace. Further, each student is provided a dashboard that tracks strengths and weaknesses, as well as time spent on each lesson, with the intention of allowing student and teacher to see where the student is excelling and where they need help.
“Education is a fundamental human right!” Sal Khan
The founder of Khan Academy believes that education is a right not a privilege. Hence, access to the program is free, thus reaching over one million users working through over three million lessons and exercises a day worldwide! Any student, anywhere, can access the site and complete lesson covering math, science, and the humanities.
Who is Affected? Well, Everyone!
Students
Mind-set shift from traditional paradigm to a self-directed process that encourages and reinforces self-reliance.
Teachers
Teachers shift from instructor to facilitator, teaching to the whole child (physically, socio-emotionally, and cognitively) by guiding instruction and promoting creativity.
Administrators
Administrators coordinate the formation of the vision or goals and objectives. As such, the administrator’s responsibility is to be the face of the school, promoting and aligning the schools new vision, keeping the community informed and active, and raising enough revenue to fund school projects.
Parents (Caregivers)
Parents need to encourage students more-so now, than ever. This entrepreneurial attitude puts a greater focus on the parents. The parental role becomes more important as children become more driven and self-directed. Parents must reassure, encourage and guide their children through this transition for it to be successful and impactful.
The Community
What Changes?
Well, everything! How schools are run, how teachers teach, how communities interact with schools, how students learn, think, and feel, and how the world receives graduates from the United States, all changes. When the United States adopts the value system of entrepreneurship, it undertakes a radical social attitude reformation. Student mindset shifts from the traditional paradigm of academic success (good grades, high test scores) to a measure of success more aligned with the entrepreneurial spirit of tangible benefits and rewards.
Is entrepreneurial centered education right for you?
References
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Hargreaves, A., & Shirley, D. (2012). The global fourth way: The quest for educational excellence. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
KHAN Academy. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org.
Lee, J. (2012). An establishment ahead of its time. The Times Educational Supplement Scotland, (2259), 26. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1015730396?accountid=35812.
Roth, C. (December 2011). Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be an Entrepreneur? Retrieved from http://www.entrepreneur.com/personalityquiz.
TEDTalks: Cameron Herold – Let’s raise kids to be entrepreneurs. (2010). Films On Demand. Retrieved February 7, 2014, from http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=7967&xtid=48527.
TEDTalks: Charles Leadbeater - Education innovation in the slums. (2010). Films On Demand. Retrieved February 9, 2014, from http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=7967&xtid=48528.
TedTalks: Sir Ken Robinson? Do schools kill creativity? (2006). Films On Demand. Retrieved February 5, 2014, from http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=7967&xtid=48044.
Zhao, Y. (2012). World class learners: Educating creative and entrepreneurial students. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.