The theme, "Challenging Convention: Leading Disruptive Innovations," for the ASCD 2015 Annual Conference in Houston, Tex., was selected by the ASCD Conference Planning Committee to illustrate the urgency for change in our global education communities.
We are in an age that requires disruption, unlike any other era. Historian Dorothy Ross pointed out that at the beginning of the 18th century, a new idea about history emerged called "historicism." Prior to this, if the present differed from the past, people viewed it negatively; tradition was valued and new ideas were not.
When this perspective shifted, new ideas and inventions were regarded as improvements over the past. The 18th century embraced the idea of progress; the 19th century experienced an evolution; the 20th century fostered growth and innovation; and this century's theory of history is based on disruption of the status quo.
How do we prepare all our students to compete and contribute to this new disruptive society? The future will be defined by how schools use disruptive education to improve the classroom, and by the way that they arrange teaching and learning. Assembly-line, "one-size-fits-all" education does not meet the needs of today's students.
Through the use of technology and online learning, we have a platform for disruptive innovation in education. We can customize each child's education to meet individual needs. We can deliver high-quality teaching and learning experiences anytime, anywhere. Our global society is complex and will require educated and thoughtful citizens who can innovate; work with others to solve global challenges; and propagate peace, respect, and ethical behavior. Equitable learning can be provided in a cost-effective manner and will not require schools with walls.
Educators will become "learning agents" who will help redefine the profession. According to the KnowledgeWorks report 2020 Forecast: Creating the Future of Learning, these learning agents will take on roles such as personal education advisor, assessment designer, learning fitness instructor, and learning journey mentor. Schools without walls will become more personalized, with parents and students making choices about curriculum, instruction, and experiences.
The report outlines several questions to ponder:
- What new models of education suggested by the maker economy transcend industrial-age, assembly-line models?
- What kinds of partnerships, transparency, and networks will be critical for building resilient school communities?
- What kinds of shocks might the education system face in the next decade? (2009)
As educators who want to revolutionize teaching and learning, we must join the dialogue to help shape the future of learning. It is our job to craft a new system of education that will prepare future citizens to meet the challenges facing humanity—challenges as broad as sustainable development and climate change, the education of women and girls throughout the world, global ethics, population and resources, the rich–poor gap, and peace and conflict, among others. I encourage you to run to the fire!