Disruptive innovation in education needs to occur if we want the education system to improve for everyone involved.  Arnett (2014) stresses three points in this DI theory :

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• This is the catalyst for bringing about more equitable access to high-quality education.

• It is also the mechanism for bringing about a personalized education system.

• It circumvents the political battles that have historically been the center stage of education reform.

Dr. Harapnuik states in the video that we have a choice in the disruptive innovation process.  We can be reactive and wait for change to come about and deal with it and suffer the consequence of the change OR be proactive and use disruptive innovation as a catalyst to bring about change within your organization and enhance one's organization's learning environment.  If everybody wants success, they should be proactive.  But then, we are always going to have educators that have not read Who Moved My Cheese?  

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This innovation comes about for several reasons:

• New technology becomes available to schools for more students.

• Students grades/knowledge of concepts need to improve.

• State test scores need to improve.

• Teachers need to use up-to-date technology besides the blackboard, overhead projectors or just reading aloud from textbooks (lecture-type).

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It can be an excellent catalyst for all students, educators, administrators and parents.  Technology is now better in quality and cost. During this disruptive innovation, it transfers from expensive and complicated  to something more affordable and accessible.  As Clayton Christensen states that when we do this we are not competing against nothing.  Usually when this occurs, people are going to join with excitement.  

It can be a catalyst for change in education, especially in my organization, with great results.  Not only will technology be involved but also other strategies that educators have never used before.  Students who do not have access to technology at home can be allowed to come before the start of school and after school to use the school's technology for research, individual extra tutoring, ect.  We can also change the education system to a more student-centered environment.  Teachers should be able to design individual student plans since we know that not all students learn at the same rate/learning styles.  These strategies can improve students learning and teachers' change of teaching modality.  The list can go on and on.

Even though blended learning is not about the technology, we emphasize it because it is the new thing that everyone loves using because of its visuals.  Students do not want to sit all day in class/es and listen to lecture type lessons.  Today's students observe  and retain more knowledge by actually viewing the demonstration of concepts.  As the saying goes, tell me and I will forget but show me and I will remember. 

 

Studies have shown that all 4 models of Blended learning that are discussed in the videos have had successful results.  The rotation style is more frequently used in the elementary.  It has been successful because the classes are smaller than the secondary.  The flex model is mostly used in the upper elementary grades.  The self-blend is most common in high school where students are more self-disciplined---hopefully.  The enhanced Virtual works mostly with students that might go to school half a day and work the other half day.  This model prevents students from dropping out of school to enable them to graduate and go on to college.

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There are countless opportunities for innovation in my organization.  I have always worked in low economic areas where the resources are minimal due to budget cuts.  About 95% of the student body did not technology at home and many did not even have electricity.  Teachers do not have the proper training with new technology or have the "ganas" (desire) to learn.  Therefore, administrators need to set aside time for these teachers to get train and monitored.  Teachers have to trained and guided on how to integrate all strategies that need to be applied for student success.  I worked at a school district that had limited technology devices for students.  But I live in McAllen, which is only 10 miles away from the district I worked for 12 years, where every student is issued an Ipad for grades PK to 5th and Chromebooks for secondary grades----great.  We have 25,047 students in McAllen and I am lucky that my grandchildren will be exposed to the latest technology in their classroom.

 

Arnett, T.  (2014).  https://www.christenseninstitute.org/blog/why-disruptive-innovation-matters-to-education/

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