We choose to go to the moon!

Meeting the challenge of education innovation

The boldest technology advancement made by man was accomplished through the challenge proposed by President John F. Kennedy.

The Apollo 13 Mission to travel to the moon demonstrated our human ability to overcome adversity with grit and adaptable technology. The education profession is in the middle of its “Apollo 13” challenge. Teachers and students are being challenged to engage with new technology that has never existed before, in order to maximize productivity for college and career-readiness. We are asking a vast majority of teachers and students, without formal educational technology training, to advance learning through the use of advance technology. Such educational technology has never been used by teachers or students.

We have a failure to launch because both teachers and learners were groomed in a learning environment that rewards “tell me what to do” compliance and status quo. Our “Education Apollo 13” moment will need innovators, cage-busters and disruptive leadership; people who are willing to strategically think-different, in order to propel learning. Does the education profession have enough innovative juice to bend the arch of history?
An ad hoc educational technology scheme will perpetuate teachers’ initiative fatigue, risk aversion and enhance frustration with the “flavor of the month” education reforms. Similar to meeting the Apollo 13 challenge of over four decades ago, I believe the education profession can meet our educational technology “Apollo 13” challenge. The successful launching of educational transformation has to be highly strategic, goal focused and provide continuous training. It is critical to purposefully empower teachers, through the implementation of a Distributed Leadership Model. We want teachers to be the thought leaders and designers of the learning process. This will bolster transformational capacity and develop the next generation of educational technology instructional leaders.