Episode 66
From Band-Aids to Breakthroughs:
Rethinking Innovation in Education
Brief description of the episode
Dr. Annalies Corbin, CEO of the PAST Foundation and author of Hacking School, brings an anthropologist’s lens to educational change. In this episode, she breaks down why many edtech initiatives fail to stick, pointing to short funding cycles, lack of strategy, and cultural disconnects. For edtech leaders aiming to build products that go beyond temporary fixes, her insights offer a clear path to lasting impact. This is a conversation about designing with purpose and helping schools adopt technology that works.
Key Takeaways:
- Avoid immediate district-wide deployments of any single tech solution without piloting or early feedback from willing adopters.
- Identify “champion” educators who are eager to test new tools and iterate based on honest, constructive input.
- Recognize that technology is only effective if it serves a clear instructional purpose and genuinely supports teaching and learning.
- Plan for the cultural and pedagogical shifts required, providing adequate training and ongoing support rather than one-off sessions.
- Student Agency: Invite learners to have real input in their education, creating a sense of ownership and motivation.
- Cultural Relevancy: Connect learning to students’ experiences and identities to keep them engaged and invested.
- Mastery-Based Learning: Shift away from strict pacing guides, allowing learners the time they need to fully grasp concepts.
- Transdisciplinary Approaches: Encourage teachers to break subject silos and tackle themes or problems that cross multiple domains.
- Problem-Based Learning: Emphasize inquiry and authentic, hands-on tasks so students can apply skills to real-world challenges.
- Short funding windows encourage quick fixes instead of comprehensive, long-term solutions.
- Educators and districts often rush to implement the “next shiny thing” rather than fully embedding innovations.
- Culture change can’t happen in just two years; lack of time undermines sustainable improvement.
- When funding shifts, schools may abandon promising programs before they’re properly tested and refined.
- Many districts assume policies must change to eliminate traditional grading, creating a perceived hurdle.
- Cultural norms around schedules, grades, and seat time often conflict with letting students learn at their own pace.
- Mastery-based models require buy-in and time for implementation; quick rollouts often fail because educators feel rushed.
- Despite these challenges, the transcript underscores that mastery-based approaches consistently lead to deeper retention and student success.
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