Pop Quiz
Which one is an innovation in educational resources?
a. A teacher guide that presents strategies on using Response to Intervention as a framework for supporting English language learners
b. A pen that simultaneously records everything a person hears and writes, making it possible for students and teachers to easily revisit classroom instruction and meetings
c. A panoramic camera that captures classroom lessons and publishes videos to an online management systems for users to collaboratively view, share, and comment on
d. A curriculum program, aimed at special needs and at-risk youth, that develops everyday vocabulary students will need to know to be successful in the real world
Answer: All of the Above
Education is often viewed as an industry that moves slowly towards innovation. But while the majority of other industries may define innovation as new applications of cutting- or bleeding-edge technology, that is not true for the learning resource industry. There are certainly education developers who take advantage of the latest technology, but for our market an innovation could also be a change in pedagogy or classroom practice, or just a combination of existing tools. The medium does not matter as much as how the content is made accessible to the intended audience, whether or not it is engaging enough to today’s teachers and learners, and the impact it makes on student learning.
So, what is innovation in education? According to Eric Hamilton, Assistant Director at the American Museum of Natural History and AEP Awards Committee Chair, it is looking at the current needs of the audience (students, parents, educators); looking at the existing products that are addressing the issue; and finding a solution to affect and engage as many of today’s discerning students and teachers as possible now.
“We don’t have access to the same robust funding and resources as other markets, and we also don’t always have a lot of time to develop ‘the next wave’ of products,” said Hamilton. “Often, publishers don’t consider themselves innovative, even though they have successfully tackled an issue with a method no one has applied to the problem before. Some of the most effective learning solutions come from someone mashing two ideas together, such as RtI and ELL, in a truly inventive way that can be applied now to the target audience.”
The above examples in the quiz, from finalists and winners of the 2011 Innovation Awards, showcase companies that found a new way to impact teaching and learning. The revamped Innovation Awards, part of the 2012 AEP Awards program, recognize products that are pioneering changes in the education landscape. Categories include Pedagogy/Methodology, Mobile/Wireless Learning Tools, Digital Games/Game Creation Tools, and Student Response/Assessment/Data Management.
Find out more about the Innovation Awards and enter online.
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