OpenEd Solutions | On Pilots & Proof Points

Pilot projects demonstrate proof of concept—show that it works, post some early indicators.  Proof points are comprehensive interventions that move the needle on desired outcomes.

There are thousands of good schools, but few communities that put it all together an sustain it over time.

The challenge in education is quality at scale.

What we need are schools that prepare the vast majority of students for the idea economy—at the minimum that means being able to pass  a community college entrance exam and earn college credit without remediation.

Problems

Local control is ineffective at bes

coherence can only be created by sustained effective and mission-focused leadership.

 Organizations like Aspire Public Schools and Florida Virtual School have achieved impressive results but have not taken responsibilit

Producing quality at scale across geography, particularly one with any poverty, as been more elusive.

One challenge with efforts to create proof points is confounding variables

—causality is tough to pinpoint

Proof point design. Important proof points would include all students in a diverse geography with high level of challenge (>50% students in/near poverty) with some level of scale (>20,000 students), and would be sustainable after the intervention and replicable in other locations.

Important proof point geographies would show significant improvement in achievement for nearly all students sustained over time. In the first two years there would be significant improvement in leading indicators. After five years, terminal outcomes would begin to emerge.

The summer school debut of School of One is a great example of a low stakes demonstration that illustrated customized learning and introduced the concept of a personal learning ‘playlist.

1) blended school models including:

customized learning with multiple modes of instruction driven by a smart recommendation engine and comprehensive learner profiles
school designs that double productive learning time
talented and well trained teams in a differentiated (different levels) and distributed (different locations) staffing models with supporting productivity tools

2) student supports including:

demand development activities that increase student and family engagement and academic press
self management, guidance, career awareness, and decision support systems

3) policy innovations including:

learning certification systems that allow students to show what they know and represent a breakthrough competency-based learning
weighted student funding with choice to the course (or unit)

OpenEd Solutions | On Pilots & Proof Points

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