We had a very productive week having brainstorming both during class and our Monday evening meetings. We flushed out many possible solutions in how to address the prompt question:
What is a product or service that can comprehensively address the shortcomings of American K-12 education? Specifically, we want to think of products that can provide:
1. Increased Student Autonomy
2. Integrated Digital Learning
3. Improved soft skills (socializing and live interactions)
Research what percentage of US teachers have computers/laptops to use
What percentage of US students have computers/laptops to use
Software to help teachers layout classroom environments
Apps for teacher classroom layout
IKEA-style augmented reality layout app / visualizer
Digital desks - integrated screens, charger, computer
Touch screen virtual labs for chemistry, biology
Teacher student inventory app - track learning styles, moods of students and make sure they are all catered to
Daily curriculum reminders - ‘oh it's socialization time’ - taps app - kids all get tummy time / rug time
Social aspects for teachers - socializing / share best practices / professional
Computer science classes taught MOOC style / partner with Lynda or Khan academy
Science classes taught that way as well - get specialty subject masters to chime in to spread teachings of the best teachers on earth to all students.
Modular furniture integrated for alternating teamwork, solo work, autonomous work
Trailers/cargo containers/prefab pre-wired classrooms for extending digital literacy and internet access
Integration to platforms such as 2U/Blackboard
Tie in to chromebooks or mac
Include software / monthly Software as a Service (SAAS) costs in the chromebook lease per kid/per head
School-in-a-box - single platform for administrators, teachers and kids
Teacher grading - simplify/automate test taking to spare teachers grading and also randomize questions to mitigate cheating
Async teaching of subjects and then offshore monitored chat boards for kids’ Q&A
Hit up Chan-Zuckerberg initiative for startup capital/grants
Wrap school SAAS, chromebook, and maintenance into a single low monthly payment
Tablet + keyboard with all of the text books loaded on it
Software and infrastructure to integrate smartphones as second screens, live polling/surveys/test taking/quizzes/attendance
Virtual reality chemistry set
virtual reality history where you are in the battle of gettysburg
Augmented reality biology where you do a fake dissection of a frog (or person!)
Video game integration - playable puzzles, video game breaks, motor skill workshops
Pure creation moments - knitting, sewing, construction, lego breaks
Skype to learn spanish from spanish speakers - virtual pen pals
Robocop boardroom scene teachers - live video conference via swivelling monitor with some inputs and video to observe class
Holodeck where you are transported to ancient greece to talk to socrates - star trek meets Bill & Ted.
Immersive virtual classroom where all the walls are touchscreen for instant change in mood and presentation
Desk building sets - kids have to construct their own environment at the start of the year (like early Amazon hires)
Education pods. Kids put into immersive pods that have monitor, screen, audio for immersive experience and 1-1 mentoring by subject.
Pair programming desks - kids taught teamwork and fundamentals of programming by pair programming like the pros do, huddled around a desk with one keyboard/mouse/monitor to work together to solve problems.
Schooltray - a tray with keyboard, mouse, touchpad, and pop/fold-up display so kid can interact with a variety of screens, computers and manipulables around the classroom
Robot dog to teach empathy and befriend students. Each student gets a robot dog they have to care for that can also teach lessons or serve as a learning aid
Hologram Tupac teacher. Not actually Tupac but maybe for a 90s rap lecture. Live teacher can take over after hologram lecture from scientist, historical figure, native Mandarin speaker wraps up a precanned lecture
Students have to design and teach their own lesson on a subject area they become ‘experts’ in.
Why are lectures delivered live anyway? We need an adult for crowd control, questions and tutoring but the lecture and lesson portion could likely be automated or at least delivered via augmented automation.
Responsive classroom where kids can control various objects via IOT to help them understand programming, electronics, physics. Kids can write programs to control objects, lights, motorized furniture, toy robots.
Blockchain permanent records
Tablet textbook you can take notes in
Wearables for PE - help students achieve better results
Mindfulness meditation pods
Yoga/nap mat that records pressure to correct for balance and encourages kids
Treat dispensing quiz machine - right answers get candy or release balls etc for recess
School Management System where student mental health, preferences, learning styles, and external stressors could all be tracked and addressed by instructors, with reminders and exercises suggested
