The Future of Learning: Competency-Based Education and Technology
Silver Lining for Learning
Transforming K-12 Education: Challenges and Opportunities
This chapter addresses the limitations of the traditional K-12 education system and the potential of technology to foster personalized, competency-based learning. It explores the evolution of online and blended learning, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, while highlighting both the successes and shortcomings of this transition. The discussion emphasizes the importance of investing in educational technology and innovative pedagogical practices to create more effective learning environments.
Episode Description:
In the last decade, education has exhibited a call for sweeping transformation across K-12, postsecondary, and workforce training, marked by the need for shifting from traditional lectures as the core of instruction to dynamic models of bridging formal and informal educational experiences with open, active learning using online, blended, and competency-based education models. These changes have not only redefined what is possible but also impacted student expectations of how to learn in K-12, higher education and career pathways. In Episode #213 of Silver Lining for Learning, we welcome Susan Patrick, a leader in the field of education technology and a champion of competency-based education. Susan's career includes leading the Aurora Institute (formerly iNACOL), where she supported innovations in K-12 online learning and new models of education that align with research on how students learn best. Beyond this, Susan's work spans state government, federal government, and two universities working in postsecondary education and workforce readiness, advocating for system-wide change that bridges gaps in opportunity and increases access for learners of all ages. Join us as we discuss the future of personalized, competency-based pathways and the role of technology in transforming education systems to serve all learners more equitably.
Susan Patrick is currently an independent consultant and author. Susan is the former President & CEO of Aurora Institute and iNACOL. She is the former Director of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education. Prior, Patrick served as legislative liaison for Governor Hull from Arizona. She served as legislative staff on Capitol Hill. She is a Pahara-Aspen Institute Fellow and an USA Eisenhower Fellow. She was awarded the AECT System Change Leader Award 2020 for making significant contributions to the evolution of learning, demonstrating systems thinking and positive impact aligned to future-focused education. She was awarded a 2024 Women in AI Fellowship from EDSAFE. She can be reached in LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-patrick-0a90a64/ and in Twitter/X: https://x.com/susandpatrick?lang=en
Susan Patrick Bio Continued:
Susan Patrick is a deep content expert in education innovation who has garnered significant influence and impact within the field of K-12 education. With a track record of success, she has founded successful organizations, provided professional learning and advised federal, state, district and classroom leaders, convened global, state, and local leaders, and shaped policy conversations at the highest levels. As the former leader of Aurora Institute and iNACOL, Susan cultivated a membership base of practitioners in the thousands, solidifying both her own reputation and creating the largest community of active practitioners in a networked organization serving as a resource and a national force in educational change for advancing policy and breakthrough practices for innovation in education.
Her expertise has been sought by several presidential administrations (including being the former Director of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education) and numerous states, districts, and foreign governments, where she has played a pivotal role in rethinking and reshaping approaches to education transformation. Susan is globally recognized for her leadership in making educational opportunities more equitable and effective. She champions competency-based and personalized learning, advocating for approaches that support human-centered approaches to building skills and knowledge with flexibility, learning anytime, anywhere, over traditional "seat time" requirements. She has published 120 publications on online, blended, and competency-based learning. She grounds efforts in research on how people learn, aiming to modernize education on a scalable level to meet the needs of a changing world.
Throughout her career, Susan has been dedicated to breaking away from the industrial-age model of education, working tirelessly to provide greater access and better opportunities for success to a wider range of students of all ages throughout their lifetimes. Her work has supported the growth of successful online and place-based learning opportunities. In the face of resistance to educational innovation, Susan has demonstrated exceptional foresight, listening to concerns, building relationships, and organizing networks to advance important ideas and threshold concepts. She has catalyzed discussions about the future of education worldwide, influencing key stakeholders and shifting the conversation towards student-centered, personalized approaches.
Susan’s impact extends beyond vision; she possesses the capacity to engage with key stakeholders, effecting deep cultural change necessary for meaningful progress. Her dedication and persistence have empowered others to take ownership of these vital ideas, making her a true change leader in the field of education. As co-author of a necessary future, Susan continues to contribute to the ongoing evolution of education. Her work ensures a brighter future for learners and communities of all backgrounds, solidifying her legacy as a pioneering figure in educational innovation.
- Aurora Institute: https://aurora-institute.org/
- Video (6:58): iNACOL Is Now the Aurora Institute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYLA9T_N6z8&t=1s
- Getting Smart Podcast: Susan Patrick on Transforming Education Systems for Equitable High-Quality Learning (August 28, 2019): https://www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/podcast-susan-patrick-on-transforming-education-systems-for-equitable-high-quality-learning/
- One Good Question with Susan Patrick: How Can We Build Trust in Our Education System? (December 16, 2016): https://aurora-institute.org/blog/one-good-question-with-susan-patrick-how-can-we-build-trust-in-our-education-system/
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