New models of education are rapidly emerging across the United States. With these developments have come a new generation of educational entrepreneurs, technologies, pedagogical practices, and policies.
Many educational innovations represent considerable departures from traditional school experiences. For example, microschools, learning pods, and hybrid homeschools now provide a growing number of families with substantial flexibility and personalization in small, parent-directed learning environments. Technology leaders are also continuously bringing forth new instructional technologies that are seeking to revolutionize student learning experiences through virtual simulation, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence.
Leaders in non-traditional sectors of education have begun reinventing themselves. In recent years, career and technical education programs have transformed conventional workforce development experiences by expanding internships and experiential opportunities in fields with high labor demands. U.S. states are investing in career and technical education programs in the health sciences, engineering, and information technology to provide students with work-based learning opportunities that respond to employment shifts in state economies.
While educational innovation has been on the rise for some time, the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the expansion of new models of education. But there are questions about current challenges and opportunities in these emerging areas and what the future may hold. To explore these issues, the Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government is hosting an in-person conference on emerging models of education from September 22-23. In six sessions, leading educational innovators will discuss advancements in micro-schools, hybrid homeschooling, educational technology, virtual schools, and career and technical education. The Honorable Winsome Earle-Sears, Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, will give the keynote address at the conference.
We invite you to join us. The conference is being held in person at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Space is limited so please register to attend the conference at your earliest convenience.
For more information, please visit the conference website.
Contact pepg_administrator@hks.harvard.edu with any questions.
