America s Public School System - 867 Words

One area of technological advancement I have a personal interest in is the global opportunity to improve the availability of a quality education. Education is changing at all levels due to advances in technology. In my opinion, the changes cannot be fast enough. The Huffington Post reports, â€Å"According to a study conducted in late April by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy, 32 million adults in the U.S. can t read. That is 14 percent of the population. 21 percent of adults in the U.S. read below a 5th grade level, and 19 percent of high school graduates can t read.† Crum (2013) Upon further reflection, the public school system did not teach my sons to read, I did. I made sure they could read before†¦show more content†¦Barriers have prevented students all over the world from attending college or receiving a quality education, the kind that not only teaches the basics, but also teaches critical thinking and encourages life long learners and a world citizen philosophy. I believe everyone should be able to get a quality education and the fact that higher education has become so expensive and unattainable is a disgrace. The University of the People’s model of tuition free online education is an example of disruptive innovation that is moving us toward a more globalized system of higher learning. Advances in software and internet communication provide the framework to support a collaborative online learning network that crosses boarders and economic classes. Should this model prove successful and gain traction in the mainstream, it has the potential of making brick and mortar schools, as we know them obsolete. The Levin Institute describes how online schools are gaining traction with Global K12 curriculums as the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum includes as many as 141 countries. Global curriculums provide the opportunity for international education. Advances in technology provide some classrooms with access to materials and content and opportunities to connect at the international level. High-Speed Internet and computers are providing students an opportunity to expand beyond the classroom and establish