More Than A Test

On this episode of More Than a Test, host Laura Glaab interviews Thomas Arnett, a Senior Research Fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute. Arnett shares his journey as a former Teach for America middle school math teacher who sought to revolutionize the education system. He discusses his work with Clayton Christensen's Institute for Disruptive Innovation and how the "Jobs to Be Done" framework can be applied to understand why teachers adopt new instructional practices. Arnett also introduces the Mastery Transcript Consortium and offers insight into standards-based or competency-based grading to promote objectivity and progress.

The episode concludes with a discussion of unconventional educational models and how schools can get into the business of teacher development and preparation to align with instructional practices and philosophies.

Key Moments

[00:02:12] Summarizing the education sector through analysis, writing & presentations.

[00:05:08] Teacher preparation programs do not align with innovation.

[00:09:44] Disruption is an asymmetry between new and established.

[00:11:42] Disruptive innovation needs technology, a model, and a network.

[00:15:09] Flexible schools with personalized learning and tech.

[00:20:03] Nonprofit started by teachers empowers self-directed learning.

[00:24:49] Teachers want real-world connections in education.

[00:27:56] Separate teacher and assessor roles for grading.

[00:32:24] Teaching was hard, the system needs change.

[00:37:32] School models changing; growing recognition for a change.

[00:44:35] Teaching offers diverse career opportunities.

Connect with Thomas

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasarnett/

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About More Than a Test

Our goal is to take a hard look at the shortcomings in literacy education and tech while still finding a sense of hope in what's possible in education through learning and technology.

Our guests include non-profit leaders, tech CEOs, state and district leadership, research leaders from top institutions, and a few teachers with stories that might bring you to tears.

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0JWhVG2nXZfC3FxOviFoR0 

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-than-a-test/id1685012543 

Listen on Other Platforms: https://more-than-a-test.captivate.fm/ 

About Amira Learning

Amira is the world’s first intelligent reading assistant that provides personalized tutoring to students at school, after school, or at home. Students working with Amira experience significant improvements in their reading fluency.

About your Host, Laura Glaab

Laura Glaab is a VP of Strategy at Amira Learning. She is a lifetime educator following behind educator parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.

She's worked as a teacher and leader in public, private, and charter schools in places as far as India and as close to home as Boulder, Colorado. She holds degrees from Stanford, the University of Wyoming, and Kellogg School of Management.

She thinks everyone should read Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw and the entire Piggie and Elephant Collection by Mo Willems.

Connect with Laura

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-glaab/ 

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