Am I trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist? Am I answering a question no one asked?
At Edstartup 101 we have to test our idea to find out how much we really understand the problem and if we are be able to point to evidence that supports us.
This is the first of two posts. In “Identify Your Assumptions” I will write down my assumptions to be compared with reality on the next post.
The problem
There is a population segment that for different reasons (economic, social occupational, geographic location, time, etc.) hasn’t been able to start, continue or finish their education. This condition prevents them to obtain a better job and improve their life quality.
My Assumptions
1) What causes the problem?
After applying the 4 why analysis I found the several causes to the problem:
- The current learning centers do not target this population
- Most of the learning center with night and weekend classes are private and their fees are high.
- The public universities require full time to study. The members of this population have to work full time (even more), have young children, etc.
- They live far from learning centers.
- They have no enough preparation to be self learners.
- The actual resources are not adapted to the Latin American reality. Most of them are for English speakers.
- The actual curriculum don’t supply skilled workers for the employees.
I also found a cycle. For example:
The members of this population can not study in a public learning center.
Why?
They don’t have no enough time to study.
Why?
They have work full time or have to have more than one job.
Why?
They don’t earn enough.
Why?
They don’t have the preparation to find a better job.
Why?
They don’t have no enough time to study.
2) Think about the people with the problem. What are they currently doing, or willing to do, to solve it?
Some of them are making an effort to study using distance learning, a private institute or some universities that are not that expensive. Some others are taking online education, usually the those who speak English.
Most of them are not doing anything. They are disappointed about education and think about it as an expense (either in time or in money) they are not willing to do. I recognize this is a challenge. There must be another incentive beyond the learning for the pleasure of learning. For this reason there should be companies that back up the process offering job opportunities as return of the investment.
3) What are all of the current solutions to the problem?
All the partial solutions are too many to enlist here. Some of them are:
- INA (National institute for learning) http://www.ina.ac.cr/
- Cursera www.coursera.org
- Udacy http://www.udacity.com/
- CapaciNet http://www.capacinet.gob.mx/
- Khan Academy http://www.khanacademy.org/
- Aula Fácil http://www.aulafacil.com/
- Aula Clic http://www.aulaclic.es
- Emagister http://www.emagister.com
4) Why aren’t the current solutions good enough?
All the listed solutions are great institutions, but they fall in one or more th
- The materials are in English
- The selection process is bureaucratic and the curriculum is too long. (this is the case of INA)
- They are are not adapted to the latin american reality
- You must be a self learner.
5) How long has it been a problem?
As long as there have been an education.
6) How easily could something change to make the problem go away?
I don’t think the problem could be eradicated. As the world changes at full speed. all we need to run in order to catch up with it and there will always be people who is left behind. My proposal is just a small boat in a great sea.
Please, tell me what you think. Am I leaving something out? Do you have a different point of view?
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