August 17, 2022

Sometimes the greatest impediment to change is trying to do it from within the structures, formats, restrictions, and histories of a system. In doing so, answers to challenges are limited to only what exists within the system, and “solutions” only utilize mindsets and tools that are already present. In this sense, thinking “outside of the box” tethers organizations and leaders to an already existing system, in this case, the box. To begin with our educational system, we need to define and address the goals, objectives, and purpose of education as a whole. This lack of clarity is one of the main obstacles to true reform and change. Education, from K-12 to university, is in dire need of reform at a time of significant societal change both in the United States and globally. 

As the world has changed, education has been unable to keep up due to mindsets fixed on what worked, not what needs to work going forward. In this sense, we have developed certain beliefs about what education is, what it is for, what it looks like, and how it is delivered, with only slight variations on the model since the early 1900s. This is partly a result of systems being built that have worked in the past for many and thus were perceived to be “successful.” Research into brain development, new ideas about pedagogy, and significant societal changes challenge the rightness and efficacy of the current model. Once a system is established, seen as valuable, noble, and good, it grows in scale and scope to a point where it becomes a standard part of society and our collective consciousness. In this piece, I will address why and how this is happening and what we might do to stop “thinking outside the box” and start building something other than a box.

The same pattern can be seen in our energy, education, transport, and healthcare systems, among others. It generally follows the same progression: a challenge or opportunity arises, a solution is defined, investment is made, policy supports and reflects the investment, the solution has a positive impact on society, it scales, and finally the solution becomes baked-in to our cultural and operational DNA. Think about why America is so reliant on oil. Think about why the American healthcare system is an outlier among OECD nations. Think about “car culture” in the U.S. In each, conditions…