[Interview] Dr. Paul Kim, Graduate School of Education, Stanford University
[Interview] Dr. Paul Kim, Office of Innovation & Technology, Graduate
School of Education, Stanford University
Dr. Paul Kim is Chief Technology Officer for the Office of Innovation & Technology at Stanford University and Assistant Dean of the Graduate School of Education. He has created and run a variety of innovative education programs such as SMILE, ROSE, and 1,001 Stories. Recently he wrote Future of Education, Coaching, not Teaching, which is about his conversation with his fellow Professor Don Gyun Ham. I met with him at a cafeteria in Seoul and then I interviewed him via email when he returned to the States. –ED
Q1 I know you have created and worked hard for educational innovation to solve current educational problems in our world. Please tell us a little about yourself.
A1. I am currently the Chief Technology Officer and Assistant Dean at Stanford University Graduate School of Education. For the past 18 years, I have been advising numerous educational institutions and participating in a series of major M&A, due-diligence, and corporate finance engagements in the areas of education technology, data analytics, online training, and technology infrastructure. I also served as an advisor to National Science Foundation, National Academy of Sciences, and WestEd. I have developed and taught graduate-level courses and MOOCs related to educational entrepreneurship, technology design, and international development. My recent government-backed development projects include the design of a new science and technology university for the Sultan of Oman, the strategy design for the national online learning initiative of Saudi Arabia, and the national education technology assessment initiative for Uruguay.
Q2. I heard many new terms from you when I first met you. For example, Seeds of Empowerment, SMILE, and 1001 Stories. Can you briefly explain them to us one by one, please?
A2 Stanford Mobile Inquiry-based Learning Environment (SMILE) https://smile.stanford.edu is a mobile learning management server software designed to help students study school subject matter, develop higher order learning skills and generate transparent real-time learning analytics. SMILE combines a mobile- based question application for students with a management application for teachers. The technology allows students to create multiple-choice questions on mobile phones during class and share these questions with their classmates and teacher. The main goal of SMILE is to develop students’ questioning skills, encourage greater student-centric activities and practices in classrooms, and enable a low-cost mobile wireless learning environment.
1001 Stories is a literacy development program from Seeds of Empowerment. The program uses mobile devices to develop literacy and storytelling skills while enabling children in traditionally marginalized and underserved communities to share their stories through local language and culture.
The first step for each project is to conduct a 2 or 3 day storytelling workshop in the designated school. International volunteers conduct the workshop with support from the school teachers and community leaders. Key components of the workshop include Literacy, Technology, Story writing, and Teacher Professional Development.
In the workshop, children are taught key components of story-telling including plot, characters, and creativity. They are also introduced to the mobile learning device, often in an exploratory manner experimenting with audio book, videos, and photos. Children create their own story with aid of the mobile learning device, too. This encourages self-ｅxpression, thinking skills, and creativity. Teachers are also trained in using the mobile devices and trained to implement pedagogy after the project.
The most creative stories are published as e-books or in hard copy (in English and local languages) and shared with the school and other communities worldwide. Currently international artists volunteer illustrations to accompany the story. In the future, Seeds of Empowerment seeks to incorporate children’s illustrations into the project.
Q3 Well, what is the basic or fundamental educational philosophy embedded in these programs and concepts?
A3. Serve as the voice for the voiceless and empower those who couldn’t be empowered by themselves. Through the NGO Seeds of Empowerment and working with volunteers from around the world, we strive to change the world by improving education programs around the world. The type of education we value is not necessarily resembles the program found in typical public schools where rote memorization and passive learning are the major activities. We focus on 6C – Critical thinking, Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, Compassion, and Commitment.
Q4 How did you start those programs? I read about your trips to Mexico and Rwanda in your book. Did those trips influence you?
A4. Of course. The trip to Mexico opened my eyes and helped me realize the true reality of the world in the developing regions. I met with children who were working in corporate farms with their parents. There was no school for those children and I knew their right to education was violated. That prompted me to think of helping the children who are deprived of access to education. I experimented and am still experimenting various types of education technology solutions that can provide sustainable access to quality education that is centered around the 6Cs I mentioned above.
Q5 I found you emphasize educational innovation in your book Future of Education, Coaching, not Teaching. Why do you think the future of education should focus on coaching, not on teaching?.
A5. Coaching has been the form of enlightening apprentices from ancient times. The current education platform came about because of previous industrial revolutions which forced the governments to figure out ways to train students as quickly as possible to obtain pretty much dictated education contents in the most efficient way possible. Back then factory-style conveyor belts made perfect sense and workers had to do the same work pretty much all day everyday. In the current and upcoming industries, such routine work can be done by machines. What’s required from the new industries are critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. Therefore, transformation of education is needed and teachers should not teach, but coach students to help them realize, develop, and reach their full individual potential that is unique to each individual.
Q6 You showed us many innovative ideas to solve our current educational problems such as how to ask good questions or how to cultivate habits for coming up with creative ideas. Could you give us more details about your ideas and approach?
A6. This is part of the SMILE project described above. All students must develop questioning skills and do not taking things for granted. Without a question, there is no learning, change, or revolution. The most difficult matter is that current education systems forced students to memorize without questions and most teachers were trained in such way. This makes it almost impossible for the new generation of students to question the world phenomena and ask critical questions to learn, change, and bring about innovation. The SMILE system at smile.stanford.edu and also SMILE Pi at smile-pi.org make it possible for students in any geographic locations and learning environments to participate in inquiry sharing, evaluating, presenting, and reflecting activities. Recently I started the project of SMILE Global Book Club (https://smile.stanford.edu) for the same purpose. I want many of young students to participate in this program and post many creative questions and comments.
Q7 The word “global citizenship education” has become popular in recent years. What do you think it is and what is the best way to achieve it?
A7. Global citizenship is to obtain and practice 6Cs I mentioned above. Without compassion, we don’t care about what is happening around the world, especially about unfortunate events and disadvantaged people who could use our help to come closer to access quality education and services any human-being deserves. A global citizenship education is to expose students to the realities of the global affairs with the eyes of compassion. The 1001 stories project contributes to the work of raising the awareness of the global realities and helping young potential leaders to realize and practice global citizenship through storytelling. I believe all students should spend less time in memorizing facts about the world, but more time in experiencing and doing something positive about the world.
Q8 Finally, Please leave a message for our readers, especially our young readers?
A8. Feel free to reach out to me if you want to learn more about my work, participate in my global projects in any form or shape, or simply help spread the good words about the work. I look forward to meeting and discussing ways to make this world a better place with you. Write to digitalschema@gmail.com or find me on Facebook.
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