I just got back from visiting our amazing partner Arizona State University as well as meeting with students, educators, and community leaders in districts across Arizona.
Here are a few observations:
1) Nothing Beats Spending Time With Kids
We created Encantos to be a learner-centered company — If Amazon is “customer-obsessed”, we are “learner-obsessed” and helping kids learn 21st century skills is at the heart of everything that we do. The kids we met in Arizona were so kind, so curious, and you could see just how hungry they are to learn. Getting away from a zoom meeting and into the real world to engage with kids and see how they can learn through play is both energizing and inspiring. This is why we do what we do.
2) Access Is Still An Issue
As Mitch Kapor often says, “genius is evenly distributed, opportunity is not”. Opportunity can be defined in lots of ways and access to digital is one of them. I’m not sure people realize how many households in America still do not have a device (mobile phone / tablet) with broadband access or the means and/or environment to learn digitally. This is exactly why we believe in a blended learning approach using both digital and physical products.
3) The Content Chasm
With over 50% of kids in America now diverse, it is just astonishing the dearth of kids and family content that represents people of color. The way a child lights up when they can see themselves represented is just magic — especially when represented in a culturally-authentic way, in a positive way, in a leadership way (not just a random supporting character). There just isn’t enough out there and we need an exponential increase in the amount of diverse kids content — and that will take everyone from startups to large companies. This is not a zero-sum game — the winners here are the kids and families.
4) The Education System Remains Broken
Teachers are stuck in a system where they are incentivized based on test scores and therefore they must focus on teaching the things that are easily measurable. Most of this is usually Common Core English language arts/literacy (ELA) and math . Things like social studies and the sciences get a little bit harder since they can vary state to state. And what is clear is that there is just no room for any 21st century skills like creativity, financial literacy or social-emotional learning that may be harder to quantify relative to Common Core standards. These 21st century skills are truly the “new fundamentals” for a fundamentally changed world. When the focus is only on “does a white paper exist” before trying something vs the urgency of helping kids with the learning, literacy and life skills that they so desperately need now to compete in the workforce of tomorrow, it truly feels like we’re failing our kids where they need help the most.
5) The Impact From The Pandemic On Kids Is Real
We’ve only just begun to understand the impact of the pandemic on kids, their mental state and their ability to learn. Educators told us heartbreaking stories over and over agin. One educator shared how throughout September and October hardly any learning was being done because kids were just acclimating to being in a class room again, it was difficult for them to focus, and there was real trauma coming from home environments, loved ones lost, parents struggling, and so much more. Another educator shared that their kindergarten students are behind by 18 months. Yet another shared how they are doing “accelerated learning” in 6th grade and just racing to meet the class and testing milestones, however the kids had real gaps from learning loss during COVID but there is no way for them to catch up.
It was hard to hear the comments from these educators and community leaders — but it will be so much harder for these kids. Everyone is desperately trying to find ways to help them. It will truly take all stakeholders.
Team Encantos is more determined than ever to do our part. Storyteachers pick up where school teachers leave off. We will continue to complement the classroom by focusing on the living room with our digital and physical products to enrich and supplement the learning at home. By empowering creators (what we call “Storyteachers”) from around the world to help kids learn 21st century skills, I truly believe this is the way we will democratize, diversify, and personalize learning for kids.
