Platform Thinking for Educational Success

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Platform Thinking for Educational Success

Gaussian Mind Trading and Projects

T/A MathsGenius Leadership Institute

Phone: +2778 585 8937

Title: Chief Genius

Website: www.mathsgenius.co.zaEmail: [email protected]

Presenter: Edzai Conilias Zvobwo

MathsGenius Leadership Institute

Twitter: @edzaizvobwo

Digital Education Show Africa – 7 October 2015

MathsGenius Leadership Institute 2015 ©

Media Articles by Edzai Conilias Zvobwo

Educational reform for the social media agehttp://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/371/129436.html

Platform thinking is not a pipe dream; what SA can learn from Googlehttp://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/659/124914.html

Throwing laptops at schools won't solve the maths problemhttp://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/659/124682.html

Google Helpouts shuts down: Are live video tutorials viable?http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/659/124518.html

Maths not SA's innovation holy grailhttp://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/498/124206.html

http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/371/129436.html






Hi, My name is Homo NalediI am the coolest guy of my era. I am a genius I discovered fire

Hi , my name is EdzaiI am the coolest guy of my era.I am keeping the fire burning.

“We started from the bottom now we are here…” – Drake (Musician)





Dude, Google is overworking us I am jumping ship to Uber


What is Platform Thinking?• Platform thinking is the art of conceptualising

and implementing inclusive places (physical or virtual) where different actors can interact, communicate, co-create and share …

• A successful platform is able to1. Attract users2. Facilitate the exchange of information3. Foster co-creation of value

Andrea Cocchi


• Value is created upstream• Knowledge is acquired from

teacher• Lessons are designed to

meet specifications• Value is given by restricted

consumption

Pipes and Platforms

PIPES PLATFORMS• Value is co-created on the

spot• Learners are co-creators of

knowledge• Products emerge through

interaction• Value is appreciated by

interaction

Enabling innovation culture• “Companies (teachers) might consider a managed

process of idea generation that rewards risk taking and effectively harvests entrepreneurial (mathematical) ideas.” (Accenture 2013)

• Today, there’s a glut of highly trained (creative) but underemployed scientists (learners). Let’s harness their idealistic passion before they turn grey, using social networks and data sharing to create an open, interactive, dynamic model of (mathematics education) basic life sciences research. (Ethan Perlstein)

• It's always a tremendous opportunity for us to tap into our fan's (learner’s) passion, creativity and their own interpretation of "Peace, Love and Ice Cream.” (mathematics) (Ben & Jerry's – Do the Flavor a Favor competition)

What can be improved?


• Emphasis on platform development.• Use of Blended learning• Appreciation of changing roles in

education.• Room for creativity, open-mindedness and

versatility. (Treat learners like platforms)

www.mathsgenius.co.za


“Maths is to the mind, what love is to the heart” – Edzai Conilias Zvobwo

Bibliography

“Accenture Management Consulting (2013) “Corporate Innovation Is Within Reach: Nurturing and Enabling an Entrepreneurial Culture”, downloadable from Accenture website

Andrea Cocchi (2012) “Platform Thinking - How to foster cooperative innovation and creativity”, New York, USA

Bianchi M. (ed (2007) “Evolution of Consumption: Theories and Practices”, Bingley, U.K. : EmeraldBianchi M. (ed.) (1998) “The Active Consumer Novelty and Surprise in Consumer Choice”, London:

RoutledgeChoudary (2013) “Why Business Models Fail: Pipes vs. Platforms” Wired

http://www.wired.com/insights/2013/10/why-business-models-fail-pipes-vs-platforms/Bonchek and Choudary (2013) “Three elements of a Successful Platform Strategy”, HBR blog

(blogs.hbr.org/2013/01/three-elements-of-a-successful-platform/CachedShare)Evans, Hagiu, Schmalensee (2006) “Invisible Engines How Software Platforms Drive Innovation and

Transform Industries” The MIT Press Cambridge, Massachusetts, London, EnglandDayport, Sviokla (1995) “Exploiting the Virtual Value Chain” Harvard Business Review 1995 (november-

december), pp. 75-85Shapiro and Varian (1999) “The Standard War”, California Manegement Review , Vol. 41. No 2Edzai Zvobwo (2010), The Mathematical Genius in You, Pretoria, South AfricaEdzai Zvobwo (2014), Spreading Mathematical Happiness, Johannesburg, South AfricaKeith Devlin (2011), Mathematical Thinking, USA