Class One

We will start our course by reflecting on what we mean when we talk about education. We will explore the development of education systems to analyze how this historical context influences how people define education today. As part of this analysis we will look at innovative models of education that are redefining what education means in the 21st century.

Speaker: Peter Senge

Brazilian Education System
In order to provide participants with a useful overview of the Brazilian education system, this part of class will focus covering K-12 as well as higher education. We will look at the challenges facing these systems as well as the unique ways that Brazil has responded to them. Some particular aspects of the Brazilian system that will be highlighted include the structure of the public university system, current reform efforts, and the academic achievement of Brazilian students on international tests including the PISA and TIMSS.

Speaker: Paulo Renato Souza

Class Two

This class will examine the role of the education sector in both enabling and constraining Brazil’s economic growth. Key emphasis will be placed on Brazil’s labor demands and how well the education system is meeting this need.

Speaker: Rick Locke and Claudio de Moura Castro

Class Three

This class will provide students with a broad understanding of how public and private institutions come together to solve critical education challenges. Students will be exposed to concepts related to how these partnerships are negotiated and sustained, particularly related to the role that business and entrepreneurship can play. The theory will be reinforced by specific cases of public-private partnerships in Brazil.

Speaker: Fernando Reimers and Beatriz  Cardoso

Class Four

This class will look at some of the business models that exist in the education market. These include for-profit educational institutions and educational content and service providers. Students will explore the tensions that can exist between quality and financial benefits in for-profit schools.

Speaker: Jason Williams and Eduardo Wurzmann

Class Five

This class will provide an introduction to innovative ways that technology is being used to enhance learning at various educational levels. We will also explore some of the common challenges of introducing new technologies into an educational system including securing funding, distribution, installation, and training.

Speaker: Alex Paiva, Chris Rosenbaum, Paulo Blikstein, Gilberto Dimenstein