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Education in August 2024: The Best Films and Podcasts from

Original in Russian: blog.skillbox.by
Education in August 2024: The Best Films and Podcasts from Skillbox Media

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Training with a guarantee of employment: "Methodologist from entry level to expert"

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Reasons for the slowdown in the EdTech sector growth compared to the past

Maksim Spiridonov is one of the founders of the educational projects Foxford and Netology.

On Alexander Gorny's channel, dedicated to startups and investments.

The topic of discussion concerns the challenging situation in the education market and Maxim's current initiatives in various fields.

At the beginning of this interview, Maxim Spiridonov shares a story about his EdTech projects and analyzes the reasons for the slowdown in the overall industry. He believes that forecasts for the future of the EdTech sector were based on information about so-called "early adopters" – those who showed a particular interest in online education and were ready to actively learn. However, as the market grew, it became clear that many users did not fit into this category.

Maxim Spiridonov shares his thoughts on why, after the sale of Netology, he did not continue working in online education and decided to focus on other areas. He emphasizes that success in most EdTech segments has become dependent on "insincerity of promises," something he mentioned back in 2022. Find out in his interview what direction he took after that and what initiatives he invested in.

Read also:

Quotes of the week: on the ambiguity of promises in the field of educational technologies.

Overview of key events in Russian EdTech by the end of the summer season

The founders of Smart Course are entrepreneur Mikhail Mordasov and Daria Ryzhkova, who is at the origins of the ranking agency SmartRanking.

On the EduMakers platform.

The article covers current trends and significant events in the field of education.

In the new episode of the podcast dedicated to events in the EdTech field, Daria Ryzhkova shared information about two summer events and the financial results of Russian companies for the second quarter of 2024. Both she and Mikhail Mordasov noted that the market is showing signs of stabilization: low growth rates are observed, large players are strengthening their positions, and in most segments there is no longer any free space for the emergence of new initiatives.

During the discussion, promising ideas for further development were voiced. SmartRanking study participants noted significant interest in courses dedicated to the use of generative AI. This area of ​​online education for children remains understudied. The potential creation of new accelerators for EdTech projects was also discussed.

Read also:

Financial results of the EdTech sector in Russia for the second quarter of 2024 have been published.

The process of developing courses on professions in EdTech companies

Anastasia Buchko holds the position of Director of Content Development and Real-World Experience at Skillfactory.

In the Huntflow Insight podcast.

Changes in approaches to the development of professional courses in Russian EdTech have become significant. Previously, the emphasis was on theoretical knowledge, but in recent years there has been a trend towards more practical training. Companies strive to address labor market needs and adapt programs to meet modern requirements.

Courses now more often include real-world cases, practical assignments, and internships, allowing students to acquire skills directly in demand by employers. There is also growing interest in interdisciplinary programs that combine knowledge from different fields, expanding the horizons of future specialists.

Furthermore, given rapid technological progress, many educational institutions and platforms are striving to integrate new technologies into the educational process. This can range from the use of virtual and augmented reality to create interactive learning, to the introduction of online platforms for easy access to materials.

Thus, the approach to creating professional courses in Russian EdTech is becoming more flexible and focused on the practical application of knowledge, which helps prepare specialists ready for the challenges of the modern market.

This podcast will be of interest to those interested in the educational technology market but currently focused on other areas of education. In the second part of the episode, the guest briefly shares information about how Skillfactory organizes the course creation process—from the research stage to launch. Professionals more deeply immersed in EdTech will be interested to hear Anastasia's thoughts on whether the era of unrealistic promises in this field is over, how to cope with the glut of new professionals, and which course topics are currently at the peak of relevance. Furthermore, the guest shares her thoughts on why EdTech is a field of constant change and how to effectively collaborate with teams in such an environment.

Read also:

Quote of the week highlights the main difficulty of online learning: students face a lack of self-discipline and motivation.

History of creation and closure Refocus: Reasons and Facts

Igor Gurovich is an IT entrepreneur and one of the founders of Volna. He previously helped found the Qmarketing agency, as well as the Qmarketing Academy and Refocus educational institutions.

In a podcast called "New Market."

The topic of discussion concerns the negative experience associated with attempting to initiate an EdTech business outside of one's home country.

The podcast focuses on the entrepreneurial journey of Igor Gurovich, who is currently developing Volna, a project aimed at relocating medical specialists. Particularly noteworthy for EdTech professionals is the story of Refocus, a platform designed to train new professions, which has become one of the most notable startups of 2022. This company was active in the Philippines and Indonesia, but was forced to close in the fall of 2023 due to difficulties with student loan denials. Igor Gurovich identified several factors that led to the current situation. In his opinion, Refocus was too aggressive in pursuing growth, disregarding the need to generate profits early on. While this strategy had previously proven successful for startups across various industries, it proved ineffective during the venture winter. Furthermore, market research was insufficiently thorough at the initial stage. Gurovich also noted that the co-founders failed to recognize in time the possibility of drastic cuts to save the business.

Read also:

What does the educational technology market portend in 2024?

The Relevance of Makarenko and Vigdorov's Teachings for Modern Schoolchildren

Oksana Smirnova is a literature teacher.

In the "Litra" podcast, which is part of the "Shelf" project.

This text examines Anton Makarenko's works entitled "Pedagogical Poem" and Frida Vigdorova's trilogy, consisting of the books "The Road to Life," "This is My Home," and "Chernigovka."

A new podcast called "Litra," which is part of the "Shelf" project, dedicated to significant works of Russian literature. As reported on Shelf's social media, the program's hosts include five literature teachers. In each episode, they share their thoughts on books that have special meaning to them, often not included in the school curriculum. One of the recently released episodes focuses on novels related to the topic of teaching. It examines famous works such as Anton Makarenko's "Pedagogical Poem" and Frida Vigdorova's trilogy dedicated to the life of one of her students, Semyon Kalabalin, who goes by the name Karabanov in the book.

In this episode, Oksana Smirnova shares her personal experience of falling in love with certain books and reflects on how they may have influenced her professional path. She also suggests that such stories can be very helpful for schoolchildren, who, in her opinion, have become disconnected from historical context. Perhaps the vibrant characters from the works of Makarenko and Vigdorova can help young people who have difficulty distinguishing between the 19th and 20th centuries better understand the events of the era of wars and revolutions.

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The education system developed by Anton Semenovich Makarenko represents a unique approach to the education and upbringing of children. The core idea is to create a harmonious environment where each child can develop, taking into account their individual characteristics. Makarenko arrived at this concept based on his experience working with difficult teenagers and in juvenile detention centers. He noticed that traditional parenting methods were often ineffective and began to seek new ways to interact with children. An important aspect of his system was the integration of upbringing with work activities, which helped foster a sense of responsibility and team spirit in the children. Makarenko also emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach, where each group member supports and helps one another. He believed that it was in such an environment that children could better understand their strengths and weaknesses, as well as learn to interact with others.

Thus, Makarenko's system is a synthesis of pedagogical ideas based on practical experience, and formed important principles that continue to be used in modern educational methods.

The process of selecting students for an elite physics and mathematics lyceum

Maksim Pratusevich is the director of the Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No. 239, located in St. Petersburg.

Location: The "Rebuilding the School" podcast, published by EdDesign Mag magazine.

The topic of discussion concerns how students capable of achieving success in international school Olympiads are identified and trained.

Most episodes of the "Rebuilding the School" podcast, which deal with the student selection process, focus on private educational institutions. These schools have considerable freedom in their admissions methods, and pre-admission interviews typically focus more on parents than on the children themselves.

The situation at Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No. 239 is somewhat different, as it is a state-run educational institution that ranks among the leading institutions in Russia—specifically, it ranks seventh in the school rankings based on competitiveness. However, the selection process is not limited to entrance examinations in various subjects. In the episode, Maxim Pratusevich notes that the Lyceum's teachers always try to find out what educational conditions the candidate had at their previous school. If, for example, a student did not take advantage of all available opportunities, such as participating in Olympiad Mathematics clubs, this may indicate that admission to the Lyceum is not as important to them.

The Lyceum's director believes that the student selection process is not key, as predetermined criteria cannot accurately predict a child's academic performance. A far more important aspect is the educational system. In this episode, Maxim Pratusevich shares a brief outline of the core principles of Lyceum No. 239, including its strict rules for transfer exams and its performance assessment system.

Read also:

When the country needs engineers, families and their children must be prepared to accept it circumstance.

Prospects and transformations of modern private educational institutions

Alexandra Manukyan holds the position of director of the European Gymnasium.

In a podcast called "Hey, Yo!"

In recent years, educational institutions have undergone significant changes, adapting to the new demands of society and technology. Modern schools are becoming more flexible and focused on the needs of students, introducing innovative teaching methods and digital resources. This allows not only to improve the quality of education but also to make it more accessible.

Technology plays a key role in this transformation. The use of interactive platforms, online courses, and virtual reality opens new horizons for students, allowing them to study material in a format convenient for them. Furthermore, an emphasis on an individual approach to each student promotes deeper understanding and knowledge acquisition.

However, despite these positive changes, the future of schools also faces a number of challenges. The need to constantly adapt to rapidly changing conditions and demands of the labor market can pose a serious challenge for the educational system. It is also important to consider that not all regions have equal access to modern technology, which can lead to widening inequality.

Thus, schools today find themselves at the intersection of traditional educational practices and new technologies, which creates unique opportunities but also requires a careful approach to emerging issues. Going forward, we can expect this dynamic to continue, with educational institutions striving to harmoniously combine innovation with traditional teaching methods.

This episode of the podcast about sneaker culture can be considered quite original: the director of a private school is present in the studio. The conversation begins with a discussion of dress code, which interests both the host and his interviewee. For example, the European Gymnasium doesn't have a mandatory uniform, but it does have a limited list of strict prohibitions.

The podcast also touches on topics and circumstances that were once considered the norm in the general education system but are now gradually disappearing. For example, Alexandra Manukyan expresses the opinion that the accumulation of purely factual knowledge is losing its significance. Turning to the future, she emphasizes the importance of cross-curricular skills and the need to integrate educational institutions into the urban environment. This will allow children and teenagers to get the opportunity to try themselves in various fields long before they decide on their choice of profession.

Read also:

Prospects for the educational sphere: experts' opinions on the future.

The Role of Methodologists and Methodologists in the Infobusiness: Are Specialists Necessary?

The methodologist is Alexandra Goreva-Kurtysheva.

The podcast by Sasha Mitroshina, a blogger and course developer, is called "Mother of the Blog."

The question is whether a methodologist can turn information products into effective tools.

This podcast episode focuses on the invited guest's personal experience, which covers business training, online education, and other aspects, including her participation in the "Smart and Smart" program and entering university with a friend. The discussion of topics related to online education and the infobusiness begins at the 47th minute. Therefore, this episode does not provide clear instructions for infobusinessmen on how to integrate methodological approaches into their information products. However, as Sasha Osipova, educational project manager, noted on her Telegram channel, this interview highlights the growing interest of infopreneurs in methodological expertise, which could lead to increased demand for methodologists in the future.

The host and her interviewee also touch on the possibility of extracting value from a low-quality educational product, discussing whether low-quality courses can gain sustainable popularity, and what simple metrics should be used to evaluate training effectiveness. Numerous examples are given illustrating how carefully thought-out approaches can help at various stages of both the development and sales of both entire courses and individual webinars.

Read also:

"Infobusiness is a method that allows you to significantly increase the level of knowledge among a wide audience."

Does the infobusiness audience have difficulty critically perceiving information?

The author of the "Kritmysh" podcast is Alexander Golovin.

In the "On the Other Side" podcast.

Critical thinking requires us to distinguish important aspects of information and separate facts from opinions. Key elements of this process include asking the right questions, analyzing sources, and evaluating arguments. Critical thinking goes beyond simply evaluating data; it also involves seeing situations from different perspectives, understanding context, and identifying biases. It's also important to be aware of your own beliefs and limitations to avoid distorting your perceptions. Ultimately, critical thinking requires being open to new ideas and willing to reconsider your views based on new information.

In each episode of this podcast, the host and a guest expert explore a provocative thesis regarding marketing in general and the information business in particular. The new episode will focus on the cognitive errors and perceptual distortions of people who purchase information products in the hopes of finding a "magic bullet" that will solve all their problems.

Podcast guest Alexander Golovin argues that the idea that information product consumers are lazy and lack critical thinking is clearly exaggerated. According to him, many clients who turn to information entrepreneurs strive not only for "successful success" but also for the opportunity to become part of a specific community. Moreover, the belief in the existence of "magic pills" is actively supported by infopreneurs themselves, who structure their communications to convey the idea that the most important professional or personal secrets to success can be simply acquired.

Alexander also shares his opinion on cognitive biases, arguing that they are not simply errors in thinking, but an integral characteristic of it. He emphasizes that certain personality traits and behavioral styles contribute to critical thinking. Interestingly, he cites self-confidence as one of the key factors in his development—the ability to boldly seek your own answers instead of relying on existing ones.

Read also:

What is the boundary between educational technologies and infobusiness? Is the infobusiness inherently scammy?

Strategies for Creating Effective Microlearning for Organizations

Maryna Voytovich is the Product Director of True Education.

Location: on the Talent Rocks podcast called "Courses, Rock, and T&D."

The theme is that microlearning shouldn't be viewed simply as a learning format, but rather as an approach that requires careful design. Creating effective microlearning requires a thoughtful approach and an understanding of its essence. It's not just a set of short lessons, but a system that offers targeted and contextually relevant training that helps you absorb knowledge in a short time. Key aspects include the structure of the content and its delivery methods, which must be adapted to the specific needs of learners.

This podcast participant is convinced that the key aspect of microlearning is its transition from a trend to a sustainable practice. This method has become a clear and popular solution, allowing for the development of training materials focused on the specific practical tasks of learners. This approach is especially relevant in corporate training. On the one hand, employees can more easily allocate time to short videos or text materials than to lengthy lectures. On the other hand, microformats fit seamlessly into the learning process that takes place in the workplace.

Marina Voytovich highlights, among other advantages, microlearning's ability to effectively hold students' attention thanks to the structure of the material broken down into small chunks. Furthermore, this method allows for the integration of user-generated content and memes. If you are interested in examples, advantages, disadvantages and possible risks of using such components in the educational process, we recommend checking out the podcast.

Read also:

What is the role of humor in serious educational courses? And how can you use jokes to be appropriate and effective?

Strategies for Effective Professional Development for Teachers of Languages ​​and Other Disciplines

By English teachers Anna Boyko and Nadezhda Popova.

On the "Teacher.FM" podcast.

The discussion focuses on the options available to private tutors for acquiring new knowledge and skills, as well as ways to derive practical benefits from this.

The podcast hosts emphasize that developing a teacher's professional skills is not limited to simply attending courses and obtaining certificates. In the current episode, they examine in detail five levels of teacher growth—from independent study of existing materials to participation in professional conferences and publications in scientific journals. Anna and Nadezhda share their personal experiences at every stage: how to correctly formulate methodological goals, how to facilitate the process of implementing innovations in daily work, and how to remain an active member of the professional community, even if you are engaged in private online teaching. All the recommendations and examples presented are primarily based on English language teaching, but many of them can be applied to other fields as well.

Read also:

Review of non-standard Master's degree programs in pedagogy.