Part 1. Vocabulary
encountered /inˈkoun(t)ər,enˈkoun(t)ər/
v
- unexpectedly experience or be
faced with (something difficult or hostile)
We
have encountered one small problem during the wedding.
unprecedented /ˌənˈpresədən(t)əd/
adj
-
never done or known before
The
opening of the Olympics was unprecedented.
adaptability /əˌdaptəˈbilədē/
n
-
the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions
Adaptability
is an advantage in the competitive global economy.
collaboration /kəˌlabəˈrāSH(ə)n/
n
- the action of working with
someone to produce or create something
He wrote a
song in collaboration with Ed Sheeran.
rigorous /ˈriɡ(ə)rəs/
adj
-
extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate.
There is a rigorous testing to be done for the vaccines.
Part 2. Comprehension Questions
1.
What is one of the main challenges brought by
the pandemic in the field of education?
2.
What companies were able to adapt to the needs
of education?
3.
What are the factors that will help companies
adapt to unexpected changes?
4.
How can a company promote a culture of
innovation?
5.
Why must the company be rigorous with research?
Part 3. Article
Just over a year ago, we encountered
a new reality: governments in many parts of the world announced national
quarantines and with it, the closure of schools, universities, and other
educational centers.
One of the main challenges that
the pandemic brought was for these institutions and their educators, who had to
find a quick way to be able to continue classes remotely. It was also for
parents who require care and assistance for their children in this learning
process.
For the educational technology
industry, known as edtech (education technology), this change represented an unprecedented
challenge and a unique opportunity to test its ability to innovate in scenarios
that are constantly changing and where predicting the future is no guarantee.
Since before the pandemic reached
us, the size of the crisis was already drawing, with lockdowns announced first
in Asia and eventually in the rest of the world, however, not all organizations
saw the signs to adopt measures that could reduce possible damage.
Some companies were quick to
adapt with obvious winners like Zoom, Google Classroom, and Microsoft Teams.
However, some other players managed to adapt their products and provide support
to parents and teachers who needed it urgently, both in basic education where
preparation was uneven and there was a marked difference between public and
private schools, and in large university centers.
More than a year away, it is
worth asking: how can educational technology companies innovate quickly to
adapt to such a sudden change and do so successfully?
The following are factors that
help your company to be in a position of rapid adaptability,
that is, to be ready to solve new and unexpected problems:
1. Promote a culture of
innovation. A declared and practiced innovative philosophy, where there is
constant feedback from users and an analysis of the needs and problems they are
expressing.
2. Let your employees fail. Many
companies say they are innovative, but it is a good time to ask yourself: do
you let your collaborators do experiments? Are you willing to accept that most
of your attempts are going to fail? Do you provide "psychological
security" or a genuine environment where failure is part of your day-to-day?
3. Collaboration. A frank
understanding that the efforts of every team in your organization go together
to primarily benefit your user and no one else.
4. Practice and discipline. Be rigorous
with user research, conducting experiments, and analyzing results, so that they
generate relevant knowledge for the company.
Source: By Roxana Rojas
See Full Article https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/381754