Technology has been a major force for transformation in various sectors, and this is no different when it comes to urban mobility and retail, for example. Innovative solutions have completely changed the way these sectors operate, creating a true disruption in the market.

In urban mobility, apps like Uber and 99 have revolutionized the way people get around in cities, making transportation more efficient and accessible. In the delivery sector, Loggi, Lalamove, and naPorta—each specializing in specific areas, such as deliveries to hard-to-reach areas in the case of naPorta—have changed how we receive items at home. In retail, Amazon has brought the convenience of online shopping and record-time delivery, forcing many brick-and-mortar stores to reinvent themselves to keep pace with the market.

But what can these changes teach us about education? How can we apply these same methods of disruptive innovation in educational institutions?

The first lesson we can learn is that innovation doesn’t happen overnight. We need to identify the real and relevant problems facing the institution where we work or the sector as a whole, as well as study and understand the trends and solutions available in the market. Based on that, it’s possible to create truly innovative solutions that can disrupt the education market.

And it is important to work collaboratively with different stakeholders in the educational ecosystem—such as administrators, educators, students, and families—because the implementation of any innovation will be more effective and less painful if there is a concerted effort involving shared ideas and actions.

Another crucial point is the need for constant experimentation and adaptation, much like what happens with startups that view the constant changes in the market as something normal. This approach allows us to stay up to date so we can test new solutions and adapt what doesn’t work.

In practice, when dealing with problems in the education sector, you can use a variety of tools—which I list below—but always start by identifying a problem that causes harm (emotional, relational, financial, operational, etc.) to a significant number of people or companies.

After that, interview some of these people to find out if this is true for them, what kind of pain and how severe it is that this problem causes, and, above all, how they deal with and resolve this problem today.

With this clearer understanding of the problem, tools like the ones listed below will help you design and validate the solutions you come up with:

Design thinking: This approach focuses on the user and their experience. It allows us to understand the needs and desires of students, teachers, and other stakeholders in education in order to create solutions that meet those needs;

Value Proposition Canvas: This tool helps define the value proposition of a product or service—that is, what it offers and how it stands out from the competition. In an educational context, it can be used to create solutions that meet the specific needs of students, teachers, and administrators, for example;

Business Model Canvas: This tool helps map out the key activities and resources involved in a business or project. It allows you to visualize the project’s structure and identify areas for improvement.

These are just a few of the tools that can be used to generate innovative solutions in education. It is essential to remember that innovation is an ongoing process and that each situation requires a specific approach. The most important thing is to be open to experimenting with and testing new ideas and solutions, always in collaboration with the various stakeholders in the educational ecosystem.

Finally, it is important to remember that innovation does not necessarily have to be technological. Often, simple and creative solutions can bring about major changes. The key is to have an innovative mindset and always be willing to seek new ways to solve educational problems.

Reference books: *Business Model Generation: Innovation in Business Models*, by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur; *The Lean Startup: How Continuous Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses*, byEric Ryes; *Design Thinking: A Powerful Methodology to Put an End to Old Ideas*, by Tim Brown.

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