TEDxManhattanBeach - David Dwyer - Hybrid High: 24/7 School To Improve Graduation Rates

Talk title: Hybrid High -- 24/7 school to improve graduation rates
Over 7000 kids drop out of high school every day in America. It's a tragedy with profound consequences for the lives of these young people and for the nation, in economic and health terms and in pure loss of human potential. The industrial age organization of schools fails these students - 34% drop out because of simple scheduling conflicts, often to care for a family member or to work. What if schools fit children rather than forcing children to fit schools? The University of Southern California's Hybrid High offers technology-rich, flexible education for these kids. It's called hybrid because the school addresses both social-emotional and academic growth. It's an idea that changing the game for high-risk students.
David Dwyer is the first holder of the newly endowed Katzman-Ernst Chair in Educational Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation at the University of Southern California. He was most recently Cofounder and COO at KD Learning, where he developed an imaginative virtual world for children 6-12 years of age, providing them an opportunity to interact, master numerous games, and engage in creative and altruistic activities. From 2000 to 2002 he was Director of Education Technologies at Apple Computer. As an Apple Distinguished Scientist, he has collaborated with leading research institutions to demonstrate technical innovations in education settings, and advised education policy leaders.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxManhattanBeach, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxManhattanBeach event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.