Educational Ecosystems: A Trend in Urban Educational Innovation
There is an increasing reliance on market principles and values in the education space, particularly in urban contexts, accompanied by a growing diversification of educational service providers. Due in part to increased interactivity amongst constituents in this growing assembly of providers and actors, educational innovation ecosystem arrangements have emerged across urban centers. In this article, we present and define the concept of educational innovation ecosystems: The concept is discussed generally as a product of an increased market emphasis in the education sector and more specifically as a product of public private partnerships. The concept is further exemplified through case examples that offer a perspective on how such arrangements can be of benefit in urban education environments. The article opens with an example of how market logic has been operationalized in some urban centers through a diversification model for providing schooling services. Next, we discuss and provide case examples of educational innovation ecosystems. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of how education technology, as an outgrowth of public private activity and collaboration, is being designed for pedagogical application in schools.