China Banks Told to Stop Lending to American Banks

China tells its banks to stop lending to American banks for now.

I had earlier written on another blog that China's Central Bank was suffering from a potential lending crisis.

Five Answers: Sandy Fivecoat

Today marks the first day we run one of the features that will be a regular appearance on this blog. In the feature, which will run from now until March 2009, we ask an industry professional who is speaking at the Education Industry Investment Forum 2009 five questions about his or her career and industry views. Then, we sit back and enjoy.

We are pleased to announce that some of our first speakers are coming on board.

Sandy Fivecoat, Founder and Ceo of WeAreTeachers, a web-based "knowledge marketplace" for teachers, joins us to explain her company, its vision and what she sees as factors that will shape the industry momentum in the next five years.

EIIF: What does your company do?

WeAreTeachers is the first teacher-driven knowledge marketplace that provides its users and affiliates with web-based tools and a community platform to support teachers of all types as they endeavor to transfer skills and knowledge to others.

WeAreTeachers is an aggregator of stakeholders in the Knowledge Marketplace – providing an online environment for knowledge-oriented companies, associations, and practitioners, and supporting innovation and positive outcomes for each.

EIIF: Where do you imagine your company will be situated in the industry in the next five years?

I think the more relevant question is: ‘Where will the Knowledge Industry’ be in 5 years?

As the global economy becomes dependent on knowledge transfer for survival and growth, we are just at the edge of a big change in what we have traditionally called ‘learning.’

As the growth of online and alternative schooling indicates, traditional Carnegie-unit driven curriculum is only one way to organize schooling. And given failures of traditional schools in meeting the needs of larger and larger segments of the population (especially in high schools), we must explore options.

Second, the students in today’s world are seeking access to information and learning when they need it, versus when a scope and sequence demands it. This is leading to smaller units of learning, versus big lofty curriculum products. Finally, ‘mere mortals’ --even TEACHERS – can now create learning content and are finding ways to distribute or even sell their expertise online.

EIIF: What has been the impact of your particular mission critical work on the industry, either as a whole, or in areas where you have focused?

We are really getting traction with those companies in the knowledge and education space, as they seek to partner with us to begin to realize the promise of social media marketing and direct connection to teachers. It’s been very satisfying and humbling to aggregate so many companies, place them in a rich community of teachers, and help them engage in peer to peer dialogue with these end users.

EIIF: What has been the most powerful influence on your choice to work in education?

As a former teacher and education administrator, I have spent my entire adult career either working directly in education, or working in the private sector helping education systems improve. At this point in my life, I am committed to focusing on TEACHERS – banking on a grass roots, viral, on-line empowerment effort as our best promise for real reform. I am also motivated by the huge number of non-traditional teachers who add value to our culture.

As our population ages, it is clear that lifelong learning in areas like music, yoga, fitness, the arts – are at least as important areas of study as traditional academics.

Finally, I’m motivated by the number and vision of very small entrepreneurial companies who want to make a difference, and need our help to get the good word out!

EIIF: Who in the education industry do you most admire and why do you admire them?

Two answers:

In the education software industry, John Kernan (Lightspan, Jostens, among lots of other things) clearly taught me the most about this industry.

My 8 children and 11 grandchildren, who inspire me daily to keep my focus on education, teachers, and learning!

Visit the EIIF website to register your interest for the 2009 brochure and to review the 2008 event.

Edutopia Reveals Ten Wave of Future Concepts in Education

The blog article is at the Edutopia site.

Capella University Sees Revenue and Student Enrollment Rise

Capella CEO Steve Shank

The rise of internet use in America from the late 90s to the present day has meant more people are using the Internet for learning. The trend is set to continue. It has meant great things for Steven Shank, CEO of Capella Education, which runs Capella University, an online degree institution.

Minneapolis-based Capella University, which operates under its parent company, Capella Education Co., continues to see its enrollment increase -- along with its revenue and operating earnings. Capella, which focuses primarily on adult students seeking advanced degrees, has seen its enrollment and revenue grow by 20 to 25 percent per year in recent years.

But online growth in China, Vietnam, Singapore, India and many other countries in Asia outpaces American growth and there are also many more people who could potentially use Internet products and services in the Eastern Hemisphere.

As a thought exercise, would it be useful to think what online universities in the United States could be doing to expand their operations in partnerships with governments and commercial institutions in Asia?

The online growth is staggering there, as more fiber to the home and last-mile digital connections pair up consumers with not only Internet access, but multitudes of digital cable and interactive cable offerings.

For now Capella is concentrating on offering the staff of Fortune 500 companies classes through incentive structures at their companies. This is a brilliant move, because in an economic downturn most people will not want to leave their job, but they would be willing to pay more to educate themselves and boost their chances for promotions.

Story about Capella University, courtesy of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

The Education Industry Investment Forum is in Research Mode

I'm Doug Crets, your conference director for the 11th Annual Education Industry Investment Forum, to be held again in 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona.

You can look forward to constant updates on this site, as well as interviews, trends pieces and, when the conference starts in March 2009, a live blogging from the Biltmore Resort & Spa, the home of the Education Industry Investment Forum, March 9-11.

Join us on this blog. Leave your comments and tell me what you would like to see here. You can write me emails at dcrets [at] iirusa dot com.

I want to hear from you. You know better than I do the trends that move investment in post secondary and K-12 private education. And you know the up and coming services and innovation companies that are changing the industry, from publishing to content management and campus management.