Want-to-know vs. need-to-know

There’s a distinction in education that almost no one makes even though it is THE most important factor determining the success or failure of educational innovation.

want-to-know knowledge vs.
need-to-know knowledge

And if you view any educational innovation using this framework, it provides instant clarity on whether it can work.

Want-to-know knowledge consists of subjects that someone has a personal interest in learning, like playing the guitar, speaking Chinese, or knowing Revolutionary War history.

What also defines subjects in the want-to-know realm is that you can go your whole life without ever learning them, and everything will be just fine.

No one is left homeless. No one loses their life savings. No one dies.

Whereas need-to-know knowledge consists of subjects that someone must learn in order to survive above the poverty level, like basic reading, writing, and math skills, financial literacy, and job skills.

What also defines subjects in the need-to-know realm is that people need to achieve proficiency or mastery in them.

you don’t want a heart surgeon who “kinda’ gets it”

And you don’t want a pilot with a “decent” grasp of the basics.

In either area, want or need, there needs to be an engine that drives students over the finish line.

In the want-to-know realm, the person WANTS it. Meaning they have an INTERNAL engine driving them. So, they’ll get themselves there.

And if they don’t? Who cares?

In the need-to-know realm, the person HAS TO have the knowledge. Meaning there’s an external need, not an internal desire, driving the person.

For most humans, internal motivation isn’t enough in these cases. There must be an EXTERNAL engine pushing and pulling them over the finish line. Because people will quit or take shortcuts or cheat when things get hard or boring or confusing.

And you can’t have that. Because they NEED to know this stuff.

So, in the need-to-know realm, you must have meaningful external pressures pushing and pulling them forward whether they feel like it or not.

In other words, you when it comes to need-to-know things:

you must have carrots (engagement) and sticks (accountability)

Now, here’s the power of this framework: you can instantly tell if an innovation even has a chance to succeed.

Oh, your solution is online, asynchronous, and self-paced?

Well, if it allows tone-deaf people to learn to sing, then you’ve got a shot. Go for it. People who want to sing will carry themselves through . . . or they won’t. No big deal.

But if you’re enabling 18-year-olds to master job skills without going to a physical location of some sort?

it will fail

Because 95% of users will quit or take shortcuts or cheat to finish. Because they don’t WANT to learn this. They’re REQUIRED to.

So, for anyone considering building, using, or investing in an EdTech or AltEd solution, the first question should always be, “Is this solution addressing a need-to-know or want-to-know area?”

If it’s a want-to-know solution (i.e., relying heavily on internal motivations to be effective) for a need-to-know problem, you should avoid it like the plague.

Because it will fail.