Agile Is Everywhere

Not too long ago, I was visiting a college with my daughter (college choosing time).  We happened to sit in on a class that practiced the "Flipped Classroom Methodology".  (I didn't know that at first, until the professor sat with the prospective students/parents and discussed it).  The idea of this style is that he students do "homework" in class, when the professor is available - and do the research/preparation in the dorms, ahead of class.

What does this have to do with Agile? Well, let me explain the characteristics of the class.

1) Students are given the entire list of required reading, video viewing, practice exercises, pre-recorded lectures, even homework for the entire term at the beginning of the term. (sound like a product backlog?)

2) They are given dates when the homework is "due" and when tests are. But they can proceed at any pace they desire outside of the classroom (sound like self-directing, highly motivated team members, pulling from the backlog instead of waiting for a push?)

3) Then IN the actual classroom, the professor gives a very brief lecture, or a synopsis, and then says "Ok - work on today's homework". (sound sort of like starting a new sprint?)

4) The teams, without being told, form small groups and work on the "homework" on a white board, paper, laptops - as a team, each member brainstorming out loud, sharing (sound like self-organizing team, collaboration?)

During this collaboration time, the professor sat down and explained this classroom concept to us - and as part of the discussion, I said, "This sounds a lot like the Agile Framework" and before I could explain WHY I saw the similarities - the professor said "Exactly - Agile is what this concept is based upon."

So, for those who might think "Agile is a passing phase" or "Agile is just the current industry buzzword". I think it's safe to say - it will be here a long time, and is being applied in all sorts of different areas - and with success. 

Agile itself has proven it can be agile – created with software development in mind, its concepts translate quite well into teaching, and probably other disciplines as well.