Keys Without the Test

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KEYS WITHOUT THE TEST VIDEO SERIES

The Keys Without the Test - Intro

For What World Was Our System Created

Our education system is not broken. It's the wrong system for 2026. Your driver's license tells us all we need to know.

1894 - The System is 130+ Years Old

Our current education system was designed for a world that no longer exists. Absolutely nothing in our society is the same. Everything is different.

Where's The Return on Investment (ROI)?

For decades the system did well and had a high Return on Investment (ROI). Today, not so much.

What's Important in 2026?

Nothing in our society is the same as it was in 1894. NOTHING. Yet we still measure learning and hold learners accountability for a system designed in 1894.

AI As A Telescope

Everyone wants to talk about AI. How good it is. How bad it is. In the end, humans still need to decide what problems to solve and how to use AI to build a better future.

What's Our Value Proposition As Humans

Humans gain nothing trying to compete with AI. We will lose every time. OUr value proposition is exactly that, to use the skills we have that are uniquely human to make the world a better place.

Acquisition of Knowledge Isn't What's Important

The world neither needs nor cares WHAT you know. Your phone has all that. The world needs to know how you use the knowledge on your phone and how you will improve the world through your application.

Can They Can Drive?

We are back where we started. We must measure learning based on application of knowledge and our system must recognize that application as the heart of assessment and accountability.

KEYS WITHOUT THE TEST SERVICES

Keynote Speaking

Professional Learning

Our Principal Strategist, David Cook, can create a unique keynote address to your organization using the concepts found in The Keys Without The Test. Each keynote address is customized to support your organization's plan to build a new 21st century system that redefines what teaching, assessment and accountability must look like to fully support your learners in the future.

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Professional Learning

Looking for more of a deep dive into the processes and education policy needed to implement this K-12 education system redesign? Our Principal Strategist, David Cook, is also available to lead breakout, workshop or deep dives with you and your participants that challenge you to make this new learning approach real.

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Podcast Guesting

Professional Learning

Podcast Guesting

Our Principal Strategist, David Cook, has discussed the elements of The Keys Without The Test on many K-12 education posdcasts. As an experienced podcast guest he reaches larger audiences with the message of The Keys Without The Test and is ready to change K-12 education be reaching your audience as well. You may view previous podcasts at our "Who We Are" page.

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ABOUT DAVID

With three decades working with schools, school systems, regional and state agencies and national education organizations David Cook, Principal Strategist at Learning Ecosystems Design, is an expert on what it takes to make change happen in education systems. David is a nationally respected voice in the transformation conversation. He retired in 2024 from the state agency level after 27 years at the Kentucky Department of Education, the last 15 as Director of Innovative Learning. During his tenure he has:

Oversaw a statewide initiative (United We Learn) to shift assessment, accountability and the credentialing of learning from a one size fits all state level approach, to one where communities design Local Accountability Models that measure the competencies found in a Portrait of a Learner/Graduate and provide a public facing dashboard for those local indicators. (2021-2024). This effort eventually resulted in new accountability legislation (HB257-2026).
Directed Kentucky's development of a competency-based education system including the initial efforts in developing a Portrait of a Learner
Co-authored and implemented the first district level innovation zone program in the country, Kentucky's Districts of Innovation Program (2013).
Designed and implemented the longest continuously operating statewide remote learning system in the country, Kentucky's Non-Traditional Instruction Program (2011).
Authored Kentucky's award-winning Education Recovery Program (2010).
Has authored and co-authored numerous pieces of legislation and Kentucky Board of Education administrative regulation.

THE KEYS WITHOUT THE TEST™