Education 2.0

Adolescence is an Opportunity

Great video from another 21st century learning organization, Born to Learn.

What if schools could teach through play? If adolescents could learn through doing things and creating things, rather than sitting in rows of desks?

From the minute my oldest child started kindergarten, it seemed so obvious to me that the model of age-based, teacher-led classrooms was outmoded. Why should kids sit quietly in neat rows? My son once observed that the biggest thing he learned in kindergarten was how to walk in lines. Huh.

My 14-year old daughter had a great opportunity to volunteer at a local children’s museum this summer. She learned more about herself, about child development, confidence and potential life skills than she’d ever learn in a regular classroom. Why can’t more opportunities like this exist?

Matt Damon Talks

This is hitting the rounds, but had share it here, too.

Matt Damon supports teachers!

His mom talks about the support Matt and his brother had for creativity at school. Where would they be today, had they been in a standardized testing environment?

I think I might follow his mom’s lead: refuse to let my kids talk standardized tests. It probably wouldn’t have an impact, but someone has to stand up.

Matt’s talk on YouTube

#140edu

Interesting conference August 2-3 in New York — “#140edu: Exploring the State of Education Now.” The purpose of the conference is to “look at the underlying effects the real-time web is having on Education.”

I’m watching the livestream  now — conversations with teachers, administrators and others about moving education forward.  At first, I was a little bored because I’m hearing the same things I’ve been hearing about moving education forward: the factory model is outdated, we need to integrate technology, teach the 4cs (Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication), etc.

Then, I realized I should be thrilled! This means the conversation is broadening and is becoming more common – this is good. I found out another high school in our area is going to a 1:1 with iPads. Another district is experimenting with iPads for special education.

Communication Tool

Just listened to a disturbing, but essential talk from a man who is a New Jersey school board leader, and a former first responder. His point about the schools and students using now common communication tools was poignant. He discussed what happens with a shooter in the schools – very difficult to listen to, but important, and definitely applicable to less dire situations. How would the school let a parent know? How would the students get information out? What if students are required to leave their phones in their lockers?

Hopefully we never encounter a situation like this, but the lessons and concepts are the same.

21st Century Teacher

Ran across this list of signs you’re a 21st Century Teacher — love them.  Here are my favorites: (21 Signs You’re a 21st Century Teacher for the full list.)

7. You ask your students to do a character/historical person study…and they create mock social media profiles of their character.

14. You visit the Louvre with your students…and don’t spend a dime.

15. You teach your students not to be bullies…or cyberbullies.

16. You make your students turn in their cell phones before class starts…because you plan on using them in class.

How can you not love these?

Let’s just deal with one in this post:

The argument is often heard that you can’t use cell phones in school because there might be bullying/harrassment. I think we’ve moved well beyond this argument, and it is time for the schools to step up to the plate and teach responsible use of technology. Yup, it must be taught at home, but it HAS to be taught in schools as well.

At our house, we have firm rules about appropriate use of technology tools. Parents have passwords to all social media, email, etc. Texting and phone use is only allowed when appropriate, etc. etc. We certainly talk about how to use technology appropriately in other settings, but the use of mobile in a school setting has such a strong NO connotation to my kids that they won’t have the chance to make mistakes and learn until they are in settings with far greater consequences than a 5th grade classroom with loving, caring guiding adults.

Transformation

“How dare anyone think you can transform a child if you are unwilling to transform yourself.”
–Chris Lehmann

More from Chris Lehmann, but why not?

This statement strikes me as key. As I’ve spent the last six months talking to teachers, administrators, etc., and have spent the last 9 years observing at my kids’ schools, it is amazing how much stays the same in education. Yes, they teach math somewhat differently (this spiral concept), yet it’s still MATH and still taught, for the most part, out of context of real life. Spelling tests — the same as when I was a kid. Subjects are largely taught in a silo, removed from each other.

One principal I spoke with is working hard to change things up. She said very clearly that the classroom shouldn’t look exactly like it did when she was a kid, and that’s what she still sees.

The transformation is difficult, of course. How do we break out of the mold of how we were taught? How do we recreate classrooms in an era of greatly reduced budgets, of incredible pressure from a faction of politicians who want TEST results?

I don’t have the answers, except to relate how I feel I’ve transformed: I’ve watched the kids. I’ve watched my kids, kids in their classes, and examples I can see from people like Chris Lehmann. We need to listen to the kids – it’s about them, it’s not about the adults.