Integrating with the Community (ShiftEd21 #12)

As we note in Shift Ed, schools more often than not are isolated structures that stand apart from the community. They sit empty most evenings and weekends, and don’t allow for much interactions between kids and the communities in which they live. A number of groups are trying to change that by promoting schools that – as the Coalition for Community Schools Web site puts it – “are centers of the community and are open to everyone – all day, every day, evenings and weekends.” We encourage you to visit the coalition’s site and explore the links to community schools across the country.

Not Your Forefather’s Economy – Sir Ken Robinson on EdTech Live

Sir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk on creativity in education has been viewed millions of time, and he has recently come out with a significantly revised version of his bestseller Out of Our Minds: Learning to Be Creative. In a recent episode of the EdTech Live podcast, Steve Hargadon interviews Sir Ken about the book as well as his broader perspectives on learning and education. Here’s one quote – among many – that jumped out at me:

The economic circumstances we are currently facing are completely different from those that trained the original design of our current education systems. (@29:25 in the recording)

Amen. We argue along similar lines in Shift Ed (and like Sir Ken, are hardly among the first to do so). Sir Ken then goes on to lay out a brief philosophy of education. The substance of the interview runs around 40 minutes (starting about 5 minutes into the recording) before audience questions, and is well worth the time it takes.

Jeff

Outside the Box (ShiftEd21: #11)

For this latest installment of the Shift Ed 21, I’d like to touch on a major theme of Shift Ed – that schools need to be designed in ways that better facilitate learning, creativity, and integration with communities. Seeing is believing on this one, so I encourage you to visit the interactive map maintained by [Read Full Post]

Carpe Diem! Siezing the Day at CDCHS in Yuma

This video David came across provides a nice overview of how Carpe Diem Collegiate High School and Middle School in Yuma, AZ is taking a different approach to education. It’s well worth the roughly 9 minutes it takes to watch it (click through if you are receiving this by e-mail and don’t see the video). [Read Full Post]

Learning and the Brain (ShiftEd21: #10)

John Medina writes in Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School that Our schools are designed so that most real learning has to occur at home. This would be funny if it weren’t so harmful. Blame it on the fact that brain scientists rarely have a conversation with teachers [Read Full Post]

Rethinking the Calendar (ShiftEd21: #9)

While research about the real impact of year-round schooling – and potentially adding days to the calendar – is still somewhat limited and often contradictory, the idea has gained a lot of momentum over the past several years. Notably, President Obama is among its vocal advocates. In Shift Ed, we argue in favor of year-round [Read Full Post]