10 ways we can transform the classroom final

10 Ways We Can Re-Imagine the Classroom

Most of what we do is defined by the needs of a system that was designed a century ago, and is reinforced by our own level of comfort with conflict and change. It is rarely

defined by the needs of the individual learner.

If educators want to stop being blamed for the failures of a system that they didn’t design, they need to design the system

they are willing to defend because it benefits learners.

10 Ways We Can Re-Imagine the Classroom

  #1  Transform  the  role  of  the  teacher  from  Content  Provider  to  Learning  Sherpa,  Literacy  Swami,  Exploration  Coach,  Lead  Learner.

Basically...• Be Less Helpful.

• Outsource content creation to the world.

• Teach kids to find, evaluate and use information wisely.

• If they aren’t accusing you of not wanting to teach, you’re doing it wrong.

   #2  Transform  the  role  of  the  student  from  Content  Sponge  to  Content  Creator.

• The one’s doing the work are the one’s doing the learning.

• “Knowing” is only one skill among many.

• The ability to use knowledge is greater than the ability to retain it.

 #3  Transform  the  act  of  learning  from  Solitary  and  Independent  to  Collaborative  and  Social.

Basically...• It’s not cheating, it’s collaboration.

• Forced to choose between socializing and “learning” I’ll choose socializing, but this is a false choice.

• What I think I know is refined and transformed through other people’s lenses.

• What it is possible for me to know is increased based on the size of my personal learning network.

   #4  Transform  the  classroom  from  “Set  in  Time  and  Space”  to  “Anywhere,  Anytime.”

Because...• What students learn outside of school has

value, and they deserve to see us value their learning.

• Technology has created a world in which arbitrary boundaries to when and where it’s appropriate to learn seem weird.

• Learning isn’t a place, it’s an act.

• If I’m a learning deputy, I want a big ol’ jurisdiction!

   #5  Transform  the  focus  of  classes    from  Content-­‐Memorization  to  Skills-­‐Development.

Basically...• It doesn’t matter if I know who Romeo and

Juliet are. It matters that I can read complex texts and understand them.

• It doesn’t matter if I know what the transitive property is. It matters that I can solve real problems using logic.

• It doesn’t matter if I know the dates of America’s wars. It matters that I can think critically about what is worth fighting for.

   #6  Transform  the  nature  of  the  curriculum  from  Segmented  to  Integrated.

   #7  Transform  the  nature  of  classroom  content  from  Standardized  to  Individualized.

We do this by taking every opportunity to...

• Let students choose the content they study.

• Let students choose the talents they develop.

• Let students choose the methods by which they learn.

• Let students choose the means by which they demonstrate their learning.

   #8  Transform  educational  resources  from  limited,  standardized,  and  driving  the  curriculum  to  limitless,  individualized  and  supporting  the  process  of  learning.  

• Every turned off device is a turned off child.

• Every tool is neutral and can be used poorly or well.

• The larger the toolbox, the greater the possibilities.

• The task should determine the tool, not the tool the task.

   #9  Transform  the  focus  of  education  from  Product  to  Process.

Because...• We can’t measure all that we learn.

• What we tend to measure is limited in scope and value.

• We learn through continuous acts of risk-taking towards organic goals that become refined as we refine our learning.

• Learning is not a checklist, it’s a canvas.

   #10  Transform  the  perception  of  school  from  Meaningless  Work  to  Purposeful  Fun.

Build Playgrounds

What are the Qualities of a Playground?

Stimulus-Rich Environment

Universal Design

Self-Directed Discovery

What are the Qualities of a Playground?

Safe and Clearly Defined Space

Room for Personal Toys

Socially Enhanced

What are the Qualities of a Playground?

Built for Creativity

Active

FUN!