District Administration - May 2006 - (Page 47)

a box, an independent study project. sent i ng information, which a lot of be part of the school system. If we Students will have to work from a syl- them are not, then I think what we think of an umbrella system, where labus and create an assignment that can have more of are those who home schooling, charter schools, online will match the curriculum and their are good at creating trust, who can learning, service learning, school-to- learning style and interests. The two intervene, who know developmental work learning, and apprentices are all key words about future learning is issues. There should be a constel- part of one system then I think we'd engagement and ownership. lat ion of resources. I think students have a much more exciting, real and won't always be in the classroom, that effective way of educating. Q: In many ways, you advocate a school should be four days a week. This system we have now was return to the classical system formed just after the industrial revolu- Q: You suggest children can rely of education the Socratic Method tion to create order, to go to work in more on computer-based edu- and even the one-room school house. factories and punch a time clock. We A: cation and independent work. designed the system around these I'm one of few people who went A: values, desks in a row, bells that ring to school in a one-room school Let's take that one class as an every 45 minutes. But it is not appro- house. When I needed something, I'd experiment pointing to a new priate for the world we live in now. go to another student. It was amaz- way of thinking. How good a class i ng how collaborative these kids can we create in a box, with a CD- Q: W hat kind of reaction are you were. Bringing in an element of col- ROM ? You can have the best teachers getting from the book? leg ia l participation is very important. talking about history, with re-enact- A: Learning is a conjoined, convivial, ment s about different parts of history When I started to write it I cooperative kind of experience. It's from The History Channel, then thought the allies would be dis- people working together, asking each a game or two created by George gruntled parents who knew there was other questions. Lucas involving history, an interac- something wrong with the system. I There are two fundamental things t ive design. If you start thinking thought teachers would dig in their about learning one has to recognize. about what you can create from $100 heels, resist what I had to say. But it The first is learning is nomadic, and million, you can create a doggone turned out to be the opposite. Parents the second is it is fueled by curiosity. good course that's a heck of a lot bet- say here at our schools things are pretty You are out in the world, something ter than teachers we've forgotten. good. Teachers have a much better idea interests you and you figure out a way of what is wrong, they just don't want Q: W hat will this classroom of of how to find out more about what to talk about it. They have good reason the future look like? triggered your interest. Those two not to. If they stick their head out too A: components of learning are key to a far it will get chopped off. They are in a I don't think anybody, includ- new design and neither is very much system that is pretty entrenched. i ng me, really knows how that recognized in the system we have now. looks. The fi rst thing we can say is Q: Do you think anybody is listen- that students will be working on proj- Q: In some ways, your ideas ing to you? ec t s of their own selection with teach- A: match those who home school ers as facilitators. Independent learn- I like that question. I'd have to their children, who focus on a hands- i ng will be encouraged and rewarded say yes and no. I really have a on curriculum and individualized early on. Students will be taking a simple message. It actually seems to learning. lot of courses, a course online or in resonate with conservatives who talk A: about privatization, which I think is Home schoolers tend to gener- a bad idea. My central message is the ally like what I say. The current system isn't broken, it's obsolete and design asks students to learn the same we need to redesign it. All this talk things at the same time in the same about repair, that's rearranging deck way for the same reason. People say chairs. A lot of people are thinking this is orderly, but it doesn't work. I this way, but are not talking about it. think home schoolers teach us some- We can't compete on labor anymore, thing very important. I`m profoundly only on being smarter and I can't moved and impressed at how educated think of a better way than to rede- and interested in learning these home sig n education. DA schooled kids are. I'm thinking of how we can give home schooled children more support. Home schooling should Fran Silverman is a contributing editor. May 2006 47 www.DistrictAdministration.com qanda.w.indd 47 4/14/06 11:00:22 AM http://www.DistrictAdministration.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - May 2006

Contents
Editor's Letter
Listening In
Update
Inside the Law
Curriculum Update
Administrator Profile
District Profile
Sports & Civics
Q&A: Lessons for Tomorrow
Cover Story: Special Ed's Greatest Challenges and Solutions
Dome Sweet Dome
Smart Design
Rotten Apples
The Online Edge
Speaking Out
Principal Opinion
Public Opinion
Problem/Solution
Leadership Books
Laptop Roundup
New Products
By the Numbers

District Administration - May 2006