10 Principles for Schools of Modern Learning: The Urgent Case for Reimagining Today's Schools
by Will Richardson and Bruce Dixon
Talk about a paper that got my brain going... I really dug into this paper when I was travelling to Japan. I had a lot of time to read. But it really got my brain primed for good conversation with the Headmaster of Hokkaido International School, and it got me thinking about new ways to make school better.
|
Considering our new leadership in the US, 2017 is likely to have big changes to education. I am constantly wondering about the impact DeVos/Trump will have on public schools. The work that I have been doing to increase my professional knowledge and research around re-thinking school has led me to writers like George Couros and Brian Aspinall and really cool organizations like 4.0 Schools. But a lot of my changing beliefs in education came after I read Will Richardson's Why School? back in 2013.
I found it refreshing and exciting to read a paper that talked about the need to disrupt the system so kids can start to learn in ways that are meaningful for the new society that we are all living in, working in, and where change is the new normal. I was stirring with new ideas thinking about school being a place in perpetual Beta-test mode! |
This newest writing outlines 10 Principles of Modern Schools:
Principle #1
When thinking about Principle #1, I keep going back to my Instructional Vision and philosophy that is currently on draft 5, I think. I am constantly trying to clarify my vision and beliefs around education. My downside is that until I become a part of a school building again, I feel like this Vision is going to continue to draft over and over and over, waiting for the day when it can become part of a school community and go from draft to iteration and action. I also want to actually plan lessons in a variety of subjects that are aligned to my vision as a way to help me put into practice what I believe is right. It will also help me to refine what I value in a learning environment for students so I can use the same framework for learning with adults.
Principle #2
My core value of Curiosity needs to be more intentional in my Vision. Is making/inspiring Problem Seekers, not just Problem Solvers enough of a connection? Again, this Principle lives in my Vision like Principle #1.
Principle #3
Beyond my core beliefs and Vision, learners need to be able to follow their passions wherever they lead, but also need access to guidance when they are not sure where to go.
Principle #4
I think students can help establish and/or guide Essential Questions and Big ideas. Then use their understanding and learning around those Questions and Ideas as a means of self-assessment and measuring achievement. Having an open curriculum (or no curriculum) is key. Teachers should be working with industry experts to facilitate student learning. This puts students in charge of their learning while the academic (teachers) and industry experts are there to support, guide, and give feedback to move learning forward.
Principle #5
Finding and connecting learning to real-world problems helps students learn to be Problem Seekers, not just Problem Solvers. I really appreciate the learning environments created by NuVu Innovation Studio and The Techbrarian. They inspire my work. they both have students share their work with non-school audiences. These authentic audiences can provide new points of view, they give a reason for vested interest in the "product" being presented, and the varied perspectives are smarter in analyzing the resulting level of success.
Principle #6
Having open, shared learning spaces allows learning to be shared among students of varied grades and ages. They can connect based on interest and common learning goals. That learning can be shared through online reflections and showcase of work using blogs or websites. This will help to create a tribe of followers and reinforces that education and learning should be open-source.
Principle #7
technology can be used by students and teachers (and leaders) to create, ideate, and iterate. The usefulness of the tech is determined by the needs of the user. It should be used to accelerate learning, not only as the focus of the learning. Without technology, we would not be sharing our work globally to authentic audiences and we would not have access to limitless information. We have to teach responsible use of tech and allow the end user to have the control of the tech and their learning.
Principle #8
How do you communicate your Vision and Mission for Modern Learning to a community that is steeped in traditional schooling? If learning is expected to continue evolving, how do you remain fluid enough to embrace that change?
Principle #9
Traditionally, organizations like the PA/PTA and SLT provided the community voice for the school. But what about parents not part of those organizations? What about community members that are not parents? Is there another type of "board" that can include others? But engagement with the school can also be as a member of the learning community itself as I mentioned in my Instructional Vision. Until I can get into a building and begin leading a school, it's difficult to talk about how the building connects with families and the community and how we nurture diversity in our school. I WANT TO LEAD.
Principle #10
Until I lead directly, I can only imagine best ways to promote ongoing development of staff and students. I think being completely transparent and open to feedback from a global audience is one way to ensure continued research and development. Creating a culture that values the Innovators Mindset is important. Everyone in the community is a learner. We all should be seeking information and problems to solve.
- Have clearly articulated and shared beliefs about learning that are lived in every classroom.
- Live a mission and a vision deeply informed by new contexts for learning.
- Have cultures where personal, self-determined learning is at the center of student and teacher work.
- See curriculum as something that is co-constructed to meet the needs and interests of the child.
- Embrace and emphasize real-world application and presentation to real audiences as assessment for learning.
- See transparency and sharing as fundamental to a powerful learning environment.
- Use technology first and foremost as an amplifier for learning, creating, making, connecting, communicating, collaborating, and problem solving.
- Develop and communicate in powerful ways new stories of learning, teaching, and modern contexts for schooling.
- Encourage community wide participation in the equitable, effective education of children.
- Embrace and anticipate constant change and evolution.
Principle #1
When thinking about Principle #1, I keep going back to my Instructional Vision and philosophy that is currently on draft 5, I think. I am constantly trying to clarify my vision and beliefs around education. My downside is that until I become a part of a school building again, I feel like this Vision is going to continue to draft over and over and over, waiting for the day when it can become part of a school community and go from draft to iteration and action. I also want to actually plan lessons in a variety of subjects that are aligned to my vision as a way to help me put into practice what I believe is right. It will also help me to refine what I value in a learning environment for students so I can use the same framework for learning with adults.
Principle #2
My core value of Curiosity needs to be more intentional in my Vision. Is making/inspiring Problem Seekers, not just Problem Solvers enough of a connection? Again, this Principle lives in my Vision like Principle #1.
Principle #3
Beyond my core beliefs and Vision, learners need to be able to follow their passions wherever they lead, but also need access to guidance when they are not sure where to go.
Principle #4
I think students can help establish and/or guide Essential Questions and Big ideas. Then use their understanding and learning around those Questions and Ideas as a means of self-assessment and measuring achievement. Having an open curriculum (or no curriculum) is key. Teachers should be working with industry experts to facilitate student learning. This puts students in charge of their learning while the academic (teachers) and industry experts are there to support, guide, and give feedback to move learning forward.
Principle #5
Finding and connecting learning to real-world problems helps students learn to be Problem Seekers, not just Problem Solvers. I really appreciate the learning environments created by NuVu Innovation Studio and The Techbrarian. They inspire my work. they both have students share their work with non-school audiences. These authentic audiences can provide new points of view, they give a reason for vested interest in the "product" being presented, and the varied perspectives are smarter in analyzing the resulting level of success.
Principle #6
Having open, shared learning spaces allows learning to be shared among students of varied grades and ages. They can connect based on interest and common learning goals. That learning can be shared through online reflections and showcase of work using blogs or websites. This will help to create a tribe of followers and reinforces that education and learning should be open-source.
Principle #7
technology can be used by students and teachers (and leaders) to create, ideate, and iterate. The usefulness of the tech is determined by the needs of the user. It should be used to accelerate learning, not only as the focus of the learning. Without technology, we would not be sharing our work globally to authentic audiences and we would not have access to limitless information. We have to teach responsible use of tech and allow the end user to have the control of the tech and their learning.
Principle #8
How do you communicate your Vision and Mission for Modern Learning to a community that is steeped in traditional schooling? If learning is expected to continue evolving, how do you remain fluid enough to embrace that change?
Principle #9
Traditionally, organizations like the PA/PTA and SLT provided the community voice for the school. But what about parents not part of those organizations? What about community members that are not parents? Is there another type of "board" that can include others? But engagement with the school can also be as a member of the learning community itself as I mentioned in my Instructional Vision. Until I can get into a building and begin leading a school, it's difficult to talk about how the building connects with families and the community and how we nurture diversity in our school. I WANT TO LEAD.
Principle #10
Until I lead directly, I can only imagine best ways to promote ongoing development of staff and students. I think being completely transparent and open to feedback from a global audience is one way to ensure continued research and development. Creating a culture that values the Innovators Mindset is important. Everyone in the community is a learner. We all should be seeking information and problems to solve.