At some point or another every kid has dreamt of living in something like the Swiss Family Robinson’s tree house; even fictional children like Bart Simpson. I think I could have settled for going to school there. And—fantastical as it seems—that’s exactly what the Green School in Bali feels like. A few weeks ago I [...]
From ‘Parent at the Helm’ Super Sisters, a sub-section of PBS Parents online, appears akin to reality television shows, only occurring online and focusing on three sisters who are raising children. A recent post from one of the sisters features “school troubles” with her third grader. She also outlines her options to address the problems, [...]
It wasn’t that long ago I began my high school teaching career. Fairly early on, I worked with one teacher who epitomized the mindset of many secondary school colleagues.
Source: Peter Gray / 'Freedom to Learn' blog In an experiment, children who were taught less learned more. In 1929, the superintendent of schools in Ithaca, New York, sent out a challenge to his colleagues in other cities. "What," he asked, "can we drop from the elementary school curriculum?" He complained that over the years [...]
by Thomas on Open Education blog One of the most firmly entrenched academic practices centers upon the use of textbooks as the fundamental drivers of curricula. Ultra-expensive, these items represent one of the largest costs for public school systems as well as those attending college. As the digital age continues to work its way into [...]
New research makes the case for hard tests, and suggests an unusual technique that anyone can use to learn Not knowing the answer can be a good thing Magdalena Tworkowska For years, many educators have championed “errorless learning," advising teachers (and students) to create study conditions that do not permit errors. For example, a classroom teacher [...]
There was a large touch of irony in an August NY Times post discussing the demise of a fixture in the world of education, the school textbook. The article, In a Digital Future, Textbooks Are History, predicts the death of an industry that is becoming “antiquated” with each passing tech innovation. Though always considered exceedingly [...]
By Ben Chavis Special to CNN Editor’s note: Ben Chavis is the co-author with Carey Blakely of "Crazy Like A Fox: One Principal’s Triumph in the Inner City." Chavis received his doctorate in education and philosophy from the University of Arizona and served as principal of American Indian Public Charter School for seven years. Chavis [...]
Here on the balmy central coast of California and all across the country, kids are heading back to school. The classes are larger, the No Child Left Behind mandates remain in place and, despite advice from the nation’s secretary of health and human services and others, recess and physical education (not to mention art and [...]
We have written a good many times regarding the growing concerns related to America’s poor school completion rates. In addition to all the students who disappear from our school systems prior to ever reaching high school, current data also reveals that one of every four high school students fails to graduate within the standard four-year [...]
A.L.O. is about alternatives to compulsory schooling.
