This document summarizes key points from the book "Why School? How Education must change when learning and information are everywhere" by Will Richardson. It argues that education needs to shift away from an "old school" approach of rote memorization and standardized testing towards a more progressive model. This new model emphasizes real-world, project-based learning tailored to students' interests. It also incorporates more technology and collaborative learning opportunities to better prepare students for the 21st century. The document advocates for changes in how teachers are trained, how learning is assessed, and the overall mindset around education.

1. Reflections on: Why School? How Education must
change when learning and information are
everywhere by: Will Richardson
Ruth Ann Dapkus
Professor: Dennis Jablonski
ED 534
Summer 2014
http://funsmix.com/funny-education-quotes-beautiful-i-have-never-let-my-schooling/

2. Why School?
• Because schools need to change!
• In the modern world we need more education NOT
less…
• The teaching community “IS” global. Teachers from all
around the world interact and come together virtually.
It’s no longer just at the local level.
• Students also share ideas, perceptions and interact
online in a global setting. Students need interaction and
‘critical thinking’ not to just sit by and regurgitate
information from the “old school” classroom.

3. Old School…what does it mean to you?
• “Passing the test” is not nearly enough any longer. Richardson (p. 77)
• Test scores “tell us little” this needs to be addressed on a very real level.
• “one in two new teachers leaves the profession within five years” (p. 140)
• Our world is every changing and we need to adapt and move away from
“old school” thinking.
http://talesfromthemaelstrom.blogspot.com/2013/02/old-school-vs-old-school.
html

4. Progressive Learning
• Learning through project-based lesson plans
• Interdisciplinary theme based learning
• What students are interested in helps determine
what they will study
• “we live in an age of abundant electronic
information.” -Richardson

5. Higher education is gradually “adapting” but K-12 is
only playing “catch up.”
• How do teachers learn?
• How is this relevant in the 21st century classroom?
• As curriculum changes teachers need to reassess
their role in the classroom.
• We need to move away from an old school
approach…

6. Technology then and now!
• Old School
• Not so progressive…Technology not
under teachers control.
• New School/Progressive
• Computers, smart phones, and IPads
are important but we need educated
teachers!
https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.securedgenetworks.com/Porta
ls/80068/images/images1.jpg
https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.shorpy.com/files/
images/5a23195u.jpg

7. “Teachers need to be great at asking questions and
astute at managing the different paths to learning that
each child creates.”
Constructivism!
• NOT all children learn the same.
• Pay attention to learning “styles”
• Pose problems relevant to students
• Connect “their” interests to the standards
www.differentialedkindergarten.com

8. How do your teachers learn?
• Traditionally:
– Go to conferences
– Take after-school workshops
– Read books
Ie: Teacher learning viewed as an “event” vs. “ongoing
process”
Ideally, this should change!

9. Smart, dedicated teachers will “personalize”
curriculum for their students.
• Cannot continue to focus on
curriculum that’s “irrelevant” to
today’s students with
standardized tests are forefront.
• Reform is being written by
businesses and policymakers…
http://standardizedtests.procon.org/
http://www.solarnavigator.net/sponsorship/
bill_gates.htm

10. Question “Quantifiable learning”
Rank and compare?
Common Core: impersonalizes
education by imposing strict and
unrealistic standards
Another way…
• Question, question, question
• Focus on lifelong learning
• “from content mastery to
learning mastery”
• Students have more control over
their own learning.

11. Money moves politicians to promote policy that
serves business…
• Where does this leave our students?
http://shamrachronicles.com/643/pass-on-standardized-tests/

12. Richardson backs ‘constructivism’
• Constructivism is the idea that “people construct their own understanding and
knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those
experiences.” 2004 (Educational Broadcasting Corp.)
– Developing imagination and activation of all the senses help students
become actively “engaged” in learning.
• Through “experiments, real-world problem solving” students enjoy learning.
2004 (Educational Broadcasting Corporation.)
– Not just regurgitating facts anymore!

13. "I'd articulate the shift to teachers
like this: Don't teach my child
science; instead, teach my child how
to learn science -- or history or math
or music. With as many resources as
they have available to them today
(not to mention what they'll have
tomorrow), kids had better know
how.
Collaborative approach
New school approach:
http://dayspringacademyk12.org/?p=121

14. Integrative learning
• Envision new approaches…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrative_learning

15. Attn: Teachers… Use resources!
• “rethink” our learning
practices
• Change attitudes around
learning
• “rethink” classrooms and
advocate change
• A pay it forward approach
that works
http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photography-social-media-
logos-image23478617
http://www.fresnostate.edu/csm/ees/

16. Assessment culture is the WRONG approach
• Standardized tests prove ‘problematic’ at best
view-source:https://twitter.com/SirKenRobinson

17. Performance-based assessments
• Tell us more about
students know and
their “readiness” for life
• Traditional tests have
no room for real life
information
• Performance based
assessments are “worth
it in the long run.
Problems:
– Time consuming
– Harder to correct
– Inefficient
– Subjective

18. Know Thyself…
To prepare effective learners, educators need to be
prepared themselves.
You can even: RateMyTeachers.com
(An online tool to find out what your students think of
you!)

19. Real work for real audiences
• Design and share • Do fieldwork
http://drieculturen.blogspot.com/2013/02/interview-with-graphic-design-student.html http://snc.mgarr.skola.edu.mt/category/year-5/

20. A ‘Paradigm shift’ is needed
The biggest challenge, Yong Zhao states, “is our
mindset about what makes good education and the
seductive power of the traditional paradigm.”
-Yong Zhao
University of Oregon

21. Will Richardson “talks”
http://teacherpreneurs1.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-is-paradigm-shift.html
• Solution Tree: Will Richardson on 21st Century Learning 1:34