CreativeMornings/Pittsburgh Challenge: Education My approach to this challenge was to make an empathetic appeal to the better part of ourselves. This talk is meant to interrupt the old narratives and try to replace them with the new stories that unite us. As a community, we can begin using our creative energies to design learning ecosystems that build connections that will allow us to see the world differently and more beautifully. Peace and love, Michelle http://creativemornings.com/talks/michelle-king

1. NARRATIVE!

2. MICHELE MARIE KING

3. I was
born to
be...

4. THE
LEARNING
INSTIGATOR

7. THE
LEARNING
INSTIGATOR

10. I WAS BORN
ON
JUNE 14,
1968.

11. I’M OVER
18.

12. I’M OVER
21.

13. I’M OVER
25.

14. BUT UNDER
65.

15. HOW OLD
AM I?

16. I’M
26.

17. I’M
46.

20. On average,
I moved
every three
to four
years.

21. I LEARNED
HOW TO
ADAPT TO

23. I RETURNED TO

26. TO STUDY

27. TO BECOME
A
COLD WAR
WARRIOR

28. OR A DIPLOMAT

29. THEN

30. THE COLD
WAR ENDED.

32. WE TELL THE STORY
OF LIFE...

38. I TAUGHT
U.S. HISTORY
TO 8TH GRADERS...

39. H
ERE

40. H
ERE
for the past 15 years

42. All roads have led me to rethink
the purpose of education.

43. Is Rome Burning...?
e illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read an
Four years ago, I
wrote a letter to my
superintendent and
colleagues entitled:

44. Is Rome Burning...?
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write,
but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
Alvin Toffler
The first round of testing for the state of Pennsylvania began and ran for three Day 2s last week, and I felt like
Bill Murray in Ground Hog’s Day. I don’t know what the ambiance of the rest of the schools in the district was
like, but Jefferson’s joyful spirit was erased by stress and ennui. How does a place filled with children, beings
who are naturally curious, creative, and excited, devolve into anxiety-ridden nervous wrecks? From test ripping
to snacks to placate the unwilling, I have been in a spiritual crisis. I have been crafting this letter in my head
since we were invited to discuss the direction of our district, but I’m speaking from my heart today.
Simply, we are headed in the wrong direction.
I have no vested interest in blaming, criticizing for the sake of criticizing, or taking the position of a powerless
victim. In fact, I’m motivated to engage you, my colleagues, our students, our parents, and our community in
conversations about learning and teaching, relevancy, collaboration, innovation, and vision.
At the center of this conversation should be our students.
We are in the midst of revolutionary changes in all facets of life from the way:
we govern;
we consume media;
we create content;
we organize politically and socially;
we work;
and how and when and where we learn.
Every major sector in society has experienced a decentralization of authority and power. From the decline of
newspapers to cable TV to the music industry to bookstores. We as schools will not be immune to fundamental
changes. I wonder how we are adapting as an institution? How will we remain relevant? These are the types of
questions that keep me up at night.
As a teacher, I feel my role has shifted significantly since the advent of Google, Youtube, Wikipedia, Facebook,
Twitter, TED, a whole host of Web 2.0 tools, and a new generation of portable devices that have emerged. We
teachers are in the midst of a revolution in the way the creation of knowledge and its transmittal are evolving.
What is the role of the teacher, if knowledge is ubiquitous and can be accessible from anywhere and anytime?
The way of the sage of the stage is out the door.
Is this our Egypt?
This is a wake-up call for teachers to empower ourselves as the architects of innovation. We will need to
to
try
to
start
a
conversation

46. Currently

49. Cultural Literacy

52. What is the
purpose of
education?

54. What is the
purpose of
education?

55. “Empathy is about finding
echoes of another person in
yourself.”

57. “Things become
beautiful
through
design.”
Jesse Schell

73. Go out and
instigate!