Edu Change & Student Advocacy

     Educators, like everyone else, are trying to respond to the latest protests in our country due to police brutality. Black Lives Do Matter and many of us in education have long been disturbed by the policing issues in our country. The Talk      Years ago, I remember an African-American friend of mine, who grew up in Los Angeles, telling me that he was told by his father as a young man how to interact with the LAPD. He was advised early on, if ever pulled over for any reason, to get on the ground and assume the prone position. This was his dad’s version of ‘The Talk’ long before it had a name or I knew anything about it.      These stories, along with the countless cases captured on video since the Rodney King case, have long informed all of us that we have a national policing crisis. I have long argued that our policing problem, bad or unfit officers, won’t be fixed until it’s fixed from the inside. In other words, the good cops, the a...

     Many of us in education have always fashioned ourselves as change agents. We have spent our entire careers advocating for some very core concepts. They usually relate to relevance, agency and pedagogy. We have been excited at times about the changes occurring, while simultaneously being disappointed in the slow pace or missed opportunities. We love that we have such great education technology, but are also frustrated that too many are doing the same old worksheet digitally. We love that project-based learning is being done in some places, while surprised that others have yet to even attempt anything related to deeper learning. It’s this constant tug-o-war that often leaves us hopeful and inspired, while also exhausted and cynical.      So, for any educators that feel this dilemma, I think I have yet another way to reflect and examine the situation. I believe that many of us are eternally part of a long admired literary model. Yes, we are smack dab in ...

     Project-based learning is becoming the way many educators and educational leaders are beginning to view the future of instructional pedagogy. Indeed, PBL addresses a litany of educational goals and needs including, but not limited to content standards, skill acquisition and growth, connections to career and community, integrated technology, collaboration, student agency and engagement.      When teachers, leaders, schools and districts become more project-based focused, they often tend to aim their attention at many targets. They will often focus on professional learning, clear goals and objectives, technology, scheduling, how to cohort students and/or teachers, courses, graduate profiles and much more. These are all important. However, sometimes we forget that nothing is typically successful - or least optimized or maximized - unless there is an authentic culture to support it.      In order for teachers to serve as facilitators of ...

     As a longtime project-based learning (PBL) practitioner, facilitator and advocate, I am continually on the lookout for a school, or school system, that has not only embraced PBL as pedagogy but is truly making it a reality as a daily practice. Many educational systems are talking a big game of deeper and more personalized inquiry-based learning, but a visit will typically reveal that they often lack the culture, creativity, and commitment to necessary elements that facilitate high-quality PBL for all students.       As a writer and facilitator, I have been fortunate to visit places that are the real deal. They not only talk the talk but ultimately walk the walk. Some are known internationally such as High Tech High . Some are newer and lesser-known such as Ella Baker Elementary (I wrote about them last spring ) However, after my most recent visit to iLEAD Schools , a network of several project-based charter schools in Southern California, ...

     Often in education, we are looking for the next great thing: curriculum, technology, program or even instructional approach. What’s problematic here is that we’re often not really invested. We pilot, and before we have any real implementation, something has changed. It might be due to leadership, other initiatives, the board, funding and so on, but the priorities have shifted and we’ve moved on to yet another thing.      What’s very relevant to me about project-based learning is not only does it offer an instructional pedagogy that works, but it also addresses so many of our needs and does so in a way that is adaptive to our ever-changing environment, students and the world. I’ve been advocating for some time - whether it’s student engagement, deeper thinking and learning, collaboration, technology integration, relevance, real world application, career development or so many more - that project-based learning can really do it all. In addition to the ...

     There are many reasons why project-based learning may be the best pedagogy for all students. Indeed, PBL is intended to be engaging, collaborative, tech-ready, student-owned and personalized. But, there may not be a better reason for PBL than that of preparing all students for a rapidly changing world - especially the future of work.      Whether we discuss the impact of globalization, the gig economy, artificial intelligence or new technologies, it seems that our students are entering an uncharted work world that will require them to be much more adaptive, creative, flexible, growth-oriented and skill-focused than any previous generations. I’d like to demonstrate that high quality project-based learning effectively advances our students’ core skills of the future. Here are four of them: (1) Creativity Skills This term is used so often it’s hard not to see it as a cliche. But it is a skill that is no longer reserved for certain professions. Wh...

     A couple of years ago, I wrote a piece called 5 Things That Schools Can Learn From the Food Truck Phenomenon . Some thought it was funny. Some thought it was pertinent. I thought it was appropriate. One, I am routinely advocating for education, as well as educators, to look outside the field of education for ideas and innovation. Two, I loved the inspiration, innovation, creativity and customization that the food trucks were offering and wanted education to be inspired to do the same.       Well now, I’m taking it one step further. I have been a craft beer lover for over 30 years. The huge and recent popularity of craft beer in America has motivated me to beg the question: What Can Education Learn From The Craft Beer Movement? Well, here are three main ideas: Keep It Simple Smarty (I never liked the word ‘stupid’)      Just like Food Trucks, Craft Beer establishments have moved in the direction of simplicity. They are a...