future

School of the Past: School of the Future

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This summer I visited  the quite wonderful Hancock Shaker Village. It’s where in craft and design, form meets function with simplicity and beauty.  So many interesting things to see and pay attention to. Of course – I had to visit the schoolhouse, now separated from the main buildings by a busy highway. The school room … Read more

That was then: Are we “betraying most of our children”?

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From: We are the people movie people This landmark independent documentary … explores the education system … and asks whether the current system provides young people with the opportunity to develop their talents. High-profile figures sharing their personal experiences and views include Sir Richard Branson, Germaine Greer, Henry Winkler, Bill Bryson, Sir Ken Robinson and … Read more

Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns

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Listen to this podcast interview with Clayton Christensen – one of the authors of Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns – A crash course in the business of learning-from the bestselling author of The Innovator’s Dilemma and The Innovator’s Solution. Photo: Jake Hills

10 Tips for Creating a 21st Century Classroom Experience

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Can design help children learn? That’s the cover story of in the February Metropolis Magazine lent to me last week by parent-trustee  Stan Lichens.  It’s worth a look. And the magazine also includes design firm IDEO’s 10 Tips for Creating a 21st Century Classroom Experience. It’s a quick must-read. This is thinking to guide designers … Read more

What’s next?

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First  the music and the record stores closed.  And then the  books – Posman’s on Broadway, Ivy’s and too many others across Manhattan. And then it was the international news and magazine shop – Global Ink – on the corner of 112th street where it was possible to browse obscure journals, pick up yesterday’s Guardian … Read more

When will I ever need to know this? Connecting learning to the real world

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“What do I need to learn this algebra and geometry and math stuff for?” Connecting learning to the real world – that’s the tag line of The Futures Channel – a great educational resource.  On this page they provide a wonderful set of answers to that age old classroom math question: “What do I need to … Read more

Human capital, stars aligned and the wise owls

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On the way home tonight I heard Robert Reich on NPR’s Marketplace. The topic was Human Capital. The one sentence summary: Failure to invest in human capital (i.e..education) is shortsighted and counter-productive. Basic idea: Our future competitiveness and standard of living depend on our collective skills, capacity to communicate and solve problems, and innovate. They … Read more

It’s a Different World

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Thank you for bringing John Palfrey to the school last night. He was fabulous, and he spoke directly to issues facing my family and our children – PDS parent. It was election eve for the parents and community discussion. And an election day workshop for PDS teachers and colleagues from other New York independent schools. … Read more

Keep Calm and Carry On

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In a time of crisis and turmoil it is sometimes valuable to turn to the past for reassurance. So: – worse things happen at sea – we’re in it together – nobody died – we all have to do our bit – if it’s got your number on it – keep smiling through – and … Read more