The George Lucas Educational Foundation: Topics for Discussion
The world has changed. What does literacy look like today? It certainly means being able to read and write, understand mathematics and science, and apply this knowledge to real-world issues.
But literacy also means understanding that our world is complex. It is a world driven by new ideas, knowledge, and technology. It is made up of different peoples, cultures, and perspectives. If we are to rise to the challenges and opportunities in this new global age, it means embracing a new vision for teaching and learning.
Credit: Dewey Nicks
In this new world of learning, enabled by technology, Edutopia advocates the following building blocks of a modern learning environment:
- Integrated Studies To increase engagement and retention, academic subjects are presented in an interdisciplinary fashion that reflects modern knowledge and society. For instance history, literature, and art can be interwoven and taught through text, images, and sound.
- Project Learning Long term and student centered, project learning is a rigorous hands-on approach to learning core subject matter and basic skills with meaningful activities that examine complex, real-world issues. Project learning helps students develop and retain useful, working knowledge of subjects that are often taught in isolation and abstraction.
- Technology Integration Through the intelligent use of technology, combined with new approaches to education, a more personalized style of learning can be realized.
- Teacher Development The human touch is the most valuable element in education. Teachers, administrators, and parents play critical roles in coaching and guiding students through the learning process, nurturing students' interests and confidence as learners.
- Social and Emotional Learning When students work together on project teams, they learn to collaborate, communicate, and resolve conflicts. Cooperative learning and character development supports the social and emotional development of students and prepares them for success in the modern workplace.
- Assessment Effective assessment should measure the full range of student ability -- social, emotional, and academic achievement. Through various measures, including portfolios, presentations, and tests, multiple learning styles are supported.
