Big is a school. It's not your standard school with curriculum, a daily schedule, and homework assignments. Instead, Big is a school that students can attend in addition to their regular high schooling (in part because Big is still being developed). At Big, students present what they would like to learn about. They choose a topic and conduct a research project that must meet three expectations: it must be on a topic that is interesting to them, it must be interdisciplinary, and it must speak to an external audience (meaning there must be an interest in the topic in society). Shawn Cornally, one of the founders of Big, discussed projects of various students at his school, all of whom are choosing their own curriculum and learning about real world issues through their projects. Cornally notes that students spend anywhere from 12 - 50% of their time with Big, and the founding members of the faculty aren't sure if that is an appropriate amount of time. Would more time be beneficial? The idea of a school where students drive their own curriculum and learning has become a popular, if ambiguous idea. Reshaping how we define education has become a powerful force in the last decade, and one that has been supported by statistics and experiments. I am all for pushing boundaries and redefining the education system. Evolution is a necessary part of humanity, and progress shouldn't be hindered by a attachment to old ways of learning. People like Shawn Cornally are probing into the future of education, giving society different options for future systems. My only hesitation is implementation. Providing students with the resources and support to create their own long term projects is a fantastic way to approach education, but can it be implemented for the masses? Can we guarantee those opportunities for all students? Of course we can't now, but if we follow a path into the future of education like the one Big is exploring, will we be able to find the resources to allow all students (and I mean all students) the opportunity to develop their own projects? My sense is yes, but only with tremendous communication, cooperation, and accountability to our youth. Do we have what it takes? Or will we offer this path to specific students only, creating further rifts in education through inequitable dissemination of opportunity?
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AuthorI'm currently a teacher candidate in pursuit of my English Credential. Archives
February 2017
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Elizabeth Mauerman | Blog |