Paradigm Shift!
Paradigm Shift - an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way.
Why Change?
There has been much talk for the past twenty years about creating "21st century schools". And there have been abundant school "reforms" and strategies for much longer, attempting to "fix" schools, teachers and students. However, the research (based upon test scores, attendance and graduation rates) has shown little, if any, real improvement or change.
The problem is that we continue to tinker around the edges of school change. Every "reform" has been designed for, and takes place within, the same obsolete paradigm and organizational structures that have been in place for over 150 years.
Schools cannot change unless we make real changes!
There has been much talk for the past twenty years about creating "21st century schools". And there have been abundant school "reforms" and strategies for much longer, attempting to "fix" schools, teachers and students. However, the research (based upon test scores, attendance and graduation rates) has shown little, if any, real improvement or change.
The problem is that we continue to tinker around the edges of school change. Every "reform" has been designed for, and takes place within, the same obsolete paradigm and organizational structures that have been in place for over 150 years.
Schools cannot change unless we make real changes!
The time is now to make a real Paradigm Shift!
The following quotes from four of our
Superheroes of 21st Century Education
make the case powerfully for
why schools must change now!
The images below do not represent endorsement of these educators - yet!
Are you concerned about education? I am.
One of my deepest concerns is that while education systems around the world are being reformed, many of these reforms are being driven by political and commercial interests that misunderstand how real people learn and how great schools actually work.
As a result, they are damaging the prospects of countless young people. Sooner or later, for better or for worse, they will affect you or someone you know.
It's important to understand what these reforms are about. If you agree that they're going in the wrong direction, I hope you will become part of the movement to a more holistic approach that nurtures the diverse talents of all our children.
. . . . Whoever and wherever you are, you do have the power to make the system change. Changes are happening.
There are many great schools, wonderful teachers and inspiring leaders who are working creatively to provide students with the kinds of personalized, compassionate and community-oriented education they need.
The revolution we need involves rethinking how schools work and what counts as a school. [1]
One of my deepest concerns is that while education systems around the world are being reformed, many of these reforms are being driven by political and commercial interests that misunderstand how real people learn and how great schools actually work.
As a result, they are damaging the prospects of countless young people. Sooner or later, for better or for worse, they will affect you or someone you know.
It's important to understand what these reforms are about. If you agree that they're going in the wrong direction, I hope you will become part of the movement to a more holistic approach that nurtures the diverse talents of all our children.
. . . . Whoever and wherever you are, you do have the power to make the system change. Changes are happening.
There are many great schools, wonderful teachers and inspiring leaders who are working creatively to provide students with the kinds of personalized, compassionate and community-oriented education they need.
The revolution we need involves rethinking how schools work and what counts as a school. [1]
Our country may continue to stumble from education reform to education reform like a drunken sailor. In the process, we'll continue churning out millions of students each year with no real skills and no fighting chance in life.
We'll prioritize measuring irrelevant things and drill the innovation and creativity out of our youth.
A small number of our most talented will escape the damage of schools and go on to create successful new companies and unimaginable wealth . . .
[Most] will plod through enervating school years, leave with abysmal career prospects, and have citizenship skills no better than mob psychology.
As the ranks of the chronically unemployed youth swell, the rift between the unrelenting rich and the disenfranchised rest will rip our society apart.
We will fail as a country, not because other nations defeated us, but because we defeated ourselves. [2]
We'll prioritize measuring irrelevant things and drill the innovation and creativity out of our youth.
A small number of our most talented will escape the damage of schools and go on to create successful new companies and unimaginable wealth . . .
[Most] will plod through enervating school years, leave with abysmal career prospects, and have citizenship skills no better than mob psychology.
As the ranks of the chronically unemployed youth swell, the rift between the unrelenting rich and the disenfranchised rest will rip our society apart.
We will fail as a country, not because other nations defeated us, but because we defeated ourselves. [2]
Our innovation world reflects the very best of America. Intrepid pioneers pursue bold dreams, in hopes of changing the course of history.
Thinking big is a way of life. Failure is embraced, and resilience is rewarded. Out-of-the-box approaches are admired, not marked down. Collective adherence to obsolete methods is a market opportunity, not a reason to give up.
The results? In the past five decades, all U.S. economic and job growth has come from innovative startups. Our entrepreneurial successes create our jobs, shape our society, define us, inspire us, and are the envy of the world.
But when it comes to education policy, we have lost all sight of what makes our country great. Through a bizarre twist of fate, we have an education system that would make perfect sense in the 1970s U.S.S.R., but is completely out of step with America's core values and strengths. We insist on top-down command-and-control. We micro-manage every minute of every lesson plan.
Instead of letting a thousand flowers bloom, we replace all flowers with the same lifeless, overtested weed.
We take every ounce of creativity out of the classroom, replacing it with a soulless march through dull curriculum and test prep decoupled from life skills. We prioritize standardization and accountability, and don't seem to notice or care that students lack engagement and purpose.
We rob our kids of their futures. [3]
Thinking big is a way of life. Failure is embraced, and resilience is rewarded. Out-of-the-box approaches are admired, not marked down. Collective adherence to obsolete methods is a market opportunity, not a reason to give up.
The results? In the past five decades, all U.S. economic and job growth has come from innovative startups. Our entrepreneurial successes create our jobs, shape our society, define us, inspire us, and are the envy of the world.
But when it comes to education policy, we have lost all sight of what makes our country great. Through a bizarre twist of fate, we have an education system that would make perfect sense in the 1970s U.S.S.R., but is completely out of step with America's core values and strengths. We insist on top-down command-and-control. We micro-manage every minute of every lesson plan.
Instead of letting a thousand flowers bloom, we replace all flowers with the same lifeless, overtested weed.
We take every ounce of creativity out of the classroom, replacing it with a soulless march through dull curriculum and test prep decoupled from life skills. We prioritize standardization and accountability, and don't seem to notice or care that students lack engagement and purpose.
We rob our kids of their futures. [3]
The best schools tend to have the best teachers, not to mention parents who supervise homework, so there is less need for self-organised learning. But where a child comes from a less supportive home environment, where there are family tensions perhaps, their schoolwork can suffer.
They need to be taught to think and study for themselves.
Profound changes to how children access vast information is yielding new forms of peer-to-peer and individual-guided learning.
It's quite fashionable to say that the education system's broken — it's not broken, it's wonderfully constructed. It's just that we don't need it anymore. It's outdated.
They need to be taught to think and study for themselves.
Profound changes to how children access vast information is yielding new forms of peer-to-peer and individual-guided learning.
It's quite fashionable to say that the education system's broken — it's not broken, it's wonderfully constructed. It's just that we don't need it anymore. It's outdated.
We are delighted to see that a growing number of educators are calling for major changes in how we educate our students.
21st Century Schools has decades of experience in creating "21st century" classrooms and curriculum. Through the years we have continuously remained ahead of the curve.
We are also pleased to see other educators calling for change, using terms such as "re-imagining", "transformation", "innovation" and "disruption". There are a few voices in the wilderness whose messages are valid and to the point. Unfortunately, these "21st century" terms have been co-opted by many others and represent nothing more than slapping new labels on the same old "business as usual".
They do mean well, but they continue to "create change" and "innovate" within an obsolete organizational structure which prevents any real change or transformation. We love what Tony Wagner and Ted Dintersmith say about this:
"Like crew members on the Titanic bickering over the dinner menu, our leaders will piss and moan about second-order issues and ignore the opportunity that stares us all right in the face." [4]
21st Century Schools has created the only Framework for 21st Century Education that is holistic and integrated. It calls for real change, which can be difficult. But, not impossible!
We have developed a new program called Paradigm Shift!
21st Century Schools has decades of experience in creating "21st century" classrooms and curriculum. Through the years we have continuously remained ahead of the curve.
We are also pleased to see other educators calling for change, using terms such as "re-imagining", "transformation", "innovation" and "disruption". There are a few voices in the wilderness whose messages are valid and to the point. Unfortunately, these "21st century" terms have been co-opted by many others and represent nothing more than slapping new labels on the same old "business as usual".
They do mean well, but they continue to "create change" and "innovate" within an obsolete organizational structure which prevents any real change or transformation. We love what Tony Wagner and Ted Dintersmith say about this:
"Like crew members on the Titanic bickering over the dinner menu, our leaders will piss and moan about second-order issues and ignore the opportunity that stares us all right in the face." [4]
21st Century Schools has created the only Framework for 21st Century Education that is holistic and integrated. It calls for real change, which can be difficult. But, not impossible!
We have developed a new program called Paradigm Shift!
Now is the time!
Let's Make the Paradigm Shift!
21st Century Schools
is prepared to support you in making
that Paradigm Shift in your classroom, on
your campus and in your district or
other educational organization!
View our three available programs for
taking your school or district
authentically into the 21st century!
is prepared to support you in making
that Paradigm Shift in your classroom, on
your campus and in your district or
other educational organization!
View our three available programs for
taking your school or district
authentically into the 21st century!
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