Shifting the Learning Process in The Lower School

The focus of our Lower School faculty meeting this week revolved around learning in the digital age; we used our “spring break read” Why School? By Will Richardson to frame our questions and guide the discussion. I was moved by the sense of optimism that filled the room as our teachers embraced the need to adapt our practice in order to facilitate student learning in a way that will better prepare them for the world they will enter as older students and adults. They seemed to agree that we must make school “different.” I left hopeful that positive change will be the result of these ongoing discussions; that we will reach our students in ways that will prepare them to collaborate, create, problem-solve and design a better future for themselves and the world. I see our Lower School team full of courageous and eager facilitators ready to learn along with their students.

These are some of the thoughts, concerns, and ideas that we pondered and shared as we initiated this discussion on learning in the digital age:

·            When passion is ignited in our students and they generate a unique question to investigate, all of a sudden it is time to stop and move on to another subject area.

·            Are school schedules outdated? What should we do about it? How do we create a balance and schedule that meets the students’ needs?

·            As teachers we should keep an open mind, try new things and let go of our need to see the finish line or follow a set path.

·            Let’s embrace the excitement of the students and follow their lead.

·            Should we focus on the skills and not on the content? Does the content really matter? How do we ensure that the skills are both sufficiently practiced and reinforced?

·            Can we consider “deeper” units, spread them out and when able and appropriate bring the “experts” and “specialists” to us to collaborate and facilitate learning.

·            Let’s keep learning and unlearning.

·            The medium is different. Let’s guide students to manage, understand, interpret, process and use the “abundance of information.” Mistakes will be made, but the benefits will surpass the challenges.

·            The meaning of “friend” has expanded for today’s learners. Friends are the experts, authors, virtual friends, classmates and collaborators we meet at school and beyond school walls.

Do these reflections and considerations sound difficult or daring? Not at all, they are realities that come up in conversations among colleagues and/or practices that happen in “small chunks” throughout our days, units and semesters. If we continue to share, discuss, and expand these practices together we will move along this learning continuum towards an “unknown” but surely exciting outcome….

As Will says, school is a valuable place where caring knowledgeable adults are present to support students as they discover their passions and engage in new ventures. We all have a very important role in the lives of students; it is just finding a balanced learning environment that will help prepare our students for their future.

What is your perspective on Shifting the Learning Process for our youngest students?