Childhood education is broken.
Here are the 10 pillars for the school I want to send my kids to:
1. Let kids be kids
Give kids the space to follow their curiosities, discover their intellectual passions and learn on their own. They should be challenged, but never in danger.
Here are the 10 pillars for the school I want to send my kids to:
1. Let kids be kids
Give kids the space to follow their curiosities, discover their intellectual passions and learn on their own. They should be challenged, but never in danger.
2. Encourage Talking
To learn, we can’t just consume information. We have to process it and make it our own. Kids do that by talking, and schools should reflect that. In school, I always got in trouble for talking, and I want to make sure that doesn’t happen to my kids.
To learn, we can’t just consume information. We have to process it and make it our own. Kids do that by talking, and schools should reflect that. In school, I always got in trouble for talking, and I want to make sure that doesn’t happen to my kids.
3. Switch Things Up
People get bored quickly. Listening to somebody talk for more than 30 minutes at a time gets boring. Switch things up by giving kids an opportunity to talk, share what they’ve learned, and create things together.
Change the activity every 30 minutes.
People get bored quickly. Listening to somebody talk for more than 30 minutes at a time gets boring. Switch things up by giving kids an opportunity to talk, share what they’ve learned, and create things together.
Change the activity every 30 minutes.
4. Make Things
The pressure to make something awakens the mind like a splash of cold water. Help kids become prolific creators. Building things has never been easier, and kids who can turn hazy ideas into concrete reality will thrive in the future.
The pressure to make something awakens the mind like a splash of cold water. Help kids become prolific creators. Building things has never been easier, and kids who can turn hazy ideas into concrete reality will thrive in the future.
5. Start with Curiosity
The Internet inverts the learning process. In school, you start with the basics and expand towards curiosity. On the internet, you start with curiosity and expand towards the basics.
The Internet inverts the learning process. In school, you start with the basics and expand towards curiosity. On the internet, you start with curiosity and expand towards the basics.
6. Eliminate Grades
Too many kids obsess over grades instead of trying to learn faster — because that’s what the system incentivizes.
"When students cheat on exams it's because our school system values grades more than students value learning.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson
Too many kids obsess over grades instead of trying to learn faster — because that’s what the system incentivizes.
"When students cheat on exams it's because our school system values grades more than students value learning.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson
7. Global participation
Until now, school has always been local. It's time to merge the physical and the virtual. Kids around the world should work on projects together, mainly over video chat. They'll meet people from different cultures and explore fresh ways of thinking.
Until now, school has always been local. It's time to merge the physical and the virtual. Kids around the world should work on projects together, mainly over video chat. They'll meet people from different cultures and explore fresh ways of thinking.
8. Low Costs
The Internet has already transformed learning, but education is lagging behind. Schools are skyrocketing in price because they’re hiring too many administrators and not using the Internet properly. Change that and the cost of education will start to fall.
The Internet has already transformed learning, but education is lagging behind. Schools are skyrocketing in price because they’re hiring too many administrators and not using the Internet properly. Change that and the cost of education will start to fall.
9. Turn Teachers into Coaches
Right now, teachers are babysitters and lecturers who spend too much time disciplining kids. Teachers should act like coaches instead. They should give direction and offer suggestions — with a light touch instead of a heavy hand.
Right now, teachers are babysitters and lecturers who spend too much time disciplining kids. Teachers should act like coaches instead. They should give direction and offer suggestions — with a light touch instead of a heavy hand.
10. Make Learning Fun
A kid with an Internet connection who loves to learn and create is unstoppable. Childhood education doesn’t need to be so serious. It should flow with the grain of childhood. Let kids play. Let them walk in wonder and walk the path of self-directed learning
A kid with an Internet connection who loves to learn and create is unstoppable. Childhood education doesn’t need to be so serious. It should flow with the grain of childhood. Let kids play. Let them walk in wonder and walk the path of self-directed learning
I'm working on a project to bring these ideas to life.
It's designed for 10-12-year-old kids who want to be creative, meet kids from around the world, and become citizens of the Internet.
Enter your email below to hear about "Summer Camp."
ageofleverage.com/summercamp
It's designed for 10-12-year-old kids who want to be creative, meet kids from around the world, and become citizens of the Internet.
Enter your email below to hear about "Summer Camp."
ageofleverage.com/summercamp
Learning is a social experience. Great schools give people friends and mentors, so students can collaborate on projects and help each other succeed.
