Unplugged

Recently I convinced the entire school to unplug from technology for a day, with some interesting results. Each division (lower, middle and upper) experienced the day a bit differently.

The Lower School fully embraced the idea, and since the students pretty much do what their teachers tell them, so did the kids! Families were invited to participate in a full 24 hour unplugging day, and many did. What was interesting was what "unplugged" meant to different people. My idea was to step back to say 1978 - you know before the world wide web, went well world wide. Some of our teachers wanted to go back to the 1600's and would not use electricity. Talk about embracing the day!

The Middle School seemed to have a fairly similar experience, except for the handful of teachers who told me I was insane, and this was a waste of their time. Most kids did what they were told, and then went home and got on their phones.

The Upper School, like typical teenagers, just ignored me. I don't think we heard you... that was fine, and to their credit some teachers and yes even some kids put away their laptops and their cellphones and talked to one another, and reflected in the slow passing of time with technology.

I learned once again that teachers and students in different divisions act very much like the kids they teach.

People from across the school took something away from the day, and in the end that was all I was hoping for. Next year will be better!

Superlearner

When I read articles like this one “superlearners” I get excited – wow this is what we are talking about, taking risk, collaborating, using resources, actively reconstructing knowledge. It was even printed in Harvard Magazine! Then I look at the date 1991, and I feel sad, because I am reminded that we (educators) have always known that there is a better way to learn, and a better way to teach. However, we have continued to choose otherwise. Are you a superlearner?