Teachers as change agents | Karl Lindgren-Streicher | TEDxLangleyED

Summary

In this powerful talk, the speaker critiques the broken education system, highlighting issues such as rigid curriculums, ineffective standardized testing, and the lack of emphasis on skills over content. Advocating for deeper, personalized learning, the speaker emphasizes the importance of allowing students to explore their interests and develop essential life skills, such as critical thinking, perseverance, and adaptability. The speaker also stresses the need for educators to collaborate and share resources to improve teaching practices. The ultimate call to action urges teachers, parents, and administrators to take immediate steps toward meaningful change in education.

Takeaways

• 😀 The current school system is broken, as evidenced by standardized testing, report cards, and rigid curricula that don't prioritize true learning.
• 😀 To fix the broken system, teachers, parents, and administrators need to rethink and adapt the curriculum based on the needs of students.
• 😀 Depth of learning is more important than breadth; allow students the space and time to dive deep into topics they're genuinely interested in.
• 😀 Teachers must make intentional choices about what to teach, but more importantly, what to leave out in order to create a more meaningful learning experience.
• 😀 Feedback from students is crucial. Teachers should listen to their students' honest opinions and adapt their teaching methods accordingly.
• 😀 Educators should focus on teaching essential skills such as argumentation, writing, critical thinking, and perseverance, rather than memorizing facts.
• 😀 Implementing activities like Genius Hour or 20% Time allows students to explore topics of personal interest and develop crucial life skills.
• 😀 Students should be given the time and space to engage in meaningful conversations about societal issues like race and systemic inequality, as they often have insightful perspectives.
• 😀 Not all students need to learn the same thing. Teachers should give students the freedom to explore their curiosity and dive into topics that truly interest them.
• 😀 Collaboration and sharing between teachers are essential. Sharing lesson plans and projects leads to better outcomes for students and educators alike.
• 😀 Educators should move away from the notion that there must be 'winners' and 'losers' in education. Everyone should be able to succeed and learn from each other.
• 😀 Teachers, parents, and administrators must take action immediately to fix the broken system. Action must be taken every day to create a positive change in education.

Q & A

What is the main issue with the current education system, according to the speaker?

The speaker argues that the education system is broken, primarily due to its reliance on a factory model, standardized testing, and a lack of focus on actual learning, rather than just grades and test scores.

What are the two categories the speaker suggests for improving education?

The speaker suggests improving education through changes in curriculum and through sharing and collaboration among teachers.

Why does the speaker believe depth in curriculum is more important than breadth?

The speaker believes that, with access to digital tools, students can look up factual information easily, and thus, it is more important to focus on deeply understanding subjects that truly interest them, rather than trying to cover too much content.

What role does student feedback play in the speaker's approach to curriculum?

Student feedback is crucial for adjusting teaching methods. The speaker emphasizes listening to students' honest opinions about what is working or not, and using their feedback to improve future lessons.

What does the speaker suggest regarding teacher autonomy in curriculum design?

The speaker encourages teachers to make intentional choices about what to teach and, importantly, what to omit from the curriculum, even if it means taking risks and potentially asking for forgiveness rather than permission from administrators.

How does the speaker view the importance of skills over content in education?

The speaker emphasizes that skills such as argumentation, critical thinking, and the ability to ask good questions are more important than memorizing content. These skills help students in real-world problem-solving.

What is 'Genius Hour' and how does it contribute to education?

'Genius Hour' or '20 Time' gives students an hour each week to explore topics they are personally interested in. This allows students to develop soft skills like perseverance and adaptability while working on self-directed projects.

How does the speaker incorporate real-world issues into the classroom?

The speaker encourages students to tackle societal issues, such as racial inequality, and provides them with time and space to discuss these topics. This allows students to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills on issues that affect the world.

Why does the speaker advocate for teachers to share their curriculum?

The speaker believes that sharing curriculum and teaching resources among teachers fosters collaboration, improves teaching practices, and enhances student experiences across schools, creating a community of learners and educators.

What is the speaker’s challenge to educators after the presentation?

The speaker challenges educators to take action immediately by applying at least one idea they learned from the presentation to their teaching. This includes rethinking curriculum, sharing resources, and fostering collaboration to improve education.