School has changed. At least, it’s changing. It’s less about showing up, and more about engaging. One of the most exciting things I get to do is observe our schools. The scenes I encounter are much different than what I remember when I was a student. Here are some of the key characteristics of quality education today:
- Less homework, because the school day is more productive with small classes and individual attention.
- Online curriculum has changed the need to be in a specific seat at a specific time. This has reinforced the fact that students can always be learning, regardless of time or location.
- More thinking and less memorizing. Access to more information means more time to think and analyze, rather than useless memorization that will be forgotten once the test is over anyway.
- Better use of space means more collaboration and a natural flow of ideas. Less rows of desks, more open concepts.
- Less lecturing, more consulting. Students need guidance, encouragement, direction and support. Not lectures.
Families in California have more control over their students’ education. Charter schools have made an impact, because school is no longer assigned strictly because of where families live. One of the things we often hear at Method is “this doesn’t look like school.” To that, we always simply answer “thanks.”