By CynDee Zandes
This article is written by a member of our expert blogging community.
In a Mind Shift blog post from July 20, 2012, 10 Things In School That Should Be Obsolete, author Greg Stack lists the following:
- Computer Labs
- Learning in Prescribed Places
- Teacher-Centered Classroom
- Isolated Classrooms
- Departmental Organizations
- School Corridors
- Traditional School Libraries
- Dark, Indoor Gyms
- Institutional Food Service
- Large Restrooms
He makes suggestions on how to correct each of these obsolete practices. I find number 2 of particular interest for those of us who work in afterschool. His notion that meaning learning experiences don't necessarily occur within the four walls of a classroom rings true to those of us who in "informal" learning environments like afterschool. Stack goes on to say, "Working in groups, while on a trip, while doing a project or learning while talking with friends - those are the lasting, meaningful learning experiences." This viewpoint ties into our belief in the 3 R's of Afterschool: relationships, relevance and rigor. Youth working together on projects having meaning and relevance to youth, and requiring them to demonstrate 21st Century workplace skills: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving and decision making, are central to our work in afterschool.
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"It is not enough for youth to participate in a terrific project....it is connecting the dots of learning that is essential."
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To drive the
importance of learning, it is essential that afterschool professionals
understand the value of helping youth translate activities into learning
opportunities. It is not enough for
youth to participate in a terrific project or willingly take part in a one-of-a-kind
activity, it is connecting the dots of learning that is essential. This translation occurs during intentional
debriefing which helps youth to articulate the learning, thus attaching it to
the schema for use later. For example,
if youth are working on a project to distribute lost and found clothing items
to those who could use those items, they will learn a number of things. They will learn how to categorize clothing
items, send out announcements to parents so they can reclaim lost or misplaced
items before they are given away, how to interview and select an agency to
receive the clothing, and of course what needs to occur so that the clothing is
suitable to pass along. While youth
involved in the project are “experiencing” the learning, intentional debriefing
will help youth to make meaning from the experience in his or her own way.
What do you think is
obsolete in our current classrooms? What
are your solutions?
Photo via (cc) Flickr user Nationaal Archief