This is an ongoing series on The Worthy Educators’ Principles of Educator Agency and Efficacy and their implementation in our efforts to transform the profession. This piece addresses the non-negotiable importance of crafting a vision for education to align with the world for which it is preparing its children. Feel free to share with colleagues. We invite educators everywhere to join us in this important work!
In order to transform public education to meet the needs of the world our children inherit from us, a clear, actionable vision that everyone can embrace and espouse is critical for success. Initially, we put forth these ten considerations for crafting this vision. Do you agree with these initial thoughts? How would you prioritize them? What is missing that needs to be added? We invite you to help us to make it as concise and complete as possible!
A vision of education transformed must provide for:
Narrative
Reclaim the public discourse on education so that educators and the profession they serve receive the esteem and respect they deserve preparing society for the future.
Leadership
Empower teachers and students to lead the dialogue around this transformation of education so that it is focused on end-user experiences and outcomes.
Resources
Overhaul how revenue is distributed to support students across a variety of paths to learning through a flexible array of community-based programs and services.
Decentralization
Redesign learning centers so that students learn and grow through experiences embedded across their communities and throughout the larger digital world.
Equity
Empower all students to take charge of their learning with resources, supports and mindsets that fully prepare them to contribute to a global society.
Innovation
Provide an agile, responsive model that adapts to learner needs and interests as an iterative process that personalizes learning for each child.
Individualization
Implement student-directed curricula and redesigned teacher training that create conditions for more responsive, customized approaches.
Authenticity
Engage students in learning experiences in real world environments that provide for practical, authentic learning, creating and problem-solving.
Sharing
Design holistic opportunities for students to share their learning through demonstrative projects, performances and portfolios.
Citizenship
Prepare students to participate in society as critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and creators that add to the quality of life in their local community and around the world.
Join us in further developing and refining this vision. Together we will reimagine and relaunch education for the future unfolding right before us!
These are all so important! We really have our work cut out for us, don’t we?