This is a Ted video of a teenage boy, Logan LePlante, sharing his thoughts of schooling and being happy. He shares some insights from experts such as Dr. Roger Walsh such as' the idea that "much of education is oriented, for better or for worse, towards making a living rather than making a life." This 13-year-old shares about his education experience. He is not in traditional school and he happily describes his experience which he calls "Hackschoolin."
As I watched this video the first thing that came to my mind is that he is only 13 and has the confidence and obviously the experience of standing in front of a large audience to give a presentation. I thought to myself that he is not the "typical" teenager. His classes are unique when compared to traditional classes. He is learning real world skills in the real world. His classroom is the world around him! Then, I wondered why is he not the norm? Why is the current education system keeping my students from becoming more like him? His speech made me think of the few opportunities we provide our students to experience the world around them. We spend 180 days in one room telling our students about the world around them, Logan lives in the world we are describing to our students. He speaks to business owners, and experts in his interests. He has a true understanding of nature and science because he experiences it. How can we provide this type of experience to our own students? Then, I realized we have the world and someone like Logan at our fingertips. As an educator I need to build these connections for my students. Why not Skype with or Twitterchat with other leaders and experts who are of similar age as my students? They are experts at something, or easily can become the expert once their passions or interests can be researched and expressed. This video has brought to surface many questions and ideas as to how I can bring the world alive to the learning process of my students.
Reference:
Hackschooling makes me happy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h11u3vtcpaY&list=PLbRLdW37G3oMquOaC-HeUIt6CWk-FzaGp&index=1
Walsh, Roger M.D., Ph.D. Essential Spirituality. Retrieved August 23 2015. http://www.drrogerwalsh.com/books/essential-spirituality/
As I watched this video the first thing that came to my mind is that he is only 13 and has the confidence and obviously the experience of standing in front of a large audience to give a presentation. I thought to myself that he is not the "typical" teenager. His classes are unique when compared to traditional classes. He is learning real world skills in the real world. His classroom is the world around him! Then, I wondered why is he not the norm? Why is the current education system keeping my students from becoming more like him? His speech made me think of the few opportunities we provide our students to experience the world around them. We spend 180 days in one room telling our students about the world around them, Logan lives in the world we are describing to our students. He speaks to business owners, and experts in his interests. He has a true understanding of nature and science because he experiences it. How can we provide this type of experience to our own students? Then, I realized we have the world and someone like Logan at our fingertips. As an educator I need to build these connections for my students. Why not Skype with or Twitterchat with other leaders and experts who are of similar age as my students? They are experts at something, or easily can become the expert once their passions or interests can be researched and expressed. This video has brought to surface many questions and ideas as to how I can bring the world alive to the learning process of my students.
Reference:
Hackschooling makes me happy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h11u3vtcpaY&list=PLbRLdW37G3oMquOaC-HeUIt6CWk-FzaGp&index=1
Walsh, Roger M.D., Ph.D. Essential Spirituality. Retrieved August 23 2015. http://www.drrogerwalsh.com/books/essential-spirituality/