Wednesday, July 23, 2008
What next? 21 steps to 21st century learning
New report by personalisation expert on 21st century learning .
Charles Leadbeater has written extensively on personalisation and innovation in education and his latest book , What next? 21st century learning ,was published on July 10th .
Nearly 100 schools have been part of the Innovation Unit’s Next Practice in Education Programme which has been running for the last two years. After studying the innovation programme and visiting several of the schools, Leadbeatter has written a guide with 21 practical ideas to make 21 century learning appropriate, effective and meaningful for young people.
Each of the 21 ideas is explained in detail and many have been already implemented at innovative schools. The link between all of the ideas is the emphasis on creating the right relationships for learning. Leadbeater argues that children need to learn with as well as from teachers in smaller communities of learning which include people from all areas of their lives. He argues for a scrapping of the long summer holiday and the set school day, changing the emphasis on learning as a lifestyle, not a segregated part of the day/week or year.
Relationships for learning will be built when children and teachers take on challenges together which may or may not take them out of their local environment. Relationships between children need to change in schools too, Leadbeater argues all children should be experiencing student leadership programmes, peer mentoring and assessment.
The balance of educational principles with practical ideas makes this short book a stimulating read for all those working towards greater personalised learning and learner voice in our schools.
It is free to download here