As you might be able to tell from the title, the book is questioning the value of school. Please do not confuse this with the value of learning. His challenge of school and the school system that has remained virtually unchanged for 150 years, is that learning opportunities are constantly within arms reach. Will is very direct and states, "we have to stop thinking of an education as something that is delivered to us and instead see it as something we create for ourselves." Will also discussed that we as teachers need to allow students to create their own education, however most of us are limited by a system that continues to try and make the old way better, instead of creating an entirely different learning model.
Will's introduction is a great example of this. He shares a bit about his family life and that many of his son's friends are playing video games such as Call of Duty and Mindcraft. Reluctantly Will and his wife decide to allow Tucker to join and play Mindcraft. Shortly after leaving him to play they check on him to find out that he has accessed Youtube, as a resource to gain information that will allow him to improve and be successful at the game. Later in the day during another checkin they observe tucker on a video chat with friends discussing specific strategies. Finally Will and his wife are becoming a bit apprehensive about all of this gaming and go in to pull the plug. As they approach Tucker he very eagerly takes them on a tour of his furnished virtual home that is located on a mountain, as he points across a peaceful valley to one of his friends house and another's castle.
Will proposes that we need to find a way to embrace the fact that learning can happen anytime anywhere, with anyone.
School is changing
The second vision looks different. This vision is being co-created by thousands of connected educators. It is inquiry based learning that can promote discovery. Its about asking questions, working with others to find answers, doing real work for real audiences, and most importantly adding to the Web, not just taking away.
My Thoughts
While I can not change the education system overnight, I can create a school community and culture that connects students and prepares them as best as possible for the real world. Much of this does include inquiry based learning, with peers, with choice, utilizing some form of networking tool.
I am not sure how we change and revitalize our educational system, but I sure believe it is worth trying.....