(Return to K12online 2006)
Some of my favorite parts of the speech:
From Thomas Friedman The World is Flat 4 types of people
- special - Michael Jordan
- specialized - those who can do something no one else can
- adaptable - able to learn, relearn, and unlearn
- anchored - barber, chef, etc.
"People who are specialized and highly adaptable - these are the people we need to be having come out of our classrooms. This is why the foundation of the education system today should not be the "rail" but should be the "sidetrips". It should not be the central, standard curriculum but it should be those directions that students and teachers and any kind of learners can navigate to on their own."
"In a world where geography does not mean what it did in 1990 - where the balance between geography and talent is now tilting toward talent - in that world learning becomes much more than simply sitting in a classroom or sitting in a conference room listening to someone talking to you. It means being engaged in conversation - it means sharing. It means observing your experience, reflecting on that experience, sharing it with other people, and then engaging in conversations."
"Learning today is work - it is not sitting passively back and paying attention."
Thanks, Katie, you captured it. So how are things in Burke County? Thinks here in Burke are great! Can't wait to have more conference sessions!