A305: Deeper Learning for All, Designing a 21st – Century School System

From the classroom to the statehouse, education discussions today are rife with the idea that all students should graduate from high school "college and career ready," able to do the kind of advanced critical thinking that is so necessary for participation in modern life. But these expectations are placed on a school system that is not remotely equipped to realize them. American schooling assumed its modern form at the beginning of the 20th century and still bears the heavy imprint of its industrial era origins as a command-and control-bureaucracy. This course will examine what it would mean to rethink those assumptions and design anew a 21st-century system that would support deeper and more engaging instruction for all students. Students will move across levels, ranging from in-depth exploration of the nature of good teaching and learning at the classroom and school level, up through what district, state, and federal polices would support such a transformation, as well as how other countries have organized their systems to aim for high-quality schooling for all students. Readings will span these subjects. The latter part of the course will draw on design principles to ask students to redesign an aspect of schooling in a forward-looking way; these ideas will be presented in a culminating exhibition to a diverse group of educational stakeholders. Students will also learn concrete skills around evaluating instruction, as well as how to utilize the design process.