Education Nation: Six Leading Edges of Innovation in our Schools Six Leading Edges of Innovation in our Schools

In Education Nation author Milton Chen draws from extensive experience in mediafrom his work on Sesame Street to his current role as executive director of the George Lucas Educational Foundationto support his vision for a new world of learning. This book examines the ways in which K-12 learning can be revolutionized through innovative reform and the use of technology. Due in large part to new technologies, over the last few decades weve witnessed a huge shift in how we imagine teaching and learning. A good example is the educational revolution sparked by Sesame Streetwhich in its first season had a goal of teaching preschool-age children the numbers 1 to 10. At the time, experts dismissed it as an unrealistic goal since many kindergarten students were having trouble mastering this simple counting. Yet the research proved that preschool-age children learned those skills and many others directly from the TV screen. Now Sesame Streets curriculum teaches the numbers from 1 to 40. In todays digital age the number of new ways to teach and learn is ever-expanding and includes: television, Google, YouTube, TeacherTube, Facebook, iPhones; and there are countless examples of ways technology positively impacts student learningfrom voice-recognition software that helps children learn to read to translation tools that help teachers communicate with non-English speaking parents. As a result of constant innovation, learning is no longer limited by traditional confines and were quickly moving beyond students tied to their chairs, desks, and textbooksand teachers locked away in classrooms. CONTENTS Foreword by George Lucas Preface: My Learning Journey: From the Longest STreet in the World to a Galaxy Long Ago and Far, Far Away Introduction: The Vision of an Education Nation 1 The Thinking Edge: Getting Smarter About Learning 2 The Curriculum Edge: Real Learning and Authentic Assessment 3 The Technology Edge: PuttingModern Tools in Young Hands 4 The Time/Place Edge: Learning Any Time, Anywhere 5 The Co-Teaching Edge: Teachers, Experts, and Parents as Coeducators 6 The Youth Edge: Digital Learners Carrying Change in Their Pockets Afterword: Tomorrow's Edge, a 2020 Vision, with Steve Arnold

An educational innovator who worked at Sesame Workshop and The George Lucas Educational Foundation offers a new vision for learning As a result of constant innovation, learning is no longer limited by traditional confines and we're moving beyond students tied to their chairs, desks, and textbooks-and teachers locked away in classrooms. In Education Nation author Milton Chen draws from extensive experience in media-from his work on Sesame Street in its nascent years to his role as executive director of the George Lucas Educational Foundation-to support a vision for a new world of learning.This book, in six chapters, explores the "edges" in education--the places where K-12 learning has already seen revolutionary changes through innovative reform and the use of technology. Examines ways in which learning can be revolutionized through innovative reform and the use of technology Explores the ever-expanding world of technology for breakthroughs in teaching and learning Includes many wonderful resources to support innovation in schools across the nation This important book offers a clear vision for tomorrow's classrooms that will enhance learning opportunities for all children.