"If you are not learning about how to solve problems, what will you do when you are out of school?"

"If you are not learning about how to solve problems, what will you do when you are out of school?"
This was Liva Pierce's conclusion after doing "Expeditions" in science and technology whilst in 8th grade in King Middle School, Portland, Maine.
Following on from my previous post on We know where we are, but where are we going?, here is an example that ticked ALL the boxes in the lists that I made:

21st Century Learning Skills: 

• Creativity and Innovation (Entrepreneurship in Yong Zhao's language?) ✔
• Collaboration and Communication - complex communication, oral and written ✔
• Digital and Quantitative Literacy ✔
• Global Thinking, International Mindedness ✔
• Inquiry, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving ✔
• Integrity and Ethical Decision-making ✔
• Adaptability, Initiative and Risk-taking ✔
• Leadership and Teamwork, Responsibility ✔

21st Century Learning Approaches and Environments:

• Authentic Learning - Project Based Learning ✔
• Experiential Learning ✔
• Open Learning ✔
• Technology Infusion ✔
• Social and Emotional Learning ✔

It is possible to open up learning to incorporate these ideas in ordinary school settings. Clearly an insightful and coordinated set of teachers at King Middle School planned and delivered an excellent example of what can be achieved. Thanks for showing us one powerful model.

Here is the report from PBS: