Education done right

[fragment]

We all know that schools often do education poorly. But what does it look like when education is done really well?

IMO, here's one good example (http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/11/03/turning-secondary-school-children-into-research-scientists/).

[livius drusus]

That's brilliant. It ties into some of the issues raised in TLR's Problem with Science thread, too. Turning high school students into research assistants satisfies the scientist's need/want to do important research while at the same time teaching kids science in the most present, hands-on way.

[erimir]

Oh jeez, now ICP are gonna have to rap "And I don't want to talk to a high schooler, those motherfuckers lyin', and gettin' me pissed"

[Crumb]

When I was (briefly) a middle school science teacher, my brilliant idea was to have a school produced science journal. So the students could take a science project from initial idea to publication. Their papers could be peer reviewed and they would produce a real artifact that would stay in the classroom (and they should get their own copies too) and be used as reference for future classes on their own projects. That would be so cool to do in middle schools and high schools.

[Ymir's blood]

When I was (briefly) a middle school science teacher, my brilliant idea was to have a school produced science journal. So the students could take a science project from initial idea to publication. Their papers could be peer reviewed and they would produce a real artifact that would stay in the classroom (and they should get their own copies too) and be used as reference for future classes on their own projects. That would be so cool to do in middle schools and high schools.It's all fun and games until someone's grandmother's grave gets violated.

[Crumb]

You are just weird. :shakeskull:

[fragment]

Hellz yeah! 8-10-year-old kids do actual research for their science education and get it published (http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/12/21/eight-year-old-children-publish-bee-study-in-royal-society-journal/) in Biology Letters! Awesome.

[LadyShea]

That is awesome!

[livius drusus]

Urban Prep, an all-boys charter school in Chicago, for the second year in a row is sending 100% of its graduating seniors to college (http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Urban-Prep-.html). All 107 of the young men in the senior class have been accepted at four-year colleges. Nationwide only 47% of young black men graduate high school (http://www.thegrio.com/specials/making-the-grade/grim-graduate-rates-for-black-males-highlight-racial-gap-in-schools.php), never mind go to four year colleges, and for Chicago that rate is even smaller, 44%.

The school was founded in 2006 with a mission to educate African-American students from some of the worst neighborhoods in the city. It has a lottery acceptance system, so it's not like these guys were the cream of the academic crop. In fact, only 4% of the first freshman class could read at grade level.

They accomplish this remarkable feet by focusing on one-on-one mentoring and support -- every student is assigned a teacher mentor who has a school-issued cellphone so the student can call him 24 hours a day -- really hard work -- the school day at Urban Prep is 2 hours longer than the norm, with 2 classes of English per day -- as well as a motivating "We Believe" creed that the students and teachers take very seriously.

From the Urban Prep website (http://www.urbanprep.org/arcs/):

The Urban Prep approach to education is to encircle the student with four connecting arcs that provide a comprehensive educational experience. The Academic Arc promotes a rigorous college-prep curriculum that focuses on Reading, Writing, and Public Speaking. In the Service Arc, students’ sense of responsibility is deepened by identifying community needs and completing volunteer programs to address those needs. The Activity Arc requires students to participate in school-sponsored activities each year (sports teams, clubs, etc.) in order to more fully develop their confidence, interpersonal skills, leadership qualities and respect for others. The Professional/College Arc provides opportunities for students to spend time in a professional setting or on a college campus to increase their understanding of the wider world, reinforce character and leadership development, and serve as a means for students to gain valuable experience.