EDUTOPIA

=EDUTOPIA= //Education is the foundation of our democracy -- the stepping-stones for our youth to reach their full potential. My own experience in public school was quite frustrating. I was often bored. Occasionally, I had a teacher who engaged my curiosity and motivated me to learn. Those were the teachers I really loved. I wondered, "Why can't school be engaging all of the time?" As a father, I've felt the imperative to transform schooling even more urgently.// //-//George Lucas, founder of EDUTOPIA

EDUTOPIA, and it's founder George Lucas, are concerned with what works in education. The core strategies involved in EDUTIOPIA are as follows: Integrated Studies, Project Learning, Social and Emotional Learning, Technology Integration, Teacher Development, and Comprehensive Assesment. To understand how EDUTOPIA works it is important to understand the core strategies.

[|INTEGRATED STUDIES]: //Integrated studies combines curriculum from two or more disciplines, allowing students to see how ideas are connected. Teaching in such a contextual manner promotes collaboration, critical thinking, and knowledge retention.// [|PROJECT LEARNING]: //Project-based learning is a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges. With this type of active and engaged learning, students are inspired to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they're studying.// [|SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING]: //It's not enough to simply fill students' brains with facts. Educators must also help children develop the skills to manage their emotions, resolve conflicts nonviolently, and make responsible decisions.// [|TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION]: //Effective technology integration is achieved when its use supports curricular goals. It must support four key components of learning: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts.// [|TEACHER DEVELOPMENT]: //Just as professionals in medicine, architecture, and law have opportunities to learn through participating in internships and learning best practices, exemplary teacher-preparation programs allow teacher candidates the time to spend in classrooms with experienced mentors.// [|COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT]: //Testing represents a commitment to high academic standards and school accountability. When the financial and emotional stakes associated with standardized tests are disproportionately high, this laudable goal becomes distorted.// The above information was found on the EDUTOPIA website. The links will take you to the individual pages dedicated to each of the six core strategies. You will find more detailed information on each core strategy as well as video links and links to articles relating to each of the core strategies. The website itself is a wealth of information that has been well organized. There is information on schools that work, tips, links to free resources, blogs, and a community page.

Lucas founded EDUTOPIA as a way of producing schools that were more effective and engaging. As a part of the public school system as a boy he often found himself bored and frustrated. He did have some teachers that motivated him and engaged him in learning and admired them for what they had done for his education. When he became a parent he understood the need to transform schools into into an engaging experience for all students. He understands the importance of 21st century skills and making education more relevant.

I found the EDUTOPIA website to be relevent to teaching in today's classroom. The site details what works and how it works. There are groups, blogs, videos, and links to articles pertaining to the six core strategies. I find something new each time I visit.

[|EDUTOPIA.org] [|EDUTOPIA Podcasts] [|The George Lucas Educational Foundation]

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