IALA » Community schools

International Democratic Education Conference

Wayne Jennings — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:22:39 +0000

The International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC) provides some of the most provocative and growing challenges to conventional education and probably some of the most extreme examples of choice. John Loflin has attended all of the recent conferences and filed comprehensive reports on their proceedings. The first conference was in 1993 and most recent was in Vancouver, Canada, August, 2008 and John did his usual thorough report. You can find his previous reports and other information on IDEC at the home website using IDEC as the search term.

Future Schools

Wayne Jennings — Wed, 16 May 2007 17:45:59 +0000

Renowned futurist Alvin Toffler says via interview in Future School (Edutopia, February, 2007) that his ideal schools would have the following attributes:
-Open 24 hours a day
-Customized education
-Kids arrive at different times
-Kids start school at different ages
-Integrated curriculum
-Nonteachers work with teachers
-Teachers also have other careers
-Businesses are in schools
-More charter schools

Learning in the Community

Wayne Jennings — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:11:44 +0000

Community Based Learning: Engaging Students for Success and Citizenship by the Coalition for Community Schools highlights how involving students in real-world learning would make a tremendous difference in school outcomes. For example:

-Ninety-five percent of students (ages thirteen to nineteen) said opportunities
for more real world learning would improve their school. Seventy-one percent said that it would improve their school a great deal.

-Ninety-two percent of adults (including teachers) favored emphasizing real world learning in schools including work study, community service, and vocational courses. Sixty-four percent of adults strongly advocated emphasizing real world learning.

-Seventy percent of teachers strongly advocated emphasizing real world learning.

See page 2 of the report for references on these assertions. The report provides the theoretical basis of its community based learning theme, examples of programs, the desirable outcomes of such programs, policies and strategies, and lists of organizations supportive and active in this field. A very significant report for school transformation!

International Democratic Education Conference

Wayne Jennings — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 23:47:57 +0000

The 14th International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC) was held this past July in Sydney, Australia. 250-300 people from 15 countries attended. The event is relevant to today

Design for New Schools: CLC

Wayne Jennings — Mon, 31 May 2004 23:52:21 +0000

The Community Learning Centers model was developed to “redesign American education.” A huge database of information is available about its features and how to implement them. It includes: personal learning plans, professional learning plans, differentiated staffing, performance pay, advisor program, technology use, thematic instruction, service learning, school board operations (charter), brain compatible learning, and other topics with detailed descriptions.

This is highly useful for people planning new schools who need to think differently about education. The CLC model was developed by Designs for Learning, a St. Paul, MN consulting firm.