Very excited about this
http://chronicle.com/article/MIT-Dean-Takes-Leave-to-Start/235121/
I can’t say as I get it. No majors, no departments, no lectures, no classrooms. Just a bunch of open space so students can do long-term projects. Well, maybe there are some kinds of students who would learn in that environment, but I know I wouldn’t have been able to.
This reminds me of parts of the progressive education model at the Putney school which you know I am a huge fan of. But this takes it completely further… it’s about using technology to reorganize how knowledge is attained and also project based learning in how it is investigated and produces experience. It’s about giving students permission to lead their passion using time and direction in a better way.
Interesting, and best suited, I think, at present, for the university. Some independent schools will borrow parts of the “paradigm”, but I would not be so enthusiastic about the whole package moving down to the high school level. This kind of experimentation expands the open market of opportunities available in higher ed, which works on a caveat emptor basis. It might work for some, but let them buy into it on an individual basis.
Olin College - a 10 year old engineering school is very project based but still had some lectures/traditional programs. I think seniors do a big project with local industry/research people as mentors.