Teachers Teach the Way They Were Taught feat. Tony Wagner

The traditional notion is that schools are failing and they need “reforming.” But our guest believes that our education system is obsolete and needs re-imaging. Why? Because our education systems were created at the Dawn of the Industrial Era, and we no longer live in the Industrial Era. 

Tony Wagner is at the Learning Policy Institute, and he’s also been at Harvard University and a number of other institutions. He also published a memoir last year called “Learning by Heart: An Unconventional Education.”

In this episode we look at the modern education system from all angles;, how can we teach teachers, the future of microcredentials and how can parents embrace education at home.

Episode Quotes

Is learning content the most important thing anymore?:

In the 21st century, content knowledge still matters. In a world where Google knows everything, it's a different kind of content that matters. Skills matter more, I argue in the innovation era, and motivation matters most.

How creativity gets squashed out of kids:

What happens in school, fewer and fewer think of themselves as creative in any way. It's something that happens off there in the corner, in a niche for just a few kids. And kids become obsessed with getting the right answer rather than asking their own questions. You don't have to take a creativity test to see this, you see it every day in classrooms, Greg. Kids aren't asking questions. They don't have time, they're not encouraged. If it's a question, it’s -“ will this be on the test?” or “how much does this count towards my grade?”, which is what we're teaching in school.

How will we change the current education system?:

The challenge is, if we're going to get shaken out of our usual way of doing things at any of these levels, there has to be a sense of urgency. And that has to be created by leaders. 

Show Links:

Guest Profile:

• Professional Profile at Learning Policy Institute
• Tony Wagner’s Website 
• Tony Wagner on Linkedin
• Tony Wagner on Twitter
• Tony Wagner at TEDxNYED

His work:

• Tony Wagner’s Blog
• Learning by Heart: An Unconventional Education
• Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era
• Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World
• The Global Achievement Gap: Why Our Kids Don't Have the Skills They Need for College, Careers, and Citizenship -- and What We Can Do About It
• Change Leadership: A Practical Guide to Transforming Our Schools