Stephen Downes

Gary Stager reports, "I have been stunned to observe the complete and utter return to whole class instruction in nearly every school I visit (public, private, rich, poor, urban, suburban and rural) everywhere in the world. New teachers have little or no experience with classroom centers, independent work, student projects and the sorts of agency that allow children to enjoy the 'flow' experiences that build upon their obsessions and lead to understanding." If true (and I have no reason to doubt it) that would be sad. Much of my own creativity and independence was developed working on independent projects, elective classes, and the like. These did not simply enable learning in the classroom - they created in me the capacity to learn anywhere, from anything (which I do, wholeheartedly, to this day (how do you measure that?)).