Interview with Milton Chen, Executive Director, The George Lucas Educational Foundation
Posted on: 1/4/2010
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How did Edutopia come to have its focus on “what works in public education?”
We focus especially and specifically on "what works" in the classroom. Using documentary film, we show how innovative practices such as project-based learning and technology integration are implemented at the classroom level.
Could you explain how Edutopia’s developed its six core concepts and how they relate to your overall mission?
The concepts have been developed with our board of directors and especially George Lucas as key practices to transform classrooms. Our concepts have been remarkably consistent over the past 15 years, going back to the development of our first product, the Learn & Live documentary (distributed on VHS!) and companion book. It also showed specific examples of project-based learning, cooperative learning in teams, new forms of authentic assessment, and use of the Internet for research (by 4th-graders) and high bandwidth connections to videoconferences with scientists.
What are the main audience groups for Edutopia’s online content and communities?
We have always said our audience is "everyone with an interest in improving education." We strive to produce all of our content in a jargon-free and accessible manner, so that parents and policymakers alike can understand these innovations. That said, we also provide specific guidance, especially to teachers and principals, on how to implement these practices.
What should a 21st century classroom look like?
It would include many of the practices mentioned above. Importantly, the role of the student and the teacher need to change dramatically. Students should be much more active in their learning and take responsibility for it, working harder and driving the learning process. Teachers need to provide learning experiences for their students, through a choice of projects and ways of being assessed.
What are the 21st century skills students need to learn? How do you promote them?
We like to say, based on George Lucas's own remarks: The Internet has changed what students need to know, especially around information filtering and use. Now, students need to know how to find information, how to assess the quality of information, and how to use information to produce a product of their knowledge.
Your success stories highlight many inspiring local initiatives. Nationally, however, what works today in public education?
We need to scale the local initiatives that we showcase, to the district, state, and national level. We like to focus on what's working locally. To borrow a phrase from Speaker Tip O'Neill, "all education is local."
What are the greatest challenges to improving public education in America?
There are many, but a key one is political leadership and risk-taking by governors to change how education is organized and delivered. For instance, how many states provide each student with a mobile computing device?
What are Edutopia’s key initiatives for 2010 and beyond?
Continued production of our new Schools That Work series, providing more specific how-to information on innovative schools and districts. Building out our online community to provide a platform for education change agents to share their passion and practices. Increasing our reach and impact with our multiple audiences.
Learn more about The George Lucas Educational Foundation, Edutopia.org, Edutopia magazine & video.
Tags: Educational Environment Teaching Styles/Philosophies Education Policy Innovation
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