Dream School

[Bell778]

It already sounds a million times better than my school!

[jnkbortka]

you should be able to test out of classes and still get the credits for that class if you do test out.

[OCDemSchool]

(05-31-2012 11:08 AM)jnkbortka Wrote:  you should be able to test out of classes and still get the credits for that class if you do test out.

How about no classes? Unless they are directly requested by a student who wants a particular class, this school won't have classes.

[4r4b7]

burn down the school.

solution

[xcriteria]

Check out this site: Dream School Commons
http://site.dreamschoolcommons.org/dsc/home

And a detailed proposal from JSchwamm at: http://site.dreamschoolcommons.org/dsc/a...mn-schools

And lots of shared stories: http://stories.dreamschoolcommons.net/

[Trekkie_Aspie]

So it's unschooling in an 'institution'? You're astounding!

[OCDemSchool]

(01-09-2013 09:53 AM)Trekkie_Aspie Wrote:  So it's unschooling in an 'institution'?

Yep, essentially. If someone is familiar with unschooling, I usually tell them it's unschooling in community.

[no]

(06-03-2012 09:14 PM)4r4b7 Wrote:  burn down the school.

solution

That's not the point. They're trying to make a good school. Burning it down would be extremely stupid.

Burning down a regular school would be less stupid, but still not address the problem (that most people WANT to create such horrendous schools as the government does). Besides, A. law enforcement would make your life a living hell unless you are some kind of invisible teleporting ninja, and B. there are thousands of other schools, what does having one less matter?

[Ky]

Aren't most schools constructed like prisons anyway? I've never seen anyone set a brick wall on fire.

[Slick]

Nothing, I don't consider any schools a dream.

[tankazoo]

(05-27-2012 02:01 AM)OCDemSchool Wrote:  

(05-26-2012 05:34 PM)Griff_Da_Man Wrote:  As for some suggestions, probably already on your agenda but a decent sized A/V lab for videography/photography/podcasting as those are things that students interested in pursuing should be able to get a good professional headstart on as it's often expensive to tinker with that on your own. Similar to what universities offer although I will say some high schools have stepped it up.

Great idea, actually. We were debating the need for a computer lab, since that concept seems outdated. The whole school could be a computer lab, with high-speed wifi and tablets/laptops for the students. But, I can see that having a dedicated space for video production, etc. would be really helpful. We'll have to research this a little more. Perhaps a studio for filming? And one or two computers with multiple monitors for the exclusive purpose of editing? What specific elements would be useful in a space like this? What elements would just be really cool, though not necessary?

perhaps you should look into the THOUSANDS of peer reviewed literature on the harmful physiological (including neurological) effects of the electro magentic fields created through wifi (which we are somewhat protected by when wired) before blindly thinking more wifi = better

[Ky]

My dream school? For whatever reason, that one in the second Pokemon Ranger game comes to mind.

[LadyKira]

One where you could learn anything and you wouldn't have stupid tests.

[no]

(02-23-2013 03:30 PM)tankazoo Wrote:  perhaps you should look into the THOUSANDS of peer reviewed literature on the harmful physiological (including neurological) effects of the electro magentic fields created through wifi (which we are somewhat protected by when wired) before blindly thinking more wifi = better

Maybe, though I imagine that the web blockers used in most schools probably have worse psychological effects.

[thewake]

(02-23-2013 03:30 PM)tankazoo Wrote:  perhaps you should look into the THOUSANDS of peer reviewed literature on the harmful physiological (including neurological) effects of the electro magentic fields created through wifi (which we are somewhat protected by when wired) before blindly thinking more wifi = better

Quote:If it is possible for a microwave oven to interfere with Wi-Fi signals – I just read something like that on your blog – because they operate at the same frequency, is Wi-Fi then not dangerous to your health? Would having Wi-Fi in your home not be like leaving your microwave door open?
Hermie

This is a question that comes up from time to time, and the short answer is no. In fact, we could rephrase your question and pretend that you'd asked about baby alarms, radio-controlled cars, cordless (DECT) phones, Bluetooth headsets, security alarms and loads of other things that operate in the same unlicensed radio frequency band without causing concern. Is having a baby alarm in your home not like leaving your microwave door open?

The longer answer is that the intensity of a Wi-Fi signal is around is 100,000 times less than a microwave oven. The oven is a targeted device that operates at very high voltages and short distances. Wi-Fi routers operate at very low voltages, broadcast in all directions, and are used at relatively long distances.

Since radio waves follow the inverse square law – like light, sound and gravity – then each time you double the distance, you get only a quarter of the energy. In other words, the signal strength falls off very rapidly. At normal operating distances, Wi-Fi's intensity is generally so low that it's not worth worrying about: it's just part of the "smog" that is generated by radio and TV signals, AC mains wiring, the motors in home appliances, and the universe in general. (As my colleague Charles Arthur once pointed out here, the wavelength of Wi-Fi signals is the same as the cosmic background radiation: 12cm. If you're worried, don't go outside.)

read the rest here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/ask...alth-risks

[tankazoo]

(02-23-2013 11:44 PM)planetfall666 Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 03:30 PM)tankazoo Wrote:  perhaps you should look into the THOUSANDS of peer reviewed literature on the harmful physiological (including neurological) effects of the electro magentic fields created through wifi (which we are somewhat protected by when wired) before blindly thinking more wifi = better

Maybe, though I imagine that the web blockers used in most schools probably have worse psychological effects.

ya, well I don't disagree that censorship isn't an issue.


And don't get me wrong, I am not advocating for anyone to avoid wifi (like one could anyway) or computers, or to never use the web.


But of course there are going to be effects of wifi and electricity we do not live in our own personal vacuums.

I am advocating for ya'll to do your own research regarding EMF's and Dirty Electricity, because you sure as hell aren't going to hear about it in school, through mainstream media, etc- it is a political hot potato with too many interested parties invested in it...


And I understand that the internet and computers are basically saviors for many real reasons, and they can be the only or main source of real connections and learning..... but we have to be able to hold both thoughts together; that is, that something can be simultaneously 'good' and 'bad'.... so then it becomes a questions of using the technology responsibly. To argue that more wifi hotspots and/or more computers in the class = better, is an unthinking, irresponsible conclusion, imho

[Trekkie_Aspie]

But the trouble with using things 'responsibly' is who gets to decide what responsible is? Who gets to enforce it? Or is it just a general 'should' statement? I mean, we should be eating healthily and getting an hour of excercise a week. Who does that?

[Smudge]

Nap/safe space/relaxation room.

[Trekkie_Aspie]

Dream School, huh?

Well, let's start with some very basic grounding in psychology. Maslow's hierarchy (google it) So, the first thing we need is a canteen or something and some beds, or at least sofas and of course, toilets.

Brilliant, now, we need safety and 'security'. I'm not sure who you're going to police it though - oh wait, you won't need to! Don't make people go if they don't want to and they won't need to beat others up.

Friendships, family and sexual intimacy come up next. Friendships are easy enough ... as is family. As for sexual intimacy, that's not as scary as it sounds - Younger children just need to know that masturbation isn't harmful/sinful/demonic/insert negative quality of your choice. Slightly older children need the talk ... Children slightly older than that can handle that one themselves.

Self-esteem and confidence come next. So offer some sort of confidence-building exercise? Track people with accredible or something should do it, I would think. Achievement ... well, just point their achievements out to them. Respect is also solved by optional attendance (both to and from them)

Aha - now self-actualisation - morality, creativity, spontaeity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, acceptance of facts - look, we're learning something now!

[Ky]

^ Ah, Maslow's hierarchy. I don't feel as though your approach works the way it should - the best way to provide for needs is to DIY.

Basic needs - allow students to brown-bag and provide an atmosphere with bathrooms and comfy seats, remove all restrictions on eating and drinking
Safety needs - allow students to bring weapons and protection from said weapons (the best defense for a man with a gun is another man with a gun, after all)
Emotional needs - allow students to make friends and see their families. Sheesh. I cannot stress this importance enough, as today's schools are clamping down on both
Psychological needs - allow students every right that does not infringe upon the rights of another. Their actions will shape how they perceive themselves
Self-actualization - students will realize they have already provided for their needs all their own, and can be encouraged to do much more

In other words, a completely laissez-faire system. A dream environment for me.

[Trekkie_Aspie]

Yeah, I like your principle of "freedom, not license" better. I'm not saying they have to be in specific areas though ... I do intend on allowing students to brown-bag, it would just be nice to provide a place to get hot food too.

[bronzebird]

The walls should be bright colors and not look like a prison/ward. But with some darker colors in like classrooms and stuff. Maybe some architecture classes...

[brainiac3397]

a mad scientist's lab with a molecular constructor.

[chained to desk]

Students allowed to learn things they choose, and also not getting randomly shuffled every year like in school. Too often it happens where all your friends from last year's class are in different classes/periods than you and you can't learn with them in the same class now because stupid reasons. Sure you can talk to them on social networking or meet when not in school, but it's still really annoying having to meet all new people if you have bad luck with class reshuffling. Students should have options on learning with who they want to, so no more "omg i hate the students in this class, i don't know any of them and i don't like them".

You could also go further and allow students to choose who they want to learn from, instead of "you must learn from this teacher, fuck you if you don't like them".


Another thing that is terrible is not being able to continue with a class you liked the next year. For instance, I can't simply learn 4 years of physics in high school even though i want to learn about astrophysics and astronomy and physics for four years instead of chemistry and biology. I loved computer science last year, but i have no option to take another year of it and learn a few new things about computers.

[xcriteria]

This open & free course, starting this week, is all about exploring this question of what a dream school should be like, and how to set one up:

New School Creation with Larry Rosenstock



Watch on YouTube

This is an opportunity to discuss these ideas with educators who are actually putting them into practice... things don't have to stay in the factory-model forever, with only rare exceptions.

But it's going to take some dialogue to bring these changes about.