REVOLUTIONARY IDEA FOR SCHOOLS by Kenneth Udut April 18, 2015 -
   tell me what you think* IMAGINE THIS: [it's would totally change
   the 'education system'] I know it won't happen; entirely
   fictional but then again, all plans start off as fictions a)
   Local businesses, churches, nonprofit groups, families,
   individuals and government present Real problems they're having.
   [changing people's names of course] to a special committee. b)
   These Real World Cases are explained to kids in the classroom in
   a way that they understand, depending on their vocabulary and
   stuff. c) They're presented with the same resources needed in
   the Real World Case again, just with simplified language - but
   again, the problem is a very real one, NOT FAKE. c) Working
   individually or teams (depending on what they like; I prefer to
   work alone, some people are more social), they stay on the
   project as long as it necessary to come up with a variety of
   solutions, opinions and such. d) The results are collected from
   the schools and given back to the local
   business/govt/non-profit/church/family/individual e) There can
   be a prize for the solution that's chosen although it's not
   necessary.* [but everybody likes to win a contest] f) Follow-up
   later on to see if the solution chosen was effective.* If they
   try a different idea later, the students that came up with that
   solution also get a prize. In the process of solving the real
   cases, THAT'S when things like mathematics, history, science,
   philosophy, physics, biology, chemistry, spelling, computer
   skills, programming, grammar, punctuation, writing, reading, and
   whatever other ways that human knowledge is categorized within
   education - THAT'S when that stuff is taught. There's so many
   problems in the world.. so much brain power that gets wasted
   every day by forcing kids to go through artificial learning
   experiences that they don't care about.... the current system is
   really backwards when you think about it. If local anonymity is
   required, there can be a swap - and perhaps this is better: So
   TOWN A gets the questions from TOWN G, TOWN G gets the problems
   from TOWN C, etc. But the important things are: a) The cases are
   real and current. b) Their opinions MATTER. c) Learning is a
   by-product of dealing with problems WHICH IS HOW THE REAL
   LEARNING HAPPENS ANYWAY. d) They can track progress all the
   normal ways they like to do already if they want to.* That crap
   doesn't have to change. We say, "YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE* to
   kids but... their experience teaches them that, no, not really,
   we're "just kids". But by getting involved with things that
   matter to somebody in the real world... there's a reason to
   care.* The teachers have a reason to teach.* The students have a
   reason to learn. Here's the thing: It's not slave labor.* It's a
   different way to learn. THEN by the time they graduate, there's
   no artificial separation from SCHOOL and REALITY because... in
   the end.... IT'S ALL REALITY isn't it? Get rid of the fake
   problems.* Give real ones. [now, will this ever really happen?*
   I doubt it.* But imagine if it did... the world would progress a
   whole lot faster] There's a name for this and it exists already
   in medical schools and law schools.* It's called Case Based
   Learning.