I would like to begin this post by sharing with you three powerful quotes supporting a major shift in paradigms and practices which must take place in education. Please read and consider the message, then read or (read again) the books from which these quotes are taken. Then, have a conversation with the stakeholders in your organization about what needs to change, and make a commitment to make that change happen.

The authors are Sir Ken Robinson, Tony Wagner and Ted Dintersmith. Enjoy, and together, let's make that change really happen!

P.S. Click on the name of each author for additional resources, including the books from which these quotes are taken! Then see the resources available to you for making the Paradigm Shift we need.
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​For many decades education has been in a state of turmoil as we continue to seek ways to adapt education to life in the 21st century.  

A Hall of Mirrors is defined as "A carnival or amusement park attraction consisting of a maze or series of passageways lined with mirrors, especially curved mirrors giving distorted reflections.

"A confusing or disorienting situation in which it is difficult to distinguish between truth and illusion or between competing versions of reality. Also called, in both senses, a House of Mirrors.

Looking back over the past thirty to forty years alone, there has been much contention regarding the proper path forward, and a variety of programs and plans have been put forth to improve schools. Most of these have focused on one purpose: improving students' standardized test scores. And most have experienced dismal results.

With the proliferation of the Internet, there was a virtual explosion of new programs, and suddenly it seemed that everyone was an expert or a consultant. Thus my analogy of the "house of mirrors". It must feel that way to so many educators who are being continually bombarded with new "tips, tricks and various programs" for improving student learning, i.e., test scores. These range from ludicrous to highly effective ways to improve student learning.

Along with the Internet has been the surge of excitement surrounding efforts to get technologies into the hands of students. Unfortunately, technologies have not been implemented in a meaningful way in many classrooms. And, as I have written before, we simply replaced the paper/pencil worksheets and the printed textbooks with digital versions of the same. The pedagogy, practices and paradigms did not change at all.  

There are a few educators who are recognizing and calling for the need to make "real change". They also recognize that this real change is not going to be easy or simple. We cannot create real change by implementing a few "tricks and tips", we cannot do it by adding some 15-minute activity to the already enormous load of activities, standards, test prep which is overwhelming teachers and students every day.

We cannot create the schools we need unless and until we make a true Paradigm Shift. For this reason, we at 21st Century Schools have created Paradigm Shift, which includes three distinct programs!
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For more information about 21st Century Schools and to receive details on the Paradigm Shift programs, please contact Anne Shaw, Director, 21st Century Schools!
[email protected]