UnCollege Meets the Classroom.

UnCollege meets the Classroom.    This may be a transition to the new future of education.  Think about it.

The points that Dale J. Stephens, 20, the founder of UnCollege are stimulatingly real.  He focuses on self-reliance and self-discovery, where "young people forge their own paths to fulfillment."  He finds that there is more outside of college that can teach one to become self-reliant, namely internships, or developing a start-up.  The structure that comes from going to college, such as learning to follow directions, deadlines and memorize facts, is not, according to Stephens, going to help that college graduate in the real world.  That kind of structure falls apart when they begin working outside of college.  What's better, he says, is for young people to develop themselves on project-based learning that is self-directed with the guidance of mentors.  I agree with this part of Mr. Stephens one-hundred-thousandth percent, since I have many degrees, and it was not until I worked in the field, applying my knowledge, developing teamwork, relationships, and developing people skills, did I realize  how valuable internships and work were.

When I began to earn my own income, cook my own meals, clean my own laundry and pay my own bills was the beginning of my self-reliance.  However,  I found that I am never completely separate from people, and working together whether at home, work or community - having the ability to communicate well with people is truly what it takes to become an adult.  Developing programs of conflict resolution, financial independence and accountability, and developing project-based learning that develops collaboration and leadership are vital.  This is where the other article is not perfect, but begins to hit the mark.

The classroom is not completely dead.  It has the potential to be renovated into a living classroom.  Rather than sit and be lectured to, the classroom would have project-based learning, where teachers would take students out in the field, on internships and they would need to work as a team.  The only time I had this experience was taking classes in motion pictures, and working at City College's Eco Center with Peggy Langmo.  Motion pictures immediately puts me into groups to accomplish a goal of making a short film.  I not only had to have the skills, but I  had to work as a team.  Never before in my college education, did I learn more about myself and being accountable with people, resources, time and money.  Not to mention how to negotiate the creative vision.