Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
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The “School of Rock” approach to education
Over the weekend, I saw “School of Rock” for the first time. It’s a funny film in which Jack Black plays a struggling rocker who pretends to be a teacher to put together a new band made up of grade school students. Black’s character tells the kids they are going to be working on a class project called “rock band” and that they will be competing against others from around the state to see who can put together the best band.
In today’s paper, I wrote about the new Dayton Technology Design High School, which borrows the “school of rock” approach by giving 80 kids a common goal they must work on cooperatively. Principal David White is in the Jack Black role, and instead of a rock band the schoolwide project this time is called “virtual game.”
In the movie, Black’s class ended up putting together a rocking show for the battle of the bands. If White is a success, his kids will knock the socks off other schools with an educational video game they’ll actually pay money to use with their own students.
As far as I can tell, this is a unique approach.
School officials say they looked at somewhat similar game-building efforts at a couple of online schools, but frankly they said they were not especially impressed. So they crafted their own concept for the school and curriculum from scratch.
The goal here is to entice kids who might otherwise dropout to stay in school by giving them a “rock band” style project, a team effort in a genre — video games — that hopefully they will find interesting, fun and exciting.
It’s also risky. The whole approach could fail. But this is part of Dayton’s effort to create new options, especially at high school, for kids who in the past have gotten lost in traditional schools.
What do you think of the “virtual game” idea? Is it genius or insanity?
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Charter Schools and School Choice, Dayton Public Schools, My Favorite Posts, Urban School Issues
Comments
By charmayne:psitutor.org
August 3, 2006 2:35 AM | Link to this
What a great idea! Self-funding, learning focused, student centred and fun to boot. This is now part of my game plan ~_* Charmayne Paul www.psitutor.org v-_- paxBy Scott Elliott
July 25, 2006 1:28 PM | Link to this
Just to be clear, the School of Rock comparison was my lame attempt at humor. Wouldn’t the movie have still worked if Black had been a computer nerd who wanted the kids to help him build his video game? I think so and that’s my point — the idea of class video game project could seem just as wacky as a class rock band project. It’s nothing like the “world languages” or “arts” themes schools have used for decades. But as weird as the school model sounds on the surface, obviously the district is dead serious about it and thinks it has a program that will work. Yes, experience-based learning and project learning has been around since John Dewey. But this particular idea — a video game schoolwide project — seems to be unique.By UDHarvardBC
July 25, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this
Scott—Sorry to burst your bubble, but the concept of project-based learning that was cleverly packaged in the “School of Rock� is nothing new. In fact, project-based learning was first espoused by great educational philosopher John Dewey back in 1916 when he wrote “Democracy in Education,� a foundational text read throughout the country in schools of education on project-based learning. The Deweyan concept of learning actually came to fruition in 1896 when he established an experimental school at the University of Chicago; the curricular model was built around linking scientific advances and social innovations (parental involvement and new concepts in teaching), increasing educational efficiency, creating a relevant school culture, and having the classroom serve as a laboratory for “real life� learning. Not only was the Deweyan experiment a success, but contemporary educational reforms have used it as a central framework. In fact, the Gates Foundation which has been instrumental in school reform across the country has made this model one of their main pillars of reform. The Boston Public Schools (with help from the Gates Foundation) has sub-divided their traditional high schools into smaller learning communities focused around a central theme that is infused throughout the curriculum. School themes in BPS range from the arts and humanities to teaching, world languages, business, media and communication, urban science, and engineering, technology, and math. The examples are not limited to Boston Public and have demonstrated positive outcomes for students especially for engaging them in critical thinking and teamwork necessary for anyone entering the workforce or going on to higher education. Having the students at the Dayton Technology Design High School work on producing an educational game is ambitious; though I think that once there is buy-in on the part of the administration, teachers, and of course families and teachers, the school could be very productive and innovative. It would be wonderful if the kids could indeed have a game to market to others for use; even if this falls short, they will have learned amazing technology, marketing, and applicable skills that will help them far beyond high school.By Scott Elliott
July 25, 2006 11:45 AM | Link to this
Charles, call the main number for the Dayton Board of Education (542-3000) and ask to be transferred to the new Dayton Technology Design School or ask for David White by name.By Charles N. King
July 25, 2006 10:59 AM | Link to this
I was very much interested in your article about the Dayton Technology Design High School. As a substitute teacher and someone who is very much interested in working wit youth, I foiund the article very informative. I would like to know how to get in contact with Mr. White to see about information in becoming a substitute teacher. Thank you Charles N. KingBy Redkudu
July 24, 2006 7:19 PM | Link to this
I like it. I’m not sure I’d hold “School of Rock” (the movie) up as an example of a teacher motivating un-motivated kids though. If I remember, the kids in the movie weren’t high-risk to begin with. ;) However, I am fascinated by the project, and will be watching for news of it. I fully support the idea of changing what “school” and the “student” should look like - why not get high-risk kids involved in efforts which cut through the attitudes of some educators that these kids simply don’t care? If we must begin with high-interest activities for the high-risk, and lead them back into a realization of the relevance of other subjects, then let’s do that - which is what I think these kids will learn as they try to develop a video game approach to an education they may not feel is relevant. After all, in order to develop a game that will make money, they’re going to have to understand the relevance of the education they’ll be promoting. If it’s simply check boxes and fancy graphics for a right answer, educators will see it isn’t an effective learning tool. I’m going to observe their progress with cautious optimism.