Axioms We All Should Educate By...

Over the weekend was the annual Educon event in Philadelphia. Held at the Science Leadership Academy, the event aims to bring together all those with a vested interest in education for conversations and discussions about the future of schools.

I really wanted to be able to go but because I committed myself to other events this year I was not able to attend. However I was able to quietly attend virtually. Almost all sessions were available via Elluminate and I could follow discussions via the Twitter backchannel. While I was watching and listening I did get a little more depressed that I was not there in person but alas, in the end I did learn a lot and I had my thinking stretched a great deal.

One thing that caught my eye as I was exploring the Educon website was "The Axioms-Guiding Principals of Educon 2.2." After reading them I thought to myself, these are axioms that should be hanging in all classrooms and all schools across this land. What do you think?

• Our schools must be inquiry-driven, thoughtful and empowering for all members
• Our schools must be about co-creating — together with our students — the 21st Century Citizen
• Technology must serve pedagogy, not the other way around
• Technology must enable students to research, create, communicate and collaborate
• Learning can - and must - be networked

Why not educate by these everywhere? Classrooms and schools should be inquiry driven and they should empower all members. Schools and classrooms should promote creation, preparing students to be a member of the global collaborative. Schools and classrooms should focus on pedagogy and use technology to promote and empower it. They should not rely on technology as the education savior. But that the technology that used should allow students to research, create, communicate and collaborate. And just like educators our students should be connected to on another, both inside and outside the classroom and across the globe.

A challenge: Go into your school or classroom tomorrow or the next day and talk about these Axioms with your students. Talk about how you are going to support these and how your students can do the same.

Axioms we can all educate by for sure....