flickr photo shared by mrkrndvs under a Creative Commons ( BY-NC-SA ) license
I started reading Will Richardson’s latest book, Master Teacher to Master Learner, with a mixture of apprehension and intrigue. Based on some of his recent posts, I wondered if it was going to be one of those treatises that states how everything is wrong and then outlines all of the answers righting all of life’s ills. I was pleasantly surprised. Although all is not well in the world of education, the change that Richardson offers is not necessarily something that is beyond teachers. In fact, it is quite the opposite. At the heart of the text, Richardson asks the reader, that is teachers, to reflect on our ability to be master learners outside of school and take this mindset into the classroom.
Throughout, the book provides a clear outline for the why, the what and the how to becoming a modern learning. It provides a great introduction to the notion of connected self-determined learning. There is often so much written about being connected and although he touches upon technological side of things, much of his focus is on learning and the qualities associated with this. What is of interest to Richardson is the many possibilities that technology affords for modern learners, whether teachers or students.
A part of a wider series of books exploring solutions for digital learner-centred classrooms, Master Teacher to Master Learner is accessible and really gets to the point. For those foreign to the connected evolution, it offers a guide for where to start. Something I wish I had read when I set out on my own connected journey. While for those already well versed with modern learning, it provides a concise reminder.
If you enjoy what you read here, feel free to sign up for my monthly newsletter to catch up on all things learning, edtech and storytelling.
REVIEW: Master Teacher to Master Learner by Aaron Davis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Hello Aaron,
I just finished with Richardson’s MT-ML book and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I particularly like the quotations and references from other educational thought-change leaders. What is lacking, or what I wish would have been included in the book are some examples of schools or organizations where “modern learners” are thriving in innovative systems. A few of his workflow, learning processes, are interesting, but it would be great to hear how other prominent educators are organizing and sharing their learning. Thank you for sharing this summary and for providing this learning forum. Bob
I agree with what you are saying Robert, but my feeling is that Richardson and co (it is a part of a series) have purposefully written shorter books to make them more accessible and consumable. I actually had a similar experience while reading David Culberhouse’s Book Scaling Innovation. I think that is the strength of Davd Price’s book Open, it is full of examples. I also wonder if such examples work within the medium of a book. Was thinking that maybe a medium like Fold might suit better, where you can find out more information when you want to.