A Definition of Modernity in Education Gives Us Direction
Writing For Clarity & Strength
I began my collaboration session with my AI buddies (Grok, ChatGPT and Claude3) with the following prompt:
Do you agree with the following definition of a modern educational model? Give your thoughts:
A modern educational model has 3 concepts at its core:
1. The learner is a human being with irreducible needs and the environment must prioritize an awareness on making sure those needs are being met.
2. The community, parents, and learners collaborate to establish the needs and wants of their intellectual and physical growth.
3. Groups of adults guide groups of learners in open transparent spaces; the responsibility is shared by cohorts of trusted, accountable partners.
ChatGPT thought the definition was solid.
ChatGPT recognizes the "complexities" of the future that await us.
Yet, Grok and Claude suggested the final piece to move our thinking forward and not surprisingly it was: technology!
Of course Grok is going to offer himself to our mission, I like that!
Claude is not easy to impress but he does have a high standard most of the time.
After accepting Grok and Claude’s recommendation, here is our revised definition:
A modern educational model has 3 concepts at its core:
1. The learner is a human being with *irreducible needs and the environment must prioritize an awareness on making sure those needs are being met.
2. The community, parents, and learners collaborate to establish the needs and wants of their intellectual and physical growth.
3. Groups of adults guide groups of learners in open transparent spaces; the responsibility is shared by cohorts of trusted, accountable partners.
4. The learning experience is enhanced with the availability and use of advanced technology and AI systems to prepare us for challenges of any kind.
*irreducible encompasses emotional, social, cognitive, and physical needs.
I ran the updated definition through Claude and he gave an approving encouragement:
Claude was right, at the rate tech is evolving we must include it in our definition if we are serious about this vision.
Why go through the effort to reach this point? Because a vision requires clarity and now I can give you a straight answer when you ask me what I mean by a “modern” educational system.
An Eye Opening Realization
Now that we have a strong definition on what a “modern” educational model represents and what we are striving for; we are able to think about the context we currently have. It begs the question, when was the American public education model even created?
After consulting with the AI crew they all pointed to Massachusetts being the first state in 1837 to provide tax funded education. I fact checked this consensus and found out that it applied to white children only. When I asked if black students were allowed to attend public schools in Massachusetts in 1837, these were their responses:
This detail was omitted in the initial prompt response.
I've inadvertently stumbled upon our country's past in my effort to build for the future.
Again, this cat has jumped out of the bag, and once out, it's virtually impossible to put back in.
Wow. I did not expect this. Suddenly, I’m struck by another positive opportunity that can arise from modernizing our current system: atoning for our country’s hateful past.
Next, I asked, “When was the American public education model first implemented for all children regardless of race, gender, ethnic background, etc.?”
Grok hit a home run! Cut through the BS to include children with disabilities.
These milestones guide us.
The IDEA law in 1975 made public education a right for all students in America.
I stopped and pondered with this fact. I then asked:
So we’ve only had a public education model in America available to ALL students (regardless of race, gender, disability, etc.) for 49 years?
Mind blown.
Grok, says I am correct about my eye opening realization.
ChatGPT appears optimistic we can continue to improve our system.
Holy guacamole! In case you did a speed read, let me reiterate Claude's final statement:
“The 49 years since 1975 is a relatively short period in the broader context of American public education history when you consider how long discriminatory policies and segregation had been in place previously. It highlights how recent true educational equity and access has been achieved.”
Let that sink in for a second. If you include children with disabilities as human beings (which they undoubtedly are) human beings in our country have only been granted public education as a right for 49 years! Our current model for ALL learners is only a few decades old. Yet, we cling to it as the end all be all model.
The most difficult part has already been achieved: making education a right for ALL students in America. Now, we must innovate how to educate all students in America. To do what exactly? To grow with fundamentals, to live in a world of uncertainty and most importantly, to navigate a human experience we do not understand.
Will you join me?
