What School Could Be

Insights and Inspiration from Teachers Across America

By: Ted Dintersmith

Narrated by: Tom Perkins

Innovation expert Ted Dintersmith took an unprecedented trip across America, visiting all 50 states in a single school year. He originally set out to raise awareness about the urgent need to reimagine education to prepare students for a world marked by innovation, but America's teachers one-upped him.

All across the country, he met teachers in ordinary settings doing extraordinary things, creating innovative classrooms where children learn deeply and joyously as they gain purpose, agency, and real knowledge. Together, these new ways of teaching and learning offer a vision of what school could be and a model for transforming schools throughout the United States and beyond. Better yet, teachers and parents don't have to wait for the revolution to come from above. They can readily implement small changes that can make a big difference.

America's clock is ticking. Our archaic model of education trains our kids for a world that no longer exists, and accelerating advances in technology are eliminating millions of jobs. But the trailblazing of many American educators gives us reasons for hope. Capturing bold ideas from teachers and classrooms across America, What School Could Be provides a realistic, and profoundly optimistic, roadmap for creating cultures of innovation and real learning in all our schools.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2018 Ted Dintersmith (P)2018 Tantor

Great book, massively insightful.

It is a superb book. The adventure the author went on gives unique insights into the state of American education. The insights he gains from relatively quick visits to each state are particularly impressive. Several of the more challenging systemic issues of education in the United States are examined within. The narration was fine, but not as compelling as if the author had read it.

A dare to dream big

If your teacher was completely comfortable with the status quo this book will challenge you. But the other pointed out that no one is comfortable with the status quo so if you are a teacher or other education leader and feeling frustrated, this book will validate and challenge you. As a person who loves examples, this book is chock-full of strong examples of education leaders swimming against the tide and the rewards they’re seeing in their students. We can do this, and this book will help.

Great look into American education

This book is about the experiences of a man touring 50 states to review what American education does and could look like. Every policy maker, superintendent, principal, teacher, and parent should read it.

I highly recommend this book for anyone

Ted introduces a sense of urgency into the need to change our current education model in the US that is unprecedented. He put in the time and traveled to all 50 states to see what real innovation and change is taking place in classrooms across the country to better prepare our kids for the new innovation economy and jobs. He's keenly aware of the price tag of college and the metrics being used to admit kids to college that do not prepare them to enter the job market, to innovate and create solutions to real world problems

All People Should Hear This Book!

This book was full of inspirational stories and Ted Dintersmith has done it again. This movement will come from the ground up - one innovative classroom at a time. What School Could Be is not just another book; rather, a call to action.

Must read!

This book will change the way you think about education in America. Please share with your communities.

Dintersmith Cheers for Project-Based Learning

Make no mistake--this is Dintersmith's argument for wholesale change in America's education system. It's not merely a travelogue. Schools that practice project-based learning are good, and those that don't are bad--this is Dintersmith's position. He makes a good case with clear and compelling real life examples. He sees education as essentially getting students ready for jobs, though he does talk about making students contributing members of a civil society. Dintersmith is also a bit of a cheerleader for himself. Still, the book is worth the time if you're a teacher looking for encouragement to make the jump to project based learning.

Anything

My personal world philosophy rests, nestled inside my seed of belief that there’s nothing more important in life, than learning. Every moment that we’re alive, we’re continually learning, whether it’s conscious or occurring somewhere under the surface. Education and learning are seemingly synonymous, but clearly not one and the same. Through his passion, curiosity and an unyielding commitment to learn for the betterment of our society, Ted Dintersmith makes a compelling effort to bridge the gap, in my opinion, between what our education system teaches and what’s most important for young minds to learn, in preparation for successful, productive, and compassionate adulthood.

In short, to answer the question the title poses, the simple answer is... anything.

Best Book On EDU

This is flat out the best book to read if you see yourself as a potential change agent on your campus. And, visit InnovationPlaylist.org to gain a valuable resource as you move forward.

A bell-weather classic for every educator.

A non-negotiable staple for insight and innovation in our educational system. Listen to it. Hear it’s message.