Why do we need to know this?

This standard student question can be annoying, but it is a version of one of the most important questions in education: What s worth learning in school?

When that ballistic missile comes from the back of the room, it s a good reminder that the question doesn t just belong to state school boards, authors of textbooks, writers of curriculum standards, and other elite. It s on the minds of our students. This entire book is about how we answer that question.
FROM THE INTRODUCTION

In Future Wise: Educating Our Children for a Changing World David Perkins, founding member of Harvard s Project Zero, offers a toolkit for thinking through what s worth learning? There is no one answer, but with the information and insights Perkins shares, teachers, administrators, curriculum developers, politicians, parents, and even students can take a big step toward a curriculum that truly prepares learners for life in a complex, changing, and challenging world.

Throughout this vital resource, Perkins explores the key concepts, curriculum criteria, and techniques for prioritizing content so teachers can guide students toward the big understandings that matter. By reimagining the curriculum, teachers can go beyond the basic skills and cultivate critical and creative thinking, as well as the collaborative, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills that speak strongly to living and thriving in any era. With a new focus, educators can encourage learners to not simply master content academically, but also to notice where content connects to life situations, yields insights, and prompts productive action.

As Perkins explains, what is conventionally taught in our schools today may not develop the kinds of citizens, workers, family, and community members we want and need. The basic skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic, even if strongly developed, aren t enough. Future Wise shows that only by reimagining what we teach our children can we lead students down the road to learning that is truly lifeworthy.

In Future Wise: Educating Our Children for a Changing World David Perkins, founding member of Harvard’s Project Zero, offers a toolkit for thinking through “what’s worth learning?” There is no one answer, but with the information and insights Perkins shares, teachers, administrators, curriculum developers, politicians, parents, and even students can take a big step toward a curriculum that truly prepares learners for life in a complex, changing, and challenging world.

Throughout this vital resource, Perkins explores the key concepts, curriculum criteria, and techniques for prioritizing content so teachers can guide students toward the big understandings that matter. By reimagining the curriculum, teachers can go beyond the basic skills and cultivate critical and creative thinking, as well as the collaborative, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills that speak strongly to living and thriving in any era. With a new focus, educators can encourage learners to not simply master content academically, but also to notice where content connects to life situations, yields insights, and prompts productive action.

As Perkins explains, what is conventionally taught in our schools today may not develop the kinds of citizens, workers, family, and community members we want and need. The basic skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic, even if strongly developed, aren’t enough. Future Wise shows that only by reimagining what we teach our children can we lead students down the road to learning that is truly lifeworthy.