I used some of spring break to catch up on my reading. I am an avid reader and, as most avid readers know, there are far more books, blogs, publications and news stories to read than can be accomplished in any amount of time. Typically a print magazine falls to the bottom of the pile as it will always be there (whereas online content could be changed or removed at any time). This week, I was fortunate to have read an article by Carol Ann Tomlinson in Educational Leadership. Full disclosure…I am a huge fan of Ms. Tomlinson, having read her books and heard her speak. I eagerly await her column in this magazine each month.

In this article, she poses the question of what she would teach and how would she teach if her goal was to prepare students for the life they live today and will live in the future. In the course of answering this question, she cites the example of the University of Virginia medical school as they struggled with this question. They worked from the fact that “medical knowledge doubles in about every 15 years and about half of that knowledge becomes obsolete every five years.” Given that provocative data, what should the time in school be spent on? What needs to be taught? Continue reading →