"Why School?" Some Points of Interest from Will Richardson's E-book

https://www.amazon.com/Why-School-Education-Information-Everywhere-ebook/dp/B00998J5YQ

     I have just read Will Richardson's e-book, "Why School?" In it, he discusses the importance of equipping students with the ability to self-direct their learning as, more and more, this is an important quality to have in our tech-savvy century. In my adult experience, with YouTube and Wikipedia (to name a few), learning something on one's own hasn't only become common, but expected. How many people do you know who teach themselves a home renovation, a craft, a cooking recipe, or how to beat a tricky video game level through YouTube or some other website? In Richardson's book, he describes how his son taught himself how to build an elaborate and detailed house through his first, independent, trying of the game, Minecraft. Sure, he did go on online chats for help, but that's part of self-directed learning. Richardson doesn't propose replacing school with learning on one's own, but that school provide the help and tools for students to be able to self-direct their learning and enjoy it. Quoting Richardson, “These days, the only such tutorial we really need to be giving is a ‘how-to-learn-any-tool-online-on-your-own’ workshop."

     While reading his book, I was reminded of some areas I've dabbled at in my classrooms, some areas I've wondered about, and some newly developed wonderings (yes, I know this isn't a word), such as:

1) What current courses are freely available online to students of all grades?

Some students find it difficult to focus in class. Maybe they are more interested in socializing with their friends, are quickly distracted by the movement around them (or outside) or the hubbub/conversations, are distracted by their need to play with their phones, fidget-spinners, putty, erasers, pencils, paper, and so forth, that concentrating on the school work at hand becomes difficult. Having an option to learn, or practice, a subject online can then become quite helpful. But, what's available? "Why School" mentions Coursera for Post-Secondary courses, but are there courses for Elementary, Middle, and High School students? I've heard of Khan Academy, so that site I will explore further, but what else is out there? Anything in French?

2) What are some of the most useful online resources I can provide students as a Teacher Librarian?

I use online resources such as Duolingo for language acquisition, Prodigy for supporting Math content, BrainPop for introducing Socials or Science topics, but I am curious as to what else is out there, particularly for doing research as using Google provides too much data, with sites with inaccurate information, at a reading level that doesn't match the student, content that may be inappropriate (even with filters on), or with other distractions linked around their research, such as Ads, amusing YouTube videos, etcetera. Having a research aid specialized to the student's grade level and research topic would be very helpful.

3) Could it be arranged that students knowledgeable about a subject volunteer to become coaches of that subject to other students?

The best way to learn something is through teaching it. It's a common saying, and I've also personally found it to be true - to the extent that if I want to learn something new, I research how to teach it. Students who coach other students would be engaging in the 3 Core Competencies of: thinking, communicating, and personal and social competency. When I introduce a topic or important information, my "lectures" to students always involves opportunities for their input and/or guesses as I have found that students more readily absorb the wisdom of their peers than of their teacher. Lastly, students can be more leery of adults or their teacher, either from fear of judgement/negative evaluation, past bad experiences with adults or teachers, or for a reason unique to that teacher/student relationship. So, having the option to learn something from another student (even if they're in a grade above or below them) might be more inviting. The question is: are there articles on this? How can it best be implemented? Should the librarian co-ordinate this?

4) What new technologies can be provided, and taught how to use, in the library?

I believe having at least a few computers in a school library is a must, and I would also want a few digital photo cameras and video cameras available to loan out (even in Elementary Schools), but how useful have 3D printers been? I know some teachers have had success using them for certain projects, but how far reaching are their benefit? Virtual Reality is another new technology - including the cameras that record in that format (360 degree video and 180 degree 3D video). I would love an excuse to pick them up for my future library, but I'd need to research their usefulness as an education tool more in order to make a case for having them in the library.

I was also left ruminating on such quotes from "Why School" as: 
"We have to stop delivering the curriculum to kids. We have to start discovering it with them."
“The world doesn’t care what you know. What the world cares about is what you can do with what you know.”
And, finally, to sum up the experience reading this e-book has been, “How can we begin to move schools to become places of more relevant, connected, creative learning? Even with a plan, it won’t be easy.” All of these quotes could be developed into further questions and areas of exploration. For later, though.