By Diana Graber on March 25, 2011 12:51 PM
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Teaching new media literacy at a
Waldorf-inspired public charter school presents some unique challenges. While few
are familiar with Waldorf pedagogy (a teaching method gaining popularity in the
public charter school movement; there are 44 Waldorf-inspired public schools in the
U.S., with 22 initiatives pending) there are a couple things that people might
know. First of all, Waldorf teaching methods are terrific for developing
creative and critical thinking skills. Secondly, technology is not used at all
in the early grades, in fact it is often withheld until 8th grade. Additionally,
families are usually asked to restrict their children's media usage at home during
the school week too.
Did I hear a collective gasp?
As a parent with two children at
Journey School, a Waldorf-inspired public charter school in Aliso Viejo, CA
(well, actually, one just completed K-8), and (full disclosure), I'm also a
filmmaker and a recent recipient of an M.A. in Media Psychology and Social Change,
I was interested in exploring how "technology" might be introduced into this type
of educational model.
