Schools Urgently Need a Redesign. Here’s How | Aylon Samouha | TED

Overview

This talk explores the urgent need to redesign schools to better prepare students for the modern world. Aylon Samouha, an education innovator, highlights the transformative potential of community-based design, which integrates real-world learning, student engagement, and purpose-driven education. He shares inspiring examples of schools that have successfully implemented these principles, creating environments where students thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.

Notable Quotes

- School isn't broken. It's doing exactly what it was designed to do over a century ago. – Aylon Samouha, on the outdated design of traditional education systems.

- Fine isn’t fine. It’s the sound of potential quietly fading. – Aylon Samouha, on the disengagement of students in traditional schooling.

- What happens in classrooms today is what will happen in society tomorrow. – Aylon Samouha, emphasizing the societal impact of education reform.

🎓 Rethinking the Purpose of Education

- Traditional schools were designed for the factory age, focusing on standardization and predictable jobs.

- Today’s world, shaped by AI and rapid change, demands skills like critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and lifelong learning.

- Schools must shift from rote memorization to solving real-world problems and fostering purpose-driven learning.

🌍 Community-Based Design as a Solution

- Community-based design combines local insights with research-backed practices to create meaningful, sustainable change.

- This approach avoids the pitfalls of top-down reforms and the burnout of bottom-up efforts.

- Examples include Brooklyn Steam Center, where students engage in hands-on, career-connected learning, and Van Ness Elementary, which prioritizes emotional well-being alongside academics.

💡 Real-World Learning in Action

- At Brooklyn Steam Center, students gain industry credentials and solve real problems, such as creating marketing campaigns or learning cybersecurity.

- In rural North Dakota, a redesigned school enabled a student to turn his passion for blacksmithing into a business, integrating math, science, and design.

- These examples show how real-world learning fosters engagement, purpose, and practical skills.

🧠 Centering Emotional and Social Well-Being

- Van Ness Elementary redesigned its model to focus on the whole child, integrating practices like mindfulness breaks, morning circles, and measures of belonging.

- This approach led to zero suspensions and improved academic outcomes, proving the importance of emotional safety in learning.

- Students like Jalissa and Amara demonstrated how emotional regulation and peer support can enhance the classroom experience.

🚀 The Role of Technology and Continuous Evolution

- AI and other technologies can accelerate learning and create immersive, personalized educational experiences.

- Schools must adopt a mindset of continuous redesign, treating community-based design as an ongoing process rather than a one-time initiative.

- The ultimate goal is to ensure that students are not just “fine” but engaged, thriving, and equipped to transform the world.