"The heart of the New Work Curriculum is a dedication to freedom and personal fulfillment that do not depend solely on the old job market.  More than finding employment the curriculum wants young people to find themselves and take charge of their lives as workers, consumers, and providers.  The object is not just a job but full possession and ownership of one's life."

From New Work for a New Generation, a 6 unit High School Curriculum funded in part by the WW Kellogg Foundation, CW Mott Foundation, and produced by Detroit Educational Television.  The full course guide may be downloaded here.

New Work Educational Best Practices may be found here or the navigational link to the right.

(Compiled and edited by Frithjof Bergmann. Not to be cited without explicit permission from the author.) 

1. Diversify formats of learning, allow all to be used over the course of a day allowing  students to specialize in the ones they are most attuned to:  lectures, discussion, projects, apprenticing, simulations, mentoring and being mentored, computer assisted instruction.

2.  Allow students sufficient time to seriously pursue intellectually or practically exciting projects on their own (stay out of their way when they are energized).  Relate the more classical learning to  conditions for doing these projects well. (Think of this as “just in time” learning).  Thus teach basics of Math, English, Science, Social Science, and the Humanities when they become relevant to projects that the students want to complete.  Do not dismiss or disregard knowledge of the basics; but teach them in a more effective manner.