Liberating Learning: Technology, Politics, and the Future of American Education

by Terry M. Moe, John E. Chubb

Praise for Liberating Learning "Moe and Chubb have delivered a truly stunning book, rich with the prospect of how technology is already revolutionizing learning in communities from Midland, Pennsylvania to Gurgaon, India. At the same time, this is a sobering telling of the realpolitik of education, a battle in which the status quo is well defended. But most of all, this book is a call to action, a call to unleash the power of technological innovation to create an education system worthy of our aspirations and our childrens' dreams." —Ted Mitchell, CEO of the New Schools Venture Fund "As long as we continue to educate students without regard for the way the real world works, we will continue to limit their choices. In Liberating Learning, Terry Moe and John Chubb push us to ask the questions we should be asking, to have the hard conversations about how far technology can go to advance student achievement in this country." —Michelle Rhee, Chancellor of Education for the Washington, D.C. schools "A brilliant analysis of how technology is destined to transform America's schools for the better: not simply by generating new ways of learning, but also—and surprisingly—by unleashing forces that weaken its political opponents and open up the political process to educational change. A provocative, entirely novel vision of the future of American education." —Rick Hanushek, the Paul and Jean Hanna Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University "Terry Moe and John Chubb, two long-time, astute observers of educational reform, see technology as the way to reverse decades of failed efforts. Technology will facilitate significantly more individualized student learning—and perhaps most importantly, technology will make it harder and harder for the entrenched adult interests to block the reforms that are right for our kids. This is a provocative, informative and, ultimately, optimistic read, something we badly need in public education." —Joel Klein, Chancellor of the New York City schools

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Technology

223 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very provocative book about the education status quo and the likely power of technology to trump it. Chubb and Moe paint an accurate -- and depressing view of the current status of education, which is stymied by special interests. They then contend that technology is ubiquitous and may be the way to break the old mold of education so that today's students are engaged and educated well for our ever-changing world. Highly recommended.

[Semi-Academic Eric]

This might be interesting to read if one is curious about the politics of educational reform and why seemingly beneficial technologies can be hard to get adopted.

Quickly gained terms and phrases from the first glimpse:

A descirption of the power of the teachers' unions, especially the NEA
The Politics of Blocking
Charter Schools using modern technology
Media Labs
Cyber Schools
Future Schools

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true look at the challenges that must be overcome if our educational establishment is to become first rate. The technology that is available for our kids today is truly amazing. We need to be using it in our classrooms! Good book.