Milton Chen 
Education Nation 
Six Leading Edges of Innovation in our Schools

An educational innovator who worked at Sesame Workshop and The
George Lucas Educational Foundation offers a new vision for
learning

As a result of constant innovation, learning is no longer
limited by traditional confines and we’re moving beyond students
tied to their chairs, desks, and textbooks-and teachers locked away
in classrooms. In Education Nation author Milton Chen draws
from extensive experience in media-from his work on Sesame Street
in its nascent years to his role as executive director of the
George Lucas Educational Foundation-to support a vision for a new
world of learning.

This book, in six chapters, explores the ‘edges’ in
education–the places where K-12 learning has already seen
revolutionary changes through innovative reform and the use of
technology.

* Examines ways in which learning can be revolutionized through
innovative reform and the use of technology

* Explores the ever-expanding world of technology for
breakthroughs in teaching and learning

* Includes many wonderful resources to support innovation in
schools across the nation

This important book offers a clear vision for tomorrow’s
classrooms that will enhance learning opportunities for all
children.

Table of Content

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix

FOREWORD BY GEORGE LUCAS xi

PREFACE: MY LEARNING JOURNEY: FROM THE LONGEST STREET IN
THEWORLD TO A GALAXY LONG AGO AND FAR, FAR AWAY xv

Introduction: The Vision of an Education Nation 1

1 The Thinking Edge: Getting Smarter About Learning 11

2 The Curriculum Edge: Real Learning and Authentic Assessment
35

3 The Technology Edge: Putting Modern Tools in Young Hands 87

4 The Time/Place Edge: Learning Any Time, Anywhere 139

5 The Co-Teaching Edge: Teachers, Experts, and Parents as
Coeducators 189

6 The Youth Edge: Digital Learners Carrying Change in Their
Pockets 213

AFTERWORD: TOMORROW’S EDGE, A 2020 VISION 241

NOTES 254

SELECTED WEB SITES 268

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 275

INDEX 277

About the author

THE AUTHOR

Milton Chen is senior fellow and executive director emeritus of The George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF). He was founding director of the KQED Center for Education (PBS) in San Francisco, managing the channel’s television programming, Web content, and outreach services for schools and families. Chen was also a director of research at Sesame Workshop, in New York, working on Sesame Street, The Electric Company, and 3-2-1 Contact, and an assistant professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.