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The Learning in Depth project

This site is about the proposal to introduce to the school curriculum a new component, called Learning in Depth. The basic idea is that each child will be given, during the first week of grade 1, a particular topic to learn about through her or his whole school career, in addition to the usual curriculum. Topics might include such things as apples, ships, the circus, cats, the solar system, etc. Students will meet regularly with their supervising teachers, who will give guidance, suggestions, and help as students build personal portfolios on their topics. The aim is that each child, by the end of her or his schooling, will know as much about that topic as almost anyone on earth. The expectation is that this process will transform for most children their relationship to, and understanding of the nature of, knowledge. It should also transform for each child the experience of schooling. This web site is designed to help support and carry forward the project of introducing this proposal to schools.

Some potential benefits of Learning in Depth:

For students

--Provides knowledge of some topic in great breadth and depth
--Gives a deep understanding of the nature of knowledge
--Engages students' imaginations and emotions in learning
--Builds confidence
--Builds expertise in use of internet and organizational skills

For teachers

--Teachers discover along with students
--No pressures to grade and assess
--Working with enthusiastic learners
--Students' depth knowledge will enrich regular teaching

For the school

--Provides a means for older and younger students to cooperate in learning
--Makes the school into a centre of expertise on many topics
--Enriches the culture of the school
--Displays of topics will provide attractive focus of attention

For administrators

--Leads to learning-based associations with other schools
--Builds expertise in the school, and can provide community support through "Ask the experts" days
--A new dimension of school activity devoted to enthusiastic learning
--A new form of internet presence

You may read the article from which this project developed by clicking here.

You may read an Introduction to the program by clicking here. (If you know someone who might be interested in this project you could refer them to this page, or you could photocopy it to hand to people who might be interested.)

You may read the Introduction to the book by clicking here.

You may watch a YouTube video about the project by clicking here.

You may read a teacher's initial responses to, and reflections on, LiD by clicking here.

You may be interested to find and read an article on "Learning In Depth" in the November 2008 issue of Educational Leadership.