Leaving to Learn ─ How Out-of-School Learning Increases Student Engagement and Reduces Dropout Rates

Aiming to lower the high school dropout rate, Washor, a teacher, principal, writer, and speaker who designs and develops innovative schools, and Mojkowski, a former teacher, principal, and administrator who is a consultant to education and business organizations, describe an approach to teaching that keeps high school students engaged by providing some of their learning outside of school, such as through internships, travel, community service, work, entrepreneurial ventures, and gap years. They discuss the problem of student disengagement, why and how students drop out, and the role of student expectations; how to engage students in productive learning by understanding what constitutes success, what is important to learn to achieve success, and how schools should help students learn productively; types of opportunities and environments for providing productive learning in leaving-to-learn programs and tools for supporting them; and recommendations for interventions. There is no index. Annotation c2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Elliot Washor co-founded and co-directs Big Picture Learning. Involved in school reform for more than 35 years as a teacher, principal, writer and speaker, Elliot has worked all over the world designing and developing innovative schools that provide engaging learning environments. Elliot's interests lie in how schools connect with communities to credit learning that occurs both in and outside of school. The George Lucas Foundation has selected Elliot as one of The Daring Dozen - The Twelve Most Daring Educators.Charles Mojkowski has worked as a consultant to education and business organizations for over 30 years. He works primarily in the areas of school, program, and curriculum design; leadership and organizational development; and innovative applications of technology in these areas. He has authored numerous articles on unconventional designs for schools and schooling. Charles is a former English teacher, elementary school assistant principal, and administrator in the Rhode Island Department of Education. He was also an Associate Professor in the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at Johnson & Wales University.