The FLEX Academy- A Bit of a Stretch

I heard about the FLEX Academy a while back and I have to admit I was a bit intrigued.  Then...I read an article about them in a recent addition of MindShift and my eyes were opened.  (http://mindshift.kqed.org/2012/03/at-flex-academy-high-school-mimics-the-workplace/).  The FLEX Academy, located in San Francisco, is a new twist on schooling whereby the high school setting operates largely like a business.  Students take all of their courses online and report daily to their cubicles where they work on their independent projects.  Teachers teach, but they do it in small groups in meeting-like settings where they focus on a topic or concept that the students are having difficulty with.  Students "schedule" meetings with their teachers or teachers schedule these meetings based upon the issues that they see when monitoring their students' progress.  Courses are self-paced and, as a result, students are generally motivated to work while they are there.

On the surface, this sounds pretty good- especially to someone who is always pushing for more technology and courses that have a hybrid approach.  I have also ranted frequently (see previous blog post) about doing a better job of preparing our students to use the tools they will need to do their jobs.  However, this model goes a bit too far, in my opinion.  While I think we should be doing all we can do to prepare students to work in their jobs, I don't think that they should be rushed into cubicle-like job settings.  Face it, those of us who work in cubicles now might say that they are no places for children.  That's the point...students are children who need to be allowed to be children.  One of the components missing from this "innovative" approach to education is the opportunity for participation in the arts and sports.  What kind of an education is that?  Furthermore, do we really want kids to be further removed from the social aspects of schooling and childhood than they are now?

There are certainly some positives to this approach.  First, this seems like the ultimate in terms of the "flipped classroom" model.  How incredible must it be for teachers to be able to work in small groups of students who need assistance with the same detail of their learning?  How motivating must it be for students to have so much control over their own learning?  How helpful and current must it be to be able to work through courses that have been prepared carefully and are fully managed online?  How empowering must it be for students and parents to be able to see the students' progress at a click of a mouse?  There is so much we could take from this at a lesser degree here that would be so progressive.

Nevertheless, I think the FLEX Academy has gone too far and overly-sterilized the educational process.  It will be interesting to see what sorts of citizens emerge from this model of schooling.

I'd love to hear your thoughts...