Open Up, Education! How Open Way Learning Can Transform Schools.
Adam Haigler & Ben Owens (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2018)
When I first came across Adam Haigler and Ben Owens’ Open Up Education, I wasn’t looking for a book to reaffirm my beliefs but to challenge them. The book wasn’t just a critique of traditional education; it offered a bold and practical vision for creating more engaging and aspirational schools. The authors create a road map for building educational ecosystems that empower students to think independently and solve problems, emphasizing real-world applied learning, collaboration, and both personal and collective agency.
The book is filled with compelling stories of schools embracing design-thinking principles and dynamic, project-driven approaches that put learners at the center. I was particularly moved by examples of students working alongside artisans, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders in their communities.
Reading it pushed me to reflect on my own practices and inspired me to act. I reached out to Ben (and later Adam), leading to a partnership where we reimagined teaching and learning in two schools I’ve led. Their guidance helped my colleagues, our students, and me translate their ideas into richer, personalized pathways that foster innovation, curiosity, and purpose.
I return to this book often, as it has become a touchstone for how I approach positively disruptive change. It reminds me of the power of letting go of rigid definitions of school and opening up to the profound possibilities of what education can truly be.
This article appears in the Spring 2025 issue of Kappan, Vol. 106, No. 5-6, p. 8.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joe Greenberg
Joe Greenberg is a collaborative teacher, leader, and researcher with more than 25 years of experience championing progressive education, as well as advocating for student voice in all educational pursuits.
