Are schools asking the right questions to adapt to the rapid change of the educational landscape?

We live in a rapidly changing world. The pace of technological and societal transformation is faster than ever, and with it comes a wave of challenges for education. Schools were built for a time that no longer exists.

so how do schools ensure they remain relevant, just, healthy, and sustainable for the next generation?

In The Big Questions: Designing an Updated Educational Model and Student Experience, Will Richardson & Homa Tavangar argue that traditional models of education no longer serve students effectively. Schools must rethink not just their curriculum, but the very purpose of education itself.

Will and Homa suggest that before jumping to solutions, school leaders must first ask the right questions.

These 12 Big Questions challenge us to reflect deeply on what we value and where we need to go:

1️⃣ What is sacred? (What do we refuse to change, and why?)

2️⃣ What is learning? (Are we teaching students how to learn, or just what to learn?)

3️⃣ Where is the power? (Who holds decision-making influence in our schools?)

4️⃣ Why do we _____? (Why do we do things the way we do? Are they still serving us?)

5️⃣ Who is unheard? (Whose voices are missing in our school’s leadership?)

6️⃣ Are we literate? (Do students have the skills to navigate today’s information landscape?)

7️⃣ Are we OK? (Are students, teachers, and leaders thriving or burning out?)

8️⃣ Are we connected? (How well are we building relationships in a digital world?)

9️⃣ What’s our story? (How do we communicate our school's purpose and vision?)

🔟 What is success? (Are we defining success in meaningful ways?)

1️⃣1️⃣ What’s next? (Are we preparing students for an uncertain future?)

1️⃣2️⃣ What is our legacy? (What impact will our school leave behind?)

💡 It is true that we are dealing with a rapidly changing world, and there are a lot of new challenges.

These 12 questions are worth stopping and pondering.

The article argues that schools need to move beyond short-term fixes and instead build a long-term vision for education. Instead of trying to “fix” outdated systems, we should be reimagining what learning looks like. Schools that engage in strategic inquiry rather than rigid planning will be the ones that thrive in uncertain times.

Which of these questions stands out the most to you?

Comment below👇