Spend a year in the life of one of America's most innovative classrooms.Spend a year in the life of one of America's most innovative classrooms.Spend a year in the life of one of America's most innovative classrooms.
- Awards
- 2 wins
Storyline
Featured review
A Documentary of Profound Hope
As our society catapults into the 21st Century, it's clear our educational system needs a new vision. The world is changing, and the kids in the classroom are changing, too. Our schools— largely—have yet to adapt to this reality.
But adaptation isn't simple. For big changes to happen—in schools or elsewhere—people need to see what "change" looks like. A model of "future education" must be formed as a prototype, and displayed for everyone to see.
Have you seen that model yet? Me neither.
"If You Build It" isn't that model, nor the answer to all educational problems. But it's an enormous step in the right direction. It's a film that leaves you with big ideas, profound hope, and a resurgence of optimism concerning America's creativity.
It's the story of a young couple who go to rural North Carolina with architectural degrees and teaching certificates. They establish a hands-on course for high school kids, teaching creative design alongside vocational skills. Each student designs projects they build themselves, learning not only technical skills, but the human skills of inventiveness and actualization.
The film may have flaws, but the blossoming ideas within are beautiful.
"If You Build It" feels like an important document. It's a thoroughly enjoyable journey into the quest for social progress. And it leaves you with an enthusiastic impression of what "future education" ought to resemble.
But adaptation isn't simple. For big changes to happen—in schools or elsewhere—people need to see what "change" looks like. A model of "future education" must be formed as a prototype, and displayed for everyone to see.
Have you seen that model yet? Me neither.
"If You Build It" isn't that model, nor the answer to all educational problems. But it's an enormous step in the right direction. It's a film that leaves you with big ideas, profound hope, and a resurgence of optimism concerning America's creativity.
It's the story of a young couple who go to rural North Carolina with architectural degrees and teaching certificates. They establish a hands-on course for high school kids, teaching creative design alongside vocational skills. Each student designs projects they build themselves, learning not only technical skills, but the human skills of inventiveness and actualization.
The film may have flaws, but the blossoming ideas within are beautiful.
"If You Build It" feels like an important document. It's a thoroughly enjoyable journey into the quest for social progress. And it leaves you with an enthusiastic impression of what "future education" ought to resemble.
helpful•50
- BobSacramento
- Aug 9, 2015
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $43,393
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,949
- Jan 12, 2014
- Gross worldwide
- $43,393
- Runtime1 hour 25 minutes
- Color
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