Some of the articles that I enjoy reading the most are the ones that either surprise me or challenge my notions of what I believe to already exist. I was surprised to not only read that one of the greatest filmmakers of our time also is a giant supporter of education.
- George Lucas Dedicates Majority of His Wealth to Improving Education | Edutopia – I have read Edutopia several times but I did not ever know that George Lucas was the driving force behind it. I was glad I found out the way I did!
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As technology changes, so do students. So should classrooms, and so should our methods of teaching. In a few short years, connectivity has gone from a technological novelty to a daily necessity. It’s how our culture communicates, and our children are at the forefront of its use. Understanding those tools and how to integrate them into learning — is an integral step in defining our future.
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- The valedictorian’s speech « Re-educate – I have seen this speech posted several times on Twitter and if you have not read it, you definitely should. I decided to link it to one of my favourite blogs as the author is definitely a strong advocate for what is in the best interest of students and writes so eloquently.
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There is a story of a young, but earnest Zen student who approached his teacher, and asked the Master, “If I work very hard and diligently, how long will it take for me to find Zen? The Master thought about this, then replied, “Ten years . .” The student then said, “But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast — How long then?” Replied the Master, “Well, twenty years.” “But, if I really, really work at it, how long then?” asked the student. “Thirty years,” replied the Master. “But, I do not understand,” said the disappointed student. “At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?” Replied the Master, “When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path.”
This is the dilemma I’ve faced within the American education system. We are so focused on a goal, whether it be passing a test, or graduating as first in the class. However, in this way, we do not really learn. We do whatever it takes to achieve our original objective.
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- The Fischbowl: The Myth of the Echo Chamber – I have heard about the “Echo Chamber” many times, but not in this light. The author has a different perspective on the “echo chamber” or how it does not exist at all. Thanks to Shelly Terrell for sharing this link with me.
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On a regular basis on Twitter and on blogs and in books I read, people warn about not getting stuck in the echo chamber. In fact, I’ve said it myself more than once. While I value diverse and opposing opinions, and think they are necessary and critical, here’s what I think:
There is no “echo chamber.” It’s a myth.
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- The Big Lie (Thoughts on Why School Is Not Only About Workforce Development) – Practical Theory – An open and honest post about the importance of preparing our students to be strong citizens as opposed to prepare them for the workforce by Chris Lehmann. A definite must read when looking at what we are trying to provide for our students today in schools.
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A frequent refrain of mine is that the purpose of public education is not the creation of the 21st Century workforce, but rather, the co-creation – in conjunction with our students – of 21st Century citizens. I really believe that “work” is a subset of “citizen,” and that if we aim for citizenship, we’ll get the workforce we need, but aiming for creating workers won’t get our society the citizens it needs.
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A public education that centers first around workforce development will put a high premium on following directions and doing what you’re told. A public education that centers first around citizenship development will still teach rules, but it will teach students to question the underlying ideas behind the rules. Workforce development will reinforce the hierarchies that we see in most corporate culture, while a citizenship-focus will teach students that their voice matters, regardless of station.
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- Focus on writing blamed for fall in reading test results – Education News, Education – The Independent – What surprised me the most about this post was not the discussion of why students are not achieving the results that a Department of Education has set for them, but the backlash that many schools are having against these tests and actually boycotting them altogether. Is this going to happen more in our schools?
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According to the Department for Education, just over 4,000 schools, or 25 per cent, refused to administer the tests as a result of a boycott by both the
National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Head
Teachers (NAHT). They complained that too much teaching to the tests was ruining children’s education as schools strived to do well in league tables.
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Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
