The educational system as it is, is not working. Everyone seems to know it. Students, Parents, Teachers, Administrators, Employers; people from all aspects of the problem are mostly unhappy with the results. Lots of people are trying to address the problem: teachers in the trenches, school board policies, states in teacher credentialing, Universities in acceptances, politicians in law, all frantically striving to find the answers. Several solutions are offered from:Multiple Intelligences, Brain-Based Learning, Instructional Design, Environment, Co-Curricular, Cross-Curricular, to teacher training. Some new ones I had never heard of before this class are virtual learning environments, course management systems, Personal Learning Environments and Web 2.0 tools. From what I have read I'm sold! But, I am easily convinced as I am one of those teachers in the trenches desperately seeking the answer. Those pretty big words and successful statistics do it to me every time. The at the conclusion of the article or video I start to ask myself if I am smart enough to decide what the answer to the question is since all these other smart people are struggling with the same question. One thing is certain, technology has and will continue to irrevocably change our world and the way we live our lives.
I think the key is for teachers to address the skills and tools that they are passionate about with their students. Take what they can from the great minds and theorists touting the holy grail for education and implement it as fast as they can. Don't be afraid to fail, and try try again until you find the solutions that start working for you. I don't think there is one single answer for any one student, one teacher, one class, one school... The answer like most things in life is in the gray areas. Some teachers and students will respond better than others to the different things that are attempted. The goal is to have more arrows in your quiver for the next group of students that come seeking knowledge.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree - so then - what will that school or educational system look like? As you said,"The educational system as is is, is not working." What should it look like five or ten years from now? If you were a student, what would you want it to look like? Just curious:)
ReplyDelete