“We build the road the road builds us." Sarvodaya Shramadana
Every tradition was once new. This concept can apply to many aspects within society from families, to communities but especially in schools. There comes a time with each tradition, a time to continue to hold onto the tradition and then a time to let it go. But there are no directions or guidelines to let us know how much longer we still need to continue to hold on and there are no directions when it is time to let go.
Imagine three old traditions – three old ideas-traditions in education that you think that right now is the time to let them go. Identify them and briefly write why you think it is time to let them go.
After you have identified the old traditions in school to let go then identify three new ideas or new possible traditions in education that you think it is time to start, right now. Write why you think these three ideas are important to start now and how you might start them.
The Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement is the largest people's organization in Sri Lanka. Sarvodaya is Sanskrit for "Awakening of All' and Shramadana means to means “to donate effort” (http://www.sarvodaya.org Retrieved November 21, 2010).
Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFQFLvOCSWs&feature=related and/or http:/ /www.youtube.com/watch?v=38Fd1g2PXLE and think of one way that with your students you can create a new tradition that a difference can be made – not just doing something for a community or organization but working with people in the community or organization. Share the idea and a possible game plan to make it work.
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14 comments:
Hi. Let's build this road.
More to follow.
I think an important tradition that needs to change is the teacher as lecturer. It is time for all schools to get more progressive in the teaching techniques being used. The problem with lecturing is that it often times it does not engage most students or keep them interested in the content being taught. Studies have shown that typical students can pay attention for 8-10 minutes. How can teachers be more effective? Though progressive teaching methods using group dynamics in the classroom. This will also develop the social skills of students as they learn to work together. More to follow on this subject, off to create an avatar....
A tradition we still have in school today is teaching the set curriculum with set lesson plans.
I believe that this tradition can be somewhat altered to give teachers more opportunity to be creative and to teach the curriculum to the students by gearing it to their specific learning styles.
2- Another tradition we have in our schools is the use and reliance of textbooks alone.
I believe that with today's technology we have so many other resources that enable teachers to teach rather than just using textbooks.
3-Assessing students achievement through testing alone.
I believe that testing alone does not offer the best assessment. Many students are not slow learners however they have the tendency to perform badly on test. Especially standardized testing. We may wrongly assess them. Students should be assessed through other medians such as projects (because it gives them the opportunity to be creative and to show what they have learned) and also through other means.
I believe it is time to let go of the tradition of grouping children simply by age. This concept makes the assumption that all children will be at the same level of learning and interested in the same activities based on a date on the calendar. Some children are visual learners while others rely on hearing or muscle memory to retain information. Some are more artistic while others enjoy the disciplines of math or science. Experimenting with the grouping of children by interests or by dominant learning style might be more productive for the students.
Another tradition I would like to see done away with would be treating recess as the only time in which play should be allowed. Children learn through play and their entire day should be seen as a creative exploration into a joyful noise. Scientific experiments confirm that the entire brain lights up like a firefly when the brain is engaged in full play. Educators must be supported in their quest for a more creative and inspirational curriculum that involves active play.
Finally, a major shift from the "teach for the test" philosophy which has been embraced by so many schools must take place. The trend has been to eliminate the arts and social sciences and concentrate solely on math, science, and reading. This has left many children by the wayside as other talents go untapped.An proper education should involve an illumination of the whole person and not a concentration on developing only one side of the brain.
It is time to put connected thinking back into the schools and create an environment conducive for learning for both the students and the teachers.
Based on my knowledge and observations, I would suggest changing of some practices such as:
1. The attitude that adults have towards children (students).
Very often teachers and parents compare their middle school years with those of their students and children. We have too high expectations, while excluding the current circumstances and the fact that the education is dynamic as much as economy, technology etc…
We need to plan lessons and curriculum not for ourselves, but for the children because what is right for us is not necessarily right for them.
2. The perception of the term intelligence at schools.
It is time for students, teachers and parents to realize that it is not enough to be an excellent speaker, a writer, a computer specialist or a mathematician. For example, nobody cares what your language skills are if you are not able to help others (to) survive in the mountains. We need more practical lessons than theory, or at least we always have to link our lessons with the real life.
3. The quality of learning material vs. quantity.
I believe that there are lessons in every subject that we have to emphasize and spend more time on them, and others that we may just present briefly. For example, the life could go on if you don’t know the roman version of 1876; however, it might be important to know how to find a percentage of a number.
When we are overwhelming the students with a huge amount of information, sometimes they miss the basic concepts that affect their ability to solve the problem.
Children are socialized, institutionalized even, into the culture of schools, and the traditions inherent in this experience become an assumed part of their life, of the structure of that culture. Even as adults, many people do not question these traditions as they simply represent their script or schema of what "school" is based on their experiences.
While shared traditions (even shared bad experiences) may unite us with a certain collective memory of the schooling experience (then drawn upon as a trope in the media), at a certain point it has to be asked whether the tradition is doing more harm than good. And whether the purpose of school is to merely socialize children into shared cultural experiences (themselves only a century old, if that) if they are ultimately arbitrary and not best for learning and personal well-being.
There are three traditions I especially think could be done away with, with three corresponding traditions that could replace them:
1) I think the traditional A-F system of "grading" students represents very wrong priorities. If students are not getting the material, at least to the point of meeting standards, teachers cannot just blame it on the student and move on to new material. The student still has to learn THAT material that they are missing! If they're only getting 50% of it, then the teacher has more work to do. We can't just accept the incomplete learning and move on. That student still needs to be "completed" in that learning. Nor should they be punished for learning at a different pace by grades as if it were a contest or something.
Instead, as I read in a book recently and really liked the idea, as a new "tradition" students should be evaluated as "exceeds standards," "meets standards," or "not yet." And "not yet" students must be brought up to meeting standards; it is the teacher's responsibility in all but extraordinary cases to make sure that happens. If it doesn't, the teacher hasn't done their job.
2) I think that tracking students into different levels like all special ed classes or "standard" or "advanced" or "honors" is a tradition that can be questioned. It has been proven in studies that everyone learns better in heterogenous groups (the faster students by teaching their peers) and it can be arranged so it doesnt deprive the faster students of any content.
So, for a new tradition, we should have heterogenous classes instead of tracking or "levels" and more peer learning, which helps both the tutor and the tutee.
3) The tradition of homework for homework's sake must be done away with. So many times in school I can remember knowing that I already knew the material only to feel patronized having to do the busy work of proving it on worksheets or questions from the book. I felt like if I could just take the test right away, I could prove I knew it and move on to the next stuff, and yet was being graded on completion of assignments for their own sake.
As a new tradition, I think we need more open-ended creative projects and opportunities for learners to work at their own pace to demonstrate their knowledge in an integrated way, rather than completing many small assignments for "homework points" or their own sake.
One tradition relates to a teachers role as that of an information provider. It ignores the student teacher dynamic when teachers adopting a role where lectures are provided by a teacher, notes are taken by students, tests are administered by a teacher and a grade is received by the student. This tradition breeds passivity at all levels in the learning process, does not impart real leaning, reinforces the concept expertise lies solely with the teacher and disconnects a student from applying learning to their future.
Teachers need to construct dynamic learning environments focused learning through problem solving while collaborating with students. In this new environment, students will take ownership of their learning process to develop proactive habits of mind that allow them to connect their interests to a cause they will lead to benefit communities important to them.
A second tradition involves chalkboards. Chalkboards allow for information to be communicated at a moment in time rather than allowing for information to be interacted with dynamically and carried into the future.
Using any technology that allows for information to be posted and developed dynamically over time will improve the learning process.
A third tradition relates to a physical school building and learning. Traditionally, learning was constructed within the four walls, a roof and the information available within a classroom.
Teachers need to embrace technology in education that improves access to information in the classroom so that knowledge application increases exponentially.
After watching the video of the Sarvodaya Shramadana movement, I started thinking about things that my children and their classmates might do to improve the lives of others. Perhaps a new tradition can benefit the community, but also enrich the children's lives. Since we live in a relatively nice middle class area, I often see old furniture placed outside for garbage pick-up. I know that there are families within a few block radius that can not afford to furnish their homes. It might be interesting to see what would happen if a furniture donation drive took place at the school every year. The children could design artwork to paint old coffee tables and wooden chairs. Sewing skills could be used to place new covers on old couches and arm chairs. This would give the children an opportunity to use their creative talents while recycling and re-using. This might also provide a family in need with a new and interesting coffee table or comfy chair. Afterall, everyone deserves a warm and inviting place to call home.
Blog #2
Response to A Quarter is More Than Just a Fraction by Karl Fisch
http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2010/11/quarter-is-more-than-just-fraction.html
Thank you for posting this. I have never even heard of anything like it and am entirely impressed.
As a mathematics educator, your title caught my eye. "A Quarter is More Than Just a Fraction" intrigued me because I knew that this was a mathematics educator who thinks outside of the box, a highly valuable task. You taught students the value of a penny giving no minimum amount of donation. At the same time, I'm sure that you got their minds to think differently. This is going to affect their way of approaching mathematics in future courses. Another thing that I found admirable in this "assignment (for lack of a better term)" is that you told them that this was neither for you nor them, but for the needy. They learn what others may go through and work out of the kindness of their hearts.
I now know how to connect community service with academics and plan to do so. Use it in other assignments so that students feel proud of learning from something that they helped produce. Please, keep on doing what you're doing.
I think it is an interesting concept to look at traditions and assess what we should continue to do and what might need to be changed and refreshed. There are a lot of ways of doing things within schools that should be looked at with a critical eye and possibly changed and updated. One thing that I think could changed is the traditional start time for middle school and high school. The traditional, early start times seem to be designed around teachers, whereas I would suggest changing start times to be more accommodating to students and their need for sleep. Sleep is important to the physical growth and development of the young adolescent and I think it would be advantageous to create a schedule that allows students to get more sleep.
Another convention that I think could be changed is the traditional grading system. I think schools should take behaviors out of grades, making grades about student learning rather than behaviors, like late work, participation, attitude, etc. It is good to report back to students and parents on behaviors, but I do not think it is necessary for behaviors to impact grades. Grades should show what the student knows; they should reflect learning, not behaviors.
A third tradition that I think should change is the competitive, exclusivity of sports and activities at the middle school level. Adolescents need to find a place to contribute, connect, and get involved. I think it would be a good switch to de-emphasize the competition of sports and other co-curricular activities and work harder at getting more students involved. It is important to find something for every student to participate in rather than narrowing it down to only let the best and highest level students get involved and letting other students fall through the cracks. Co-curricular activities and relationships are important to the development of adolescents and there is plenty of time to specialize as students move into high school and college.
Though some traditions are worth holding onto, there are some that we should consider letting go.
I think it is an interesting concept to look at traditions and assess what we should continue to do and what might need to be changed and refreshed. There are a lot of ways of doing things within schools that should be looked at with a critical eye and possibly changed and updated. One thing that I think could changed is the traditional start time for middle school and high school. The traditional, early start times seem to be designed around teachers, whereas I would suggest changing start times to be more accommodating to students and their need for sleep. Sleep is important to the physical growth and development of the young adolescent and I think it would be advantageous to create a schedule that allows students to get more sleep.
Another convention that I think could be changed is the traditional grading system. I think schools should take behaviors out of grades, making grades about student learning rather than behaviors, like late work, participation, attitude, etc. It is good to report back to students and parents on behaviors, but I do not think it is necessary for behaviors to impact grades. Grades should show what the student knows; they should reflect learning, not behaviors.
A third tradition that I think should change is the competitive, exclusivity of sports and activities at the middle school level. Adolescents need to find a place to contribute, connect, and get involved. I think it would be a good switch to de-emphasize the competition of sports and other co-curricular activities and work harder at getting more students involved. It is important to find something for every student to participate in rather than narrowing it down to only let the best and highest level students get involved and letting other students fall through the cracks. Co-curricular activities and relationships are important to the development of adolescents and there is plenty of time to specialize as students move into high school and college.
Though some traditions are worth holding onto, there are some that we should consider letting go.
I would like to exapnd on the concept of progressive strategies. Progressive strategies means engaging the student in relevant learning.Soo many ways to do this, but my favorite methods involve group work. Specifically, the jigsaw and Think-pair-share methods are my Favs. In the jigsaw method, the teacher divides up the class into groups Example: Different cultures of the westward expanision of America in the 1800's. Each member of a group is given a topic to become an expert in (ex: Native Americans). All students within topic research and become "experts" on topic together (Study Native Americans together). Students get back into groups and report their findings to original group. I like this method becaouse it promotes peer-to-peer learning, gives multiple opportuniites for social interaction and it puts responsibility on every member of class.
Another important area of focus in progressive education is teaching with a critical thinking approach. Students need to be encouraged to research and contemplate multiple perspectives of content being taught and encouraged to examine opposite viewpoints. This concept will be particularly relevenat to me because I plan on teaching history and social studies. We all know that traditionally "History is taught by the victors". It's time to change this method and oen students eyes to all the possibilities and consequences of events.
A third way to change traditional schooling is to eliminate the grading system. A-F... there is soooo much more to learn than rote memorization of data. I had a great talent for short term memory retention. This enabled me to regurgitate facts and jam on a test. Did I really learn anything I could apply 6 months later??? The answer was NO- most subject matter wasn't retained. I want assessments that matter. Presentations, projects and activites that are both fun and meaningful to learners.
I would like to exapnd on the concept of progressive strategies. Progressive strategies means engaging the student in relevant learning.Soo many ways to do this, but my favorite methods involve group work. Specifically, the jigsaw and Think-pair-share methods are my Favs. In the jigsaw method, the teacher divides up the class into groups Example: Different cultures of the westward expanision of America in the 1800's. Each member of a group is given a topic to become an expert in (ex: Native Americans). All students within topic research and become "experts" on topic together (Study Native Americans together). Students get back into groups and report their findings to original group. I like this method becaouse it promotes peer-to-peer learning, gives multiple opportuniites for social interaction and it puts responsibility on every member of class.
Another important area of focus in progressive education is teaching with a critical thinking approach. Students need to be encouraged to research and contemplate multiple perspectives of content being taught and encouraged to examine opposite viewpoints. This concept will be particularly relevenat to me because I plan on teaching history and social studies. We all know that traditionally "History is taught by the victors". It's time to change this method and oen students eyes to all the possibilities and consequences of events.
A third way to change traditional schooling is to eliminate the grading system. A-F... there is soooo much more to learn than rote memorization of data. I had a great talent for short term memory retention. This enabled me to regurgitate facts and jam on a test. Did I really learn anything I could apply 6 months later??? The answer was NO- most subject matter wasn't retained. I want assessments that matter. Presentations, projects and activites that are both fun and meaningful to learners.
I would like to exapnd on the concept of progressive strategies. Progressive strategies means engaging the student in relevant learning.Soo many ways to do this, but my favorite methods involve group work. Specifically, the jigsaw and Think-pair-share methods are my Favs. In the jigsaw method, the teacher divides up the class into groups Example: Different cultures of the westward expanision of America in the 1800's. Each member of a group is given a topic to become an expert in (ex: Native Americans). All students within topic research and become "experts" on topic together (Study Native Americans together). Students get back into groups and report their findings to original group. I like this method becaouse it promotes peer-to-peer learning, gives multiple opportuniites for social interaction and it puts responsibility on every member of class.
Another important area of focus in progressive education is teaching with a critical thinking approach. Students need to be encouraged to research and contemplate multiple perspectives of content being taught and encouraged to examine opposite viewpoints. This concept will be particularly relevenat to me because I plan on teaching history and social studies. We all know that traditionally "History is taught by the victors". It's time to change this method and oen students eyes to all the possibilities and consequences of events.
A third way to change traditional schooling is to eliminate the grading system. A-F... there is soooo much more to learn than rote memorization of data. I had a great talent for short term memory retention. This enabled me to regurgitate facts and jam on a test. Did I really learn anything I could apply 6 months later??? The answer was NO- most subject matter wasn't retained. I want assessments that matter. Presentations, projects and activites that are both fun and meaningful to learners.
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