Weekend Readings:

Weekend Readings

By Allan Alach

A constant theme of many articles revolves around the deformers’ view of the future of schooling (I refuse to label this as education), which is heavily technology based. The fuss over the Khan Academy is an example, then there is the movement towards computer based instruction, with each child sitting at a terminal, connected to online instruction, which will teach and assess ‘achievement.’ (You wondered why Bill Gates is heavily involved in this?) No need for teachers - just think of the savings. Have you wondered why there is so much effort to get schools connected to ultra fast broadband? Just to top this off, I’ve included an article about robot teachers in South Korea.

I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allan.alach@ihug.co.nz.

This week’s homework!

Critique of Khan Academy Goes Viral

Following on from last week’s link about Sal Khan, here’s another one that arrived not long after I posted last week’s readings.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2012/07/by_now_youve_probably_heard.html?cmp=ENL-CC-MOSTPOP

A Glimpse of the future for New Zealand

As we know, the Ministry of Education are working on a database where school details will be posted, so that parents may compare schools. In their usual copycat manner, they are following examples from overseas. Here are two, RAISEonline from England, and My School from Australia. I suggest New Zealand readers have a good look at these, because we’re next. Fancy having your school listed like this, especially with ‘data on school effectiveness in raising achievement?’

https://www.raiseonline.org/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f

http://www.myschool.edu.au/

Why "Making" Matters: Kids want it. We learn when we create.

Self explanatory! Sadly, this is beyond the ken of deformers.

http://www.thedailyriff.com/articles/making-makers-943.php

School camps in St. Louis area aim to give incoming kindergartners a leg up

Summer school for 5 year olds so they are ready to ‘achieve.’  What next?

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/school-camps-aim-to-give-incoming-kindergartners-a-leg-up/article_3dc0b0b4-9063-5755-9261-90cf94269b23.html#ixzz20TASRh3z

The Teaching Revolution

After all the negative articles, here’s a blog article in a more positive vein, targeted more towards older children.

http://lancegking.wordpress.com/2012/06/03/the-teaching-revolution/

South Korea’s Robot Teachers To Test Telepresence Tools in the New Year

The ultimate neo-liberal solution to raising achievement? Don’t discount it!

http://singularityhub.com/2011/01/03/south-korea%E2%80%99s-robot-teachers-to-test-telepresence-tools-in-the-new-year/

What have teachers done to deserve this scorn?

Isn’t it intriguing how commentators in many countries use the same language about teachers’ performance? If anything illustrates that this is an organised movement, this does.

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4138914.html?WT.mc_id=newsmail