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By Allan Alach
I welcome suggested articles, so if you come
across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz
Why Social and Emotional Learning Is Essential for Students
“Research shows that SEL not only improves achievement by an average
of 11 percentile points, but it also increases prosocial behaviors (such as
kindness, sharing, and empathy), improves student attitudes toward school, and
reduces depression and stress among students.”
How Music Education Can Lighten Kids’ Lives And Improve Learning
Outcomes
Not at all surprised by this. I’ve observed the
benefits to children from learning to play the drums.
“The symphony pays for professional musician-educators to teach a
focused curriculum throughout the year, from music fundamentals to individual
and group cello and violin.
So far it has paid off: Participants are testing higher in math and
reading than students who aren’t in the program. But Sound Minds, its creators
say, also promotes music’s intrinsic power to uplift, inspire and challenge.”
Good Vibrations: The Role Of Music In
Einstein’s Thinking
Following on…
“Looking at the role of music in Einstein’s thinking sheds some
light on how he shaped his most profound scientific ideas. His example suggests
that in being intimately involved with the scientific complexity of music, he was able to bring a uniquely aesthetic qualities to his theories.
.
Teaching: Just Like Performing Magic
 |
| Penn and Teller magicians |
Interesting observations from a magician…
“Education, at its most engaging, is performance art. From the
moment a teacher steps into the classroom, students look to him or her to set
the tone and course of study for everyone, from the most enthusiastic to the
most apathetic students. Even teachers who have moved away from the traditional
lecture format, toward more learner autonomy-supportive approaches such as
project-based and peer-to-peer learning, still need to engage students in the
process, and serve as a vital conduit between learner and subject matter.”
School Choice Fails to Make a Difference
Really?
“This outcome flies in the face of the predictions of many
economists, who often tout school choice
 |
| David Perkins |
The Global Search for Education: What’s Really Worth Learning?
“I watched David Perkins’ presentation on this timely topic at the
IB Heads World Conference this year and I am delighted to welcome him today to
The Global Search for Education. David is interested in how we ought to adapt
our curriculums in light of an ever-changing world. He asserts that what is
conventionally taught in our schools is not necessarily meant to produce the
kinds of community members we want and need. Perkins believes that only by
reimagining what we teach our children can we lead students down the road to learning
that results in a flourishing life.”
The problem with evidence based practice
“So, what is the problem with evidence? After all, evidence is
proof, confirmation, verification, substantiation, corroboration, affirmation,
authentication, attestation, documentation; support for, backing for,
reinforcement for, grounds for. Nothing wrong with that. Or is there? Actually,
in education, there is.”
Contributed by Bruce Hammonds:
For creativity over conformity in classrooms
“Do schools kill creativity, asks Ken Robinson in the much-watched
TED talk. I am inclined to say, they do. Of course, educational systems do
notwork in a vacuum, but are a reflection of the society they function in.”
How To Kill Creativity (And How To Rebuild It)
“Many of our organisations, without realising it, act as inhibitors
of innovation.Rules and protocols are put in place — often for very good
reasons — that preserve the status quo. Over time, organisations develop a set
of social norms — ‘the way we do things around here’ designed to protect the business
from failure.One of the biggest inhibitors of innovation is part of human
nature itself — the fear of losing what we’ve got.”
Where Did The Joy Of Learning Go?
“Help your child regain the kindergarten passion of embracing
learning with joy. When school stops being fun, all too frequently, learning
stops. Help your child retain that kindergarten enthusiasm of embracing each
day with the joy of learning. Connect your children to what they learn at
school through their interests and past positive experiences so they will WANT
to learn …”
From Bruce’s ‘goldie oldies’ file:
Asking questions is my business
Keeping alive the laser like curiosity of the
young
“Curiosity and creativity are the basis of all learning. If they are
lost education soon turns into 'schooling' and students in begin to ‘turn off’ and
they wish they were elsewhere. Their ‘voice’, their identity as a learner,
their questions, their queries and their theories, it seems, are no longer
required.Lively curiosity is turned into dull compliance.”
Back to the future?
Good pedagogy is nothing new it seems“Mark Twain once said that he could live for a month on one
compliment so it was great to receive a
e-mail, from a student teacher from
Glasgow University who said, after reading a newsletter I wrote on Teaching and
Learning Strategies in 2002, that it 'completely changed my view of education
and teaching'.I couldn't resist re-reading what I had written in 2002 and was
pleasantly surprised to see how relevant what I had written is to today's
challenges.”
And now it is 2016!
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