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| Time to escape the box! |
Education Readings
By Allan Alach
I welcome suggested articles, so if you come
across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz
Paradigm Shift Urgently Needed In Education
Childhood stress levels are at an all time high.
‘The way to combat this childhood suffering is by creating a
paradigm shift in how we currently educate our children. One which addresses
both the universoul nature (our inner essence) and intellectual development of
children. In the 21st century, children need hope and inspiration. They need
guidance toward inner peace as much as they need guidance towards academic
achievement.’
No grades, no timetable: Berlin school turns teaching upside down
Pupils choose their own subjects and motivate
themselves, an approach some say should be rolled out across Germany.
‘The philosophy behind these innovations is simple: as the
requirements of the labour market are changing, and smartphones and the
internet are transforming the ways in which young people process information,
the school’s headteacher, Margret Rasfeld, argues, the most important skill a
school can pass down to its students is the ability to motivate themselves.’
Why Are Teachers Burning Out?
‘Many teachers feel suffocated by the
teaching profession because of the intrusiveness of curriculum, district and
federal mandates, behavior management systems, state testing and a constant
re-vamping of all of the above. Very few of these “norms” are ever generated
by the adults on school campuses, and that disconnect creates a sense of
disempowerment.’
Cognitive Offloading: How the Internet Is Changing the Human Brain
‘Though the ease of acquiring information in the modern world has
improved our lives in so many ways, it is also changing how our brain works and
processes information. Some wonder when taken altogether, whether the results
are better or worse for us. A new study published in the journal Memory looks
into the process of “cognitive offloading,” or relying on Google, GPS, and other external
devices for what we used to use our memories for. It considers the impact on
learning and problem solving as well.’
The voice of the child in 21st Century education matters, now more
than ever
‘In education systems today there is a real danger of children’s
voices being swamped by those of
Contributed by Bruce Hammonds:
Personalized Learning: Enabling Student Voice and Choice Through
Projects
"When you're able make learning relevant to a student it helps
them want to do it and not just because that's what's expected. The whole focus
of personalized learning is that students see the relevance of what it is that they're
doing. The outcome is students are engaged, and they're enjoying the learning
process."
Inquiry-Based Learning: From Teacher-Guided to Student-Driven
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| Tech in the field |
Ralston educators are building a culture of
inquiry, empowering students to ask questions like:
• How do I problem solve through this?
• How do I persevere?
• How do I understand the cause-and-effect relationships that occur in
every field?
Curriculum Conversations: 7 Do's and Don’ts
One way to help students own their role (power) in the
curriculum-making process is for teachers
Fraud, mismanagement, lies, failure: John Oliver takes on Charter
Schools
If you’ve not watched this, here’s your chance.
if you have watched this, it’s well worth watching again.
From Bruce’s ‘goldie oldies’ file:
An inquiry based classroom
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| Teacher : Deborah Frewnch |
‘How is your inquiry programme going?' seems to be a common question
asked by principals these days.Behind such a question seems the idea that
inquiry is another programme to include in the school day along with literacy
and numeracy.Two things are wrong with this.Firstly inquiry isn't a programme
to simply be added to the daily programme rather it is a disposition ( their
'default' way of learning) that children are born with until it is 'flipped' by
life experiences and by schooling.Secondly the teachers I have admired over the
years see inquiry as the basis for all learning - literacy and numeracy
included. Today many teachers ( and schools) have allowed literacy and numeracy
to all but 'gobble up' the entire school day. National Standards will further
dissipate this missing inquiry dimension.’
Don't touch the bananas!!!!
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| Cultures condition |
The power of culture – don’t touch the bananas,
‘It is always amazing to see how exposure to an environment, or
culture, can change how we think without us even knowing – I guess this is
called conditioning. New ideas always rely on those individuals who can see
reality without the blinkers. The truth however is not always welcome and it is
always easier to go along. As Oscar Wilde once said, ‘The truth makes you very
unpopular at the club.’”
Howard Gardner on creativity – are schools encouraging creativity?
The challenge of creativity.
Howard Gardner:Being creative is vital but it
isn’t always easy.
‘Gardner says his audiences expect him to fully endorse creativity
but creativity in human history was ‘neither sought after nor rewarded’. Human
societies are naturally conservative – and
schools particularly so. Humans
strive to maintain their current position and in schools this mitigates against
educational innovation and interdisciplinary leaps Many people we regard as
great thinkers had in their day a difficult time with their ideas – Galilee
Galileo comes to mind but at least he wasn’t burnt at the stake but had to
officially recant his ideas. People like Bach and Vincent van Gogh, Freud and
Darwin were not at first appreciated.’
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| Charles Darwin |
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