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
Noam Chomsky on the Dangers of Standardized Testing
“The assessment itself is completely artificial. It’s not ranking
teachers in accordance with their ability to help develop children who will
reach their potential, explore their creative interests. Those things you’re
not testing.. it’s a rank that’s mostly meaningless. And the very ranking
itself is harmful. It’s turning us into individuals who devote our lives to
achieving a rank. Not into doing things that are valuable and important.”
'Schools must appoint teacher coaches to keep staff up to speed with
rapid changes in technology’
‘Probably the biggest problem teachers have is the rapid rate of
change that occurs in our computer-driven culture. Things change so fast, that
we are now faced with “data obsolescence”. That which we believe to be
true today, may not be true, or might be replaced by another fact or
improvement in the upcoming year. Unless the very system that educates our
population keeps up with these changes in a timely fashion it will itself in
time become irrelevant. The model of professional development that the system
relies on most heavily is the same system that has been in place for at least
century.’
How to Become and Remain a Transformational Teacher
‘However talented, no one is a natural-born teacher. Honing the
craft takes significant care and effort, not just by the individual, but also
by the school at large. Though experience does matter, it matters only to the
extent that a teacher -- regardless of how long he or she has been in the
classroom -- commits to continued professional development to refresh his or
her status as a transformational teacher.’
This viral video perfectly sums up what’s wrong with education
today, and how we can change it
‘Here, he’s pointing to the lack of freedom that teachers often have
to adapt classes in the most effective way for their individual
students. Teachers, he says, “have the most important job on the planet” and “should
earn just as much as doctors”. But far from appreciating their expertise and
efforts, politicians force them into restrictive boxes.’
The dark side of classroom behavior management charts
‘With each new school year come shiny new behavior management
systems decorating the walls of elementary classrooms. From sticker charts to
clip charts to color cards, teachers choose bright and engaging systems with
the hope that a little incentive might lead to improved student behavior. The
thing is, these systems rarely work for any extended period of time.’
Contributed by Bruce Hammonds:
#DSXOAK: A prototype school comes to life
‘If you could completely re-design the school experience, giving
students the greatest possible creative agency, how would you do it?That’s what
d.school edu fellow David Clifford is prototyping in West Oakland this weekend
during his design sprint. David is a self-described “agitator” who “love[s]
to mess with old ideas.”“The thing that we’re trying to do is redesign high
school for the 21st century kid to help them navigate and affect change in the
21st century,” said David.“The current school model is still building kids to
navigate the 19th and 20th century.” That model is meant to “manage humanity
instead of inspire it.”’
Arts-Infused Project-Based Learning: Crafting Beautiful Work
"I would argue that the arts is project-based learning,"
says Emily Crowhurst, a music teacher. "In every music lesson, whether
it's a project lesson or what you might deem a typical lesson, there areproject-based learning techniques going on naturally in the way that students
are constantly critiquing and rehearsing what they're creating; and they're
always working towards an end project that will have an authentic audience.”
Embracing Failure: Building a Growth Mindset Through the Arts
Teach your students the recipe for success:
taking risks, making mistakes, and integrating critical feedback.
‘At New Mexico School for the Arts (NMSA) -- a dual arts and
academic curriculum -- failure is taught as an important part of the journey
toward success. Understanding that mistakes are indicators for areas of growth,
freshmen learn to give and receive feedback. By senior year, students welcome
tough, critical feedback -- and even insist on it.’
Rainstorms and Symphonies: Performing Arts Bring Abstract Concepts
to Life
‘When early elementary teachers integrate music and theater, student
learning improves in reading, math, and science as they become better critical
thinkers and problem solvers.’
From Bruce’s ‘goldie oldies’ file:
Power through reading!
‘Reading, and writing, are not just processes to be 'achieved' but
are all about power - power of the imagination, power of gaining messages
through literature, and power to gain and share ideas that can change how you
think. Unless students, particularly those from from families who lack
'cultural capital', appreciate this power why would they bother to read or
write?.Arguments about literacy never seem to go away. Phonics or whole
language arguments occupy literacy critics. Like the nature/ nurture argument
the answer is both. Either or arguments only force proponents into corners; the
future is always the best of both.’
Developing a democratic curriculum
‘Relating back to the ideas of John Dewey James Beane believes that if people
are to live democratic lives they must have the opportunity to learn what that
way of life means. His ideas are based on the ability of students to
participate in their own education. Democratic schools share a child centred
approach but their larger goal is to change the undemocratic conditions of
school themselves and in turn to reach out to the wider community.’
Five Minds for the Future
‘Howard Gardner, renowned worldwide for for his theory of multiple
intelligences, shares his latest ideas in his new new book 'Five Minds for the
Future'.Based on the premise that students are entering an accelerating world
of change in every area of life Gardner believes that such changes call for new
ways of learning and thinking in schools if students are to thrive in the world
during the eras to come. The directions our society is taking and the future of
our planet demands such 'new minds' able to explore creative alternatives for
problems that cannot be anticipated.’
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