Friday, August 22, 2014

Educational Readings - for the critical educator



By Allan Alach



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

This weeks homework!

Rational And Evidence-Based Responses To Standards Advocates And Critics
This article will provide you with a valuable tool to support all those debates you are having  with pro-GERMers!

A practical logic problem also exists for those advocating or criticizing standards: If I am teaching, my job is to identify where any student is in her/his learning and then to take that student farther, both in terms of direct teaching and by motivating that student to learn. That fact of real-world teaching renders detailed standards irrelevant because it doesnt matter what a standard deems any student should know and when since the reality of that student supersedes those mandates.

Whats the real purpose of educational benchmarking?
Very good article by Andy Hargreaves:

Andy Hargreaves
Is there a second purpose of educational benchmarking then? Is it to delineate the weak from the strong, inciting nation to compete against nation, Americans against Asians, and school against school. After we have pinpointed schools that are failing, does this just make it easier for invading opportunists to set up charter schools in their place, or to market online alternatives, tutoring services and the like?

Standardized Testing
The Opposite of Excellence
Another excellent blog by Peter Greene:

When they talk about highly effective teachers and excellent schools and proficient students, all they are talking about is the scores on a standardized math and reading test. That's it.



8 Needs For Project-Based Learning In The 21st Century (thanks Tony Gurr)

To seek- use- and create
We tend to think of project-based learning as focused on research, planning problem-solving, authenticity, and inquiry. Further, collaboration, resourcefulness, and networking matter toodozens of characteristics fitinto project-based learning. Its popularity comes from, among other characteristics, its general flexibility as a curriculum framework. You can do, teach, assess, and connect almost anything within the context of a well-designed project.

Let's Stop Trying To Teach Students Critical Thinking

Socrates - so what is new?
The philosopher most associated with the critical spirit is Socrates. In the 1980s, Australian philosopher John Anderson put the Socratic view of education most clearly when he wrote: "The Socratic education begins with the awakening of the mind to the need for criticism, to the uncertainty of the principles by which it supposed itself to be guided.”’

Never Again! Now The Evidence Is Irrefutable
And this includes education
Read how three separate groups have taken over American education, then use this to analyse the situation in your own country. Are there any similarities?

Finally, each group attempting to destroy or reform public education and access the tax dollars citizens pay for public schools, violates some or all of the tenets that guide the education profession. What are some of these tenets?

Reformers Standardize Teachers Individualize

Only in the field of education do we find The Professional completely superfluous. Much has been made of the publics disregard for teachers: the idea that since youve graduated high school, you
Forced standardisation.
know what it means to be a teacher. You dont. You dont get a teaching certification digging around in a Crackerjack box. People earn genuine college degrees in this many of them get masters and doctorates. Those degrees even require you to go out and do some actual teaching! Let me assure you, none of it entails reminiscing about your old high school days and all the teachers who were mean to you.

Shifting The Point Of View
How to best develop the use of technology in education?

Technology is advancing too fast and its effects on society for today and future are observed clearly by many institutions and they are changing themselves accordingly. Unfortunately educational institutions can not follow them since they are the most resistant ones to change. Most of the schools who are having their technology transformation nowadays are only changing their shop windows. A deeper and more realistic change can not happen until they really shift their perspective from technology to pedagogy.

This weeks contributions

The Science Behind Classroom Norming

Bruces comment:Use this primer on the five stages of norming to establish a positive classroom community.
Does the norming process take time? Yes, but when students share important values, beliefs, and goals, they accomplish more. Dont trust me. Trust the science.

The 5 Critical Categories of Rules
On a Similar theme:

Author
Regardless of whether a school is open and free or traditional, limits or rules are necessary to teach students responsibility. I have identified five areas that I call critical categories which are useful when deciding what rules you need. Because rules work best when students have a say in their selection, I prefer teaching students what these critical categories mean, and developing rules together.

Back to School: A Surefire Strategy for Building Classroom Community
And another - back to school time must be approaching in the USA!

‘… this post does not address anything related to technology or the CCSS. It addresses a topic of much greater importance -- the emotional environment of the classroom. Without an excellent, intentionally designed, emotional environment (one which builds authentic community in the classroom), the standards and the technologies are of little value. As Steven Covey and many others have said, "First things first!”’

20 Things Educators Need To Know About Digital Literacy Skills
Bruces comment: Something to think about even for those who struggle with digital technology.

Teaching digital literacy is about more than just integrating technology into lesson plans; its about using technology to understand and enhance modern communication, to locate oneself in digital space, to manage knowledge and experience in the Age of Information. bit.ly/1yQAZ94

Difficult Discussions Are The Most Important Discussions
Bruces comment: Making difficult decisions before your train goes off the track!

The best way to prevent a train from heading down the wrong track is candid discussions about the facts and clarity around why the journey should happen. But we need to do a better job at having those tough discussions earlier in the process.

Universal Design for Learning: A Blueprint for Successful Schools
Bruces comment: An excellent 18 minute TED Talk - lessons from flying a jet - personalised talent based learning. A very simple message.

Teachers confront this challenge with every lesson, activity, and course as they acknowledge that no
Customizing pilot cockpits
two students learn the same way. With the added pressure to address standards, integrate technology, and prepare students with 21st Century Skills, consider the potential if school leaders could offer teachers a single strategy that would address all of their studentsneeds. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) does just that.

No comments: