The purpose of education

As I was babysitting today I came across a letter written from Columbus City Schools to parents regarding their mission and goals for education. Their mission is "each student is highly educated, prepared for leadership and service, and empowered for success as a citizen in a global community". The first goal listed was "each and every child reaches his/her potential: prepared to go to college, secure a job, serve in the military, or start a business. The second goal listed was "learning environments are student-centered, efficient and stable".

I immediately thought back to the discussion we had in class regarding the emphasis that is put on preparing students to be part of the global economy. While I can see where Columbus City Schools is coming from, I think there is way too much focus on the do this then do that order to "be a successful citizen". Goal two in my opinion should come first, especially for children in elementary school. It is ridiculous for students in elementary school to be worrying about being a citizen in the global economy. What happened to making learning fun and getting educated on things that interest or excite students? The problem with education today is that all the fun and student ingenuity is getting sucked out. It is more of a chore on a person's to do list. After trying so hard for so long in school and being about to graduate in December I find myself having to continually motivate myself to keep going because I have come to resent school.

As I was looking online I came across this article that I found to be really interesting on Forbes.com. The link is http://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2012/08/15/what-is-the-purpose-of-education/. I agree with the idea that education does not have a single purpose and I like that the article said education serves multiple objectives, and the relative importance of each of these objectives can be very personal.  The varied emphasis is a result of the diverse economic, social, spiritual, cultural, and political realities of our individual lives. Another point that the article makes is that education is still being based on an information age when really it is conceptual because there are more than a single solution to the world's many problems. The statement that children are moving along an assembly line is exactly how I feel. This article brought out so many thoughts in my head and I would love to hear others' views on the purpose of education.

Cherish instead of Change

After our classes this week I got online and I looked through the internet and read many things regarding education, creativity and classrooms today, I found interesting ideas but one that really caught my attention and kept me thinking was a video from TED. The video was called “Do Schools Kill Education” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sir-ken-robinson/do-schools-kill-creativity_b_2252942.html. In the video Sir Ken Robinson was speaking about his views on how important creativity is in our world today. One of the points he made was the fact that kids are not afraid to fail until we teach them its not right to fail. He said, “ If you’re not prepared to be wrong you will never come up with anything original”; I feel like this quote explains one reason why creativity is so important to keep in education. Our world won’t prevail if people stop coming up with new ideas. The mind of a child is like nothing else. Its full of imagination and possibilities, and I feel like we should cherish it instead of change it.

In todays society I feel like every one wants to be right all of the time. Just like Mr. Glassman was saying we strive to make other people happy by doing what we think they want, but does this really get us anywhere? The questions that arise in my mind have a lot to do with what the world would be like if failing wasn’t bad. I also think about what education will do to my daughters mind if it stays the way it is right now.

What is the point of testing?

One of the things that struck me the most when we were discussing the concept of testing in schools was that it takes all the joy out of being a teacher. I remember when I was in school and testing week felt like the worst week of my life.  I did not understand the purpose of the test. All I knew at that age was, that I was to do the best that I could. I don’t even remember seeing my own results. I think that teaching and the schooling system has evolved into a business, where teachers are rated by the scores that there students take on tests. The better the scores, the more money that the district gets, but how do these tests show how effective of a teacher you are? Students love their teachers because of all the creative and interesting  topics they learn about in class. My favorite elementary school teacher read Harry Potter to us every day. It didn’t enjoy her class because I knew she was teaching me how to get a good score on a standardized test.

 http://standardizedtests.procon.org/#pro_con This website examines many of the pros and cons to testing. Many people advocate for them because they feel that standardized testing has a positive effect on student achievement and is a reliable measure for how well they are doing in school. Individuals against standardized testing feel that there is no evidence that testing based programs actually work.

Personally I feel as though testing is never going to go away. It has become such a large part of the education system, but  I feel like there should be a balance between letting teachers teach subjects they want to teach and are passionate about and testing students. 

The Importance of Creating

In a lot of my education classes we have gone over Bloom's Taxonomy. It is a  multiple layered model consisting of six cognitive levels of complexity. In the newly revised model the cognitive levels (from bottom to top) are: Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating, and Creating.  Here is a link that discusses more in detail what his model is about: http://www.unco.edu/cetl/sir/stating_outcome/documents/Krathwohl.pdf.

The reason why I' brought his model up is because I find it amusing that the creating layer is valued the highest but still many school systems don't practice this belief. Creativity is being put to the side because the schools are too concerned about how kids are going to score on tests. The article even states that he and other educators created this model in order to reduce all the work that goes into preparing for comprehension tests. Doesn't his model or others like it say anything? Why do schools still emphasize the importance for testing? Are these kids getting anything out of these tests? It seems like these tests just measure how well the kids remember the material (which is considered to be very low on Bloom's model).

What is Really Takes to Learn

The video about Sugata Mitra's experiment, Hole in the Wall, really enlightened me and made me think. In today's society, a lot of students like to blame the teachers when doing poorly in school and claim that they are not receiving a decent education. I feel like our society makes education seem more like an obligation rather than a chance to become knowledgeable. However, by providing something as simple as a computer to the children of India, it gave them the tool and opportunity to learn. This helped them become ambitious and started educating themselves, without a teacher. While students in America get really excited when they hear the words, "no school", the number of children using the computer in India started to increase.

Soon enough some of the children became the teacher rather than the student. With this one piece of technology, they were able to form a small community amongst themselves, or some could say, they were able to form a classroom. After looking through their website, http://www.hole-in-the-wall.com/MIE.html, I found out that they actually came up with a term for this teaching method: minimally invasive education (MIE).

What really astonished me was when I heard the story about the little girl who was able to explain a complicated science procedure regarding DNA. These children didn't even know how to read, write, or speak in English but somehow were able to teach themselves how to do so. This just goes to show you that when you put your mind to it, you really can accomplish anything. The video taught me that one really can't learn anything unless they have the passion and determination to do so. Students can't learn anything unless they want to be taught.

Boundless Possibilities

After viewing Sugata Mitra's TED Talk based on his project, "Hole in the Wall," I was awestruck by the creativity and adaptability displayed by the young students. By providing the children with the computers and an unstructured, open learning environment Mitra came upon solid evidence that so much is possible through the use of incidental learning. The joy and excitement on the faces of the children as they discovered new words, played vibrant games, and unlocked new methods of learning made my heart swell. Tears came to my eyes when Sugata gave the anecdote about a young girl who defined what a "nucleus" was, having had only been given information on Biology in a language she didn't speak! For a moment, I wondered how this project was not more widely cited in Education; I mean, how could it not be? Alas I remembered, the idea of allowing unstructured learning in a classroom is terrifying to many educators, as there are so many strenuous demands placed on teachers and students for successful test scores and furthered funding.

The students involved in the, "Hole in the Wall" experiment seemed to be glaring examples of the vast adaptability and creative thinking that resides within every child from birth. In a TED Talk by Sir Ken Robinson, he ponders the idea that schools may be killing creativity, systematically stamping out unique thought. Ken touches on how there are many ways that a person can be intelligent based upon Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences, but as educators we only address and teach to the logical and linguistic aspects of those intelligences. As he puts it, "The consequence is that many highly talented, brilliant, creative people think that they're not because the thing that they were good at at school wasn't valued or was actually stigmatized." Just like Isaac Asimov and Sugata Mitra have uncovered; Ken sees that there must be more room for creativity, dancing, drawing, singing, and doing in our classrooms. Without those things, we are doing our future a great injustice.

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

I know that many of you may have already viewed this talk, but I have been so inspired by Ken over the last few years that I find myself watching it as a reminder every couple of months. He really believes in the unique beauty and talent in every person. If you're ever feeling downtrodden about your future as a teacher, just watch this!

Tests and Encores

This article: http://www.policymic.com/articles/21555/standardized-testing-is-completely-out-of-control

... talks about how schools have become less teaching and more testing. It says that so much time spent testing (and prepping for that testing) has pushed out room for learning. Well, we are learning, but we aren't learning our subjects proper. We are learning them corelationally by learning to take the tests on those subjects. Perhaps that is how we came to this obtuse teaching structure. Why learn something if we won't be tested on it? That mentality seems cold and uncreative, but it is the only merit a student can be judged by in scale. I don't care how many teams you're the captain of or how much community service you've done, good luck getting to a college without taking the SAT or ACT.

Maybe it has come to this through economic principle; those who placed the greatest importance on standardized testing were the ones who did the best, received the most and you had to place just as much importance on these tests to remain competitive. Now everyone has to do it and what was once seen as an extra, applauded effort is now commonplace and expected much like encores for rock concerts or after-credits scenes for films. Imagine: we live in a world where lack of an encore is insulting and extra preparation for a standardized test is expected (although that defeats to point of "extra," doesn't it?).

Although we can't very well standardize preparation if we are against standardization in the first place. Colleges need some criteria to sort students on. Much easier clicking on an Excel sheet than analyzing every applicant. Is that what it is? Has standardized testing come to be because there are just too many of us to do it the old fashioned way? I don't know what to do about that. I don't know how to solve to the Ouroboros of testing to be tested. I just wish we could find a way to tell Lynyrd Skynyrd it's okay to play Free Bird during their set.

Fun In The Classroom

The one thing that really struck a chord with me in class was how we discussed the teaching style that teachers you now compared to the past. Before all the laws were made about how teachers need to teach their students based on testing, classrooms were a much more enjoyable place to be. School is supposed to be an escape for many students ad unfortunately it is not that way much anymore. I remember when I was in sixth grade how we were able to learn about life cycles by incubating eggs and letting them hatch. I eventually took four of the chickens home with me and this was the best thing we had ever done in class. It was a nontraditional way of teaching and allowed for students to get out of their seats and have fun. I also learned and remembered life cycles much better since we had this hands on activity to learn from. With all the testing that we have now it is almost impossible to fit activities like this into a lesson plan. Learning is supposed to be fun and unfortunately we are making it less and less fun for our students with all of the testing that is occurring. 

This blog, http://www.makingitteacher.com/2013/01/Making-It-As-A-Middle-School-Teacher.Having-Fun-in-Your-Classroom.html, is about how to make your classroom fun. It gives different activities that you can try with your students, along with other things such as decorating ideas. It also helps you to know how to "survive" teaching a middle school class when we know it can be quite difficult. She gives great tips and ideas to use in the classroom!

Testing: Why do we have to bother?

We hear a lot about the ACT and SAT on a regular basis, and this is because, for some reason, it's a topic that people like to discuss. Either they're going through the process themselves, they know someone who is, or like all of us, they already have completed this gruelling test. Our discussion about these tests were quite relevant to me because I remember that when my friends and I were preparing for them, it's as if they were all we talked about. It's ridiculous that school boards put so much importance on something that doesn't indicate your true intelligence: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/sats/test/what.html. This article as well as the College board in this article state that "the ACT does not measure innate ability." In reading this article, my thoughts throughout were: "If they don't measure true intelligence or how a particular person is going to do in college, then why do school boards and college boards require students to take these tests?" Instead of putting this much emphasis on something that clearly has no bearing on students' knowledge or academic abilities, schools should focus more on encouraging creativity (particularly the arts), which in a sense, has been stifled in order to prepare students for these standardized tests. I believe that if universities need something to determine which students they accept, the administration should focus on their grades all throughout high school, and then look at extracurriculars, etc. There are already many ways they can decide who to accept. Why do they feel required to add one more item to that list?

Optional ACT and SAT?

Our discussion in class regarding the ACT and SAT got me thinking about why we have these tests and what would happen if we didn't put so much pressure on students to take them. I personally do not believe a score on one of these tests is a true representation of your intelligence or that a high score should be the main thing colleges look for when they are deciding who to accept. Supporters of the tests might say that the ACT and SAT are two very different tests so students can have multiple chances to receive a high score, but I see this as a huge problem. There are not just two different learning categories that students can fit under in the world. Every person is different and we all have different learning styles, approaches and ways of thinking. Also, students who come from wealthier families and schools have more access to resources needed to get a high score. Taking a test itself costs money, but if you want to retake the test to do better, buy a practice book, or take a class, the money starts to add up. The focus for getting into college is spending more time, energy, and money on getting higher scores as opposed to personalizing applications and writing essays. Many colleges do look at recommendation letters, activities, GPA, essays, and interviews, but what if all colleges didn't require test scores at all? I found an article that was written this month about colleges who aren't requiring test scores in their application. The article (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roger-ochoa/applying-to-college-no-sa_b_3701210.html) quotes the New York times saying "test anxiety is a real phenomenon and that those tense hours in a stale-aired gymnasium aren't reflective of a person's work ethic or aptitude." I strongly agree with the author of the article and continued reading about something I had not thought of before. If every school were to make SAT and ACT test scores optional on the application, the application process would be extremely difficult. The administration office would need to learn more about the students though essays, interviews, letters, GPA, and activities. This would take many more hours and make colleges more competitive than they already are. I'm not sure what the perfect solution is to this testing problem, but we need to think of a way to take away the pressure, lower costs, personalize the applications, and keep the process moving quickly.

The Importance of Art, Music, and Gym in School

After our talk in class on Wednesday about how schools are run nowadays I was searching the Internet for something that I wanted to blog about when this idea came to be. As we all know many schools have had or are having trouble passing levies. When a levy doesn't pass that means budget cuts have to be made in the schools. When this happens students lose anything from busing to extracurricular activities and much more. One thing that recently has been happening in elementary schools though when there needs to be a budget cut is they cut out gym, music and, art. The reason behind it is these things aren't seen as "essentials" to children's learning some say. Others think that it can be left up to the teacher who teaches the core subject to include art or music into the regular classroom. Some even say that we need to focus more on core classes because it is more important and we need to be having more children pass standardized tests. I think otherwise though, I think these classes are just as important, especially for young children. At that age it is hard to keep them sitting still all day and have their mind drilled with all this information that they need to memorize for tests. Half an hour to an hour everyday should be allowed for them to go to music, art, and gym. There they can run off some energy or express themselves through music and art. We make children sit in a classroom for a great amount of time at such a young age and we have to understand they have to be allowed to let out some energy sometimes and this is what theses classes allow them to do. These classes aren't all about drilling knowledge into their head and making them memorize it for a test.  These classes are especially important for children who may struggle more in the core classes, such as math but excel in art and music. When they are in the art and music classroom and the teacher acknowledges their outstanding work it gives them confidence in themselves and their ability. This job also should not be left up to the teachers who teach the core subject but instead someone who has a passion in art or music. This  is why they became a music or art teacher so they could share their joy of it with students. I found an article that talks about many of the facts I have just stated that I think it interesting. The article also goes into a little more detail about how some schools in Florida are mandating time for students to have physical activity.  http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-06-07/news/fl-art-music-pe-20100607_1_physical-education-electives-core-academic-subjects I understand budget cuts have to be made when schools aren't doing very well but I don't think the children should have to suffer from it by taking away time for them to be creative or active and let out some energy.

The Future of Education

The TED talk dealing with students teaching themselves really woke me to the reality that the way classrooms are set up disrupt students' ability to be fully engaged in the learning process. Disinterest in material strongly impacts the way students learn, or do not learn. As a prospective teacher, I have been searching for the good and bad in academia as we know it today. Through my scope, I observe that students are given a lot of what often appears to be "busy" work in addition to preparation for tests and papers that only produce short-term learning and effort. I am dismayed at my own inability to be actively engaged in classroom because I find that even my college courses are rigorous and inapplicable to the life I expect to lead upon graduation.

So what is the solution? Well, it seems as though technology will almost always be part of the solution in the future of education. The rapid innovations in the past several years have captivated the attention of both consumers and students. In literature classes, books are being replaced by iPads; even in classes where technology does not seem necessary, it is being used to intrigue students and maintain their attention. I wonder frequently if this is the approach that is the best. Thinking from my perspective, technology is a distraction that detaches me from the reality of what I am doing. I am not actually being inspired by the technology surrounding me.

This article touches on the future of education and technology (http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/jun/19/technology-future-education-cloud-social-learning). While I think of technology as a way to captivate students' attention, the article deals with the practicality of technology. Access to information and materials can help students in practical or logistic ways. Like where can they find notes, store/access documents, ect. This idea of connect-ability goes beyond the borders of a classroom, it becomes a way students and educator can exchange ideas.

Longer School Year: Will It Help Or Hurt U.S Students?

In class today we briefly talked about how taking the summer off of school can be bad for students. The break from education, learning, and stimulating the brain is too long. I found this article and short clip that expands on the thought of shortening summer break, making the school year longer. A 3 year project is in effect in 5 states that will add 300 more hours to the school year. Although American students are far behind when it comes to Asian and European students, data does not show that longer hours are producing better results. In fact, Finland requires less school than America but students perform better than us.

I think that extending the school year or having year around schools can have some pros and cons. Some positives are having the students "work out" their brain, more or longer breaks in between quarters or semester, and even providing poor students with meals. Some negatives are taking time away to rest their brains from the workload of school, the extra funds for extending the school year, and arrangements families may have to make to accompany the new change.

 

Is there a way we can meet a common ground since research is showing that longer school years are not effective? What about assigning students a small summer project that will allow for some creativity, learning, exploring responsibility and time management, etc.? Is the problem the fact that there are bad teachers out there (as much as we don't want to admit it) or perhaps that the curriculum could use improvement?

What do you guys think?

here is the link: Longer School Year: Will It Help Or Hurt U.S. Students?

Computers in the classroom

 I remember in grade school the importance that my teachers put on learning how to properly use a computer. Typing, browsing, the lingo, tool bars, programs, these were all important things to learn how to navigate the World Wide Web. With that said, I don't think I was ever aware of the impact that such a machine would have on my life or my future. The amount of information that can be found in a matter of seconds is absurd. Growing up in a time where technology is advancing so quickly that there is a new and better product coming out ever year is both a blessing and a curse, but the rapid growth of such a thing has definitely improved one area in particular. Classrooms. Students are capable of learning literally almost anything they could ever imagine at the click of a button.
The video we watched in class talks about how people can learn about anything they find interesting if they are given the means to do so. Children who know absolutely nothing about a particular topic, when left to discover, can teach themselves an infinite number of things. With such a statement being said, my question is, what does that mean for the future of teachers? Are teachers just going to be standing by being "positive support" for students while they look things up online? Or will classrooms turn into a place where students sit in front of a computer screen and are led in activities by their teacher? I've learned in multiple classes that students learn better in a classroom that is discussion based rather than lecture based. Could this potentially be the future of our classrooms? Where students are left to discuss topics and learn from the internet and each other rather than by a stereotypical teacher at the front of the room?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/09/26/mitra.technology.learning/index.html

This link leads to a page that summarizes the TED talk we watched in class. It makes references to the talk by pointing out specific areas that children were able to improve just by having access to a computer and the internet. Examples include:

• Teach themselves enough English to use e-mail, chat and search engines. 
• Change their social interaction skills and value systems.
• Improve their mathematics and science scores in school.

Though children can learn greatly from computers and internet access I think it is also important to address the fact that children need reinforcement in what they are learning.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/08/opinion/kopp-kids-real-teachers

This article discusses how one great teacher can change a student's life forever. This is something that could never happen with a computer.

The two are very valid arguments, but only time will tell. In an age where every person is connected at all times might imply that technology will soon run the classroom, but the benefits of a human teacher are beyond compare.

Creativity and Education in the Classroom

The videos from class on Monday has shown the difference in cultures and how all students are different because of what culture they have been brought up in.  We seen in the videos that the those kids had the determination to figuire out what they wanted to do on the computers, because it was something new to them and interesting.  Does that mean we need a new way at looking at education in the classroom?  I am not saying that we do, we should just see more of the students creativity that can be brought into the classroom.  In the videos it said that the students that learned from them computers ended up having the same scores as those with a teacher in the classroom.  The students that learned from the computers, they learned on a basis that they wanted to.  They would go and learn what they wanted, when they wanted on there own time and schedule.  While those kids that are in the classroom, have been in the school for a certain amount of time learning one thing after another.  Giving the students the space of learning what they want would seem to let the students be more relaxed.  Although if this would happen in the classroom the teachers would have to make sure that the student are at least working towards content that has been discussed and make sure they do not end up running out of time for the students to learn everything that students should know in that grade level.  This would then make it harder for teachers to teach to the test.  This would make it so the students would learn what interests when they wanted to learn it and then be able to fit in other content when needed.

But from the class discussion on Wednesday about teaching to the test, this would make it so the teachers would have to make the tests more personalized to what they have gone over. After reading this article, it made me realize more about testing and our nation. http://fairtest.org/facts/howharm.htm In this article it explains how these standard test are actually hurting our students test scores and that our nation is starting to depend too much on testing.  In the world today, we think that test scores mean everything, that it will tell us where we sit compared to other countries.  In all reality these scores are never going to have the same meaning.  In some countries not all students get to choose how far in education they go, only the top of the classes get the chance to go to college.  While in a nation like ours, everyone gets and has the opportunity to go as far as they want to go into education.  So the level of learners are all different.

Teachers and Testing

After todays discussion in class about how important testing in schools has become, I began to think more about the effects these test have on not only the students but as well as the teachers. When it comes to testing students get all sorts of anxiety. When it comes to the ACT or the SAT's the pressure is even more intense. However, I think back to when I was in elementary school preparing for that week long of testing on every subject that we all dreaded. While taking the tests, I never thought about the effects it has on the teachers and why it was so important that I did well as a student. Besides the fact that doing well on the test provides the school with more funding, teachers have to make sure they are providing all the correct curriculum. This means adjusting there creative ideas and means of teaching. For teachers, not doing well on these tests is not an option. Upon taking the test, teachers are then evaluated based on how well your students performed. I have found an article that talks more about these evaluations. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/education/us-lets-states-delay-using-tests-to-rate-teachers.html?_r=0. I think teachers having to adjust there curriculum in order to accommodate these standardize test is not right. They should be able to teach students through a create way and be able to teach what they enjoy and have a passion for. These standardize test are causing more harm then good. The government needs to take a step back and really evaluate these global test and really see if they are what is necessary.

Stop teaching to the tests?

After our discussion today in class, I began thinking about how teachers can stop teaching to the tests. Since education seems to be all about test scores, it has become necessary to prepare our students for these supposedly critical tests. I agree that a lot of time gets wasted in the classroom because the curriculum only provides enough space for test prep, which eliminates any other useful material for the students. I wish I could teach so that tests are not emphasized as much as they are right now, but when thinking about how I can do that I become lost. Knowing that as the children get older they will have to take these tests, I feel that it is my job to prepare them to be successful at doing it. If I eliminate any sort of test taking in my classroom, what will happen when my previous students go to take a test later on? They won't know what to do! The only way I think this could work is if all levels stop emphasizing test taking so strongly, that way you won't be setting kids up for disaster if you don't emphasize tests early on. I do think assessing children's knowledge is important and we should not eliminate it completely, but by basing children's success and knowledge solely on standardized tests, I think we are underplaying other areas of children's skills and talents.

I read this article written by a teacher about how "we must stop judging kids solely on standardized tests." I think this teacher brings up the exact point of why tests shouldn't be the only way to measure a student's abilities. Not everyone learns the same or has the same talents! She mentions a perfect example of how a couple of students in her English class were not good test takers and were failing her class. When she allowed them to express their knowledge in a way that was easier for them, she was still able to see that they learned the material- which is essentially what school should be about. 

Testing Craze

After today's class discussion on disappearing creativity and lack of "joy" in the classroom, I've begun to think more and more about why this seems to be happening. We always accuse the students of expecting so much and never wanting to step out of their comfort zones and be creative, however, maybe it's not their fault. Over the recent years we've been shaping students into sticking to bland and uneventful thoughts and ideas. Perhaps this comes from our extreme push of testing. School has become a place where we learn to pass the test or to please the teacher. What used to be exciting and fun, school has become a place where we're forcing students to work towards business and global market. Nowadays, it's very rare for people to associate words of happiness and joy when discussing education and schooling. These testing stigmas are "sucking" the creativity right out of the classrooms. After reading an article on standardized testing in today's society, (http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2013/04/11/why-excessive-standardized-testing-is-causing-american-schools-to-fail) our class suggestions become even more relevant. In order to successfully redirect creativity into the schools it's necessary to put less emphasis on testing and more on the "joy" of learning. I believe that if a student is enjoying learning the subject will become that much more interesting.

Computers and their effects on students and teachers

                After watching Sugata Mitra’s video, “New Experiments in Self-Teaching”, it is now very interesting to think about computers and their effects on learning. Mitra’s experiment shows just how impressive technology can be for the human mind. To be able to see an experiment where people of all ages, especially students, teach themselves using a computer is such a huge step in the world of education. This experiment shows that people coming from all backgrounds and socioeconomic levels can open themselves up to an extraordinary education. If we could supply the less able countries and families with computers or provide access to them, everyone would be able to reach a desired level of education through self-teaching.

                One computer educational program that has been featured in the news is Khan Academy. The following link tells the story of Khan Academy and provides an interview with the voice of Khan Academy, Sal Khan.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57394905/khan-academy-the-future-of-education/

Khan Academy is a free, online educational/tutoring program. Khan himself records his own lectures and posts them to Khan Academy for all people to see. There are currently schools and teachers now who are trying out his programs. It could be programs like these that could reach out to those countries or schools who are less fortunate and do not have access to top education programs. However, with the advancement in technology and self-teaching through computers, and with programs such as Khan Academy, will the role of teachers in the classroom be declined? Will technology take over? Or, will programs like these allow teachers to give more personal time to those who are struggling on certain material, while those who are exceeding in certain material can continue on in their work? The questions on whether technology will positively or negatively affect the classroom are endless. 

Computers Holding Kids Back?

I found an extremely interesting article that mentions that some parents believe that their children learn better without technology and pay big bucks for their children to go to specified classrooms that do not have any computers or technological devices. It talks of these "Waldorf" schools that advocate using creativity and physical activity in order to learn. The article claims that multiple scientific studies have shown that children do not learn better with computers and that it can damage brain activity, although they do not cite their sources.
Although I do see where they are coming from, I can only agree with the latter part of this article. The last section describes both the good and bad qualities that can come with technology. I do believe that it is important for children not to wrapped up on a computer all day. It is not healthy nor does it prepare them for real world experiences. However, there is no denying at how important technology has become in our daily lives and how important it will continue to become in the classroom. Completely cutting children off from it is totally absurd and in my opinion inhibits their schooling by not learning how to use computers to their advantage to increase their knowledge. Technology is becoming such a staple for the classroom that I do believe it really does hold children back if they are behind in how to use it properly and effectively.
While I cannot say I completely agree with this article, I do think it is very important for children to experience a mixture of both technology and real life experiences to better prepare themselves for learning and the real world.
http://theweek.com/article/index/220905/do-kids-learn-more-without-computers

Creativity in the Classroom

During the videos we watched in class today, the TED talk spoke to me the most; I was struck by the amount of creativity the students displayed in discovering new ways to use the technology they had been given. The technology, being like nothing they may have seen before, forced them to think in new and different directions to problem solve the question or simply to explore the world via the internet. These students were thinking outside the box in the many examples shown in the talk and inventing new ways to deal with problems they encountered along the way, such as a language barrier or a challenging subject. Creativity, the driving force behind their achievements, is something that seems to be lacking in some modern day American classrooms. From general observations, some younger students have grown up in a world where they expect to be given ALL the tools and ALL the instructions on how to complete an assigned task- they can be frightened at the idea of the unknown variables of life. I recently found an article about promoting creativity in the classroom that I think offers a few good ideas that teachers can easily implement into their daily classroom activities. (http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/30-things-you-can-do-to-promote-creativity-in-your-classroom/) These ideas can assist students in gaining the confidence and skills needed to flourish in the growing global network that they will inherit. Students should be encouraged to think of multiple ways to solve a single problem and be praised for taking risks and failing. These are skills that must be taught from a young age and encouraged throughout their educational career. I believe that a resurgence of emphasis on creativity across all grades is essential to the reforms needed to the modern American school system.

Welcome to the school and society blog

Welcome to the school and society blog.  This is the only time I will post on this blog.