Reality Check
I recently found this quote about the future of technology that really got me thinking (the entire article got me thinking).
"Education will become organically linked again into everyday life, not forced into schools and colleges where young people sink into an alienated youth culture, into compulsory idleness and irresponsibility." http://prayatna.typepad.com/education/2005/10/new_ideas_for_e.html
This quote got me thinking about the frustration I am feeling about the slowness of change. I would guess that the majority of people think of high school as it is stated in the second part of the satement. Many students would still probably describe a typical high school as an array cliques, long hours of homework (that is done, just to get it done), sitting through hours of teachers talking/lecturing, students fighting for the proclaimed "good teacher" or "easy teacher", and parents reminicing of, for the most part, the exact same experiences.
I know that here at Arapahoe we are diligently working toward active, engaged and autonomous learning. Where students are learning how to learn, analyze, and disect information for logic and valitity. However, I guess I am feeling frustrated about how to get more educators on board with what our students will need to be successful in today's world. A world where it is essential to be self motiviated, innovative and a critical thinker. Where facts can be found in the blink of an eye, but valitity and truth must be found through critical thinking and inquiry.
It is frustrating how difficult change can be. Even I have a hard time realizing the urgency of change. In the past 5 years computers have truly become our world (5 years). Everything I learned in my technology masters in 2002 is not old, and almost obsolete. So in this digital age how can we make vital structural changes to allow for this type of learning. And how do we integrate the technologies necessary to create 21st century learners with no money?
I guess I am just gearing up for what I see as an amazing uphill, bumpy, and winding road. I am just hoping that I find an expensive and durable mountain bike to help get me to the top where I can reach true constructivist teaching and create the type of engaged learning my students will need to be tomorrow's problem solvers.
I know that our thinking, discussions, PLCs, and our new mission and vision statements are definitely going in the right direction. I just hope that some of the implementation and changes start taking off. I'm ready!
posted by bkitch @ 11:18 AM
2 Comments:
I think you're asking the right questions. We just need to keep asking them, and to keep pushing for what our students need, even if that's hard or sometimes controversial or uncomfortable for us.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." Let's model this for folks, offer to help, don't settle for less than our best - let's keep pushing and trying, sometimes succeeding and sometimes not, but always moving toward that vision.
I always am hearing older teachers say that this PLC is just a phase and to wait 5 years and a new phase will be implemented. If, in five years, technology has changed so much, what is being taught to teachers? If we wait 5 years for the next fad, will we just be in the same place, talking about waiting another 5 years? Teachers only have about 6 five year periods. If we wait for others to tell us how to do things, it will never get done. I do believe that it should be a grass roots movement, and like Karl said:"be the change."
Post a Comment
<< Home