Chapter 1 The Game Has Changed
"It is the learners who will inherit the future; the "so-called learned'" who think they "know it all" will find themselves frustrated by a world that has passed them by."
After reading Chapter One from the text please respond to the following reflections and reactions.
Reflections:
What is the role of schools today and how are the roles of teachers changing?
Reactions:
What are your feelings about the topics presented in this chapter?
What are some pratical applications for what you're learning?
What so you want to remember about this chapter?
Click on comments to leave your response
10 comments:
Reflections:
I feel the role of today's school is to provide a solid quality education to all it's students. What's changed is how we go about doing this. Schools used to provide the information. Today educating our youth should be a partnership. We can't go on with business as usual. We must adjust with society and change as society changes. Today the learner must be accountable for his/her own learning.
As a teacher I must move my students away from being content absorbers and redirect them towards being "information navigators". We need to teach them how to learn, instead of just what to learn. I see my role as more of the navigator instead of the leader or provider.
Reactions:
There is so much truth to the ideas in this chapter. I've lived through many of the "quick fixes" for education. I agree that most times they just don't solve our problems.
I biggest way for me to apply some of what I'm learning is to remember I must continue to aquire new skills and knowledge. This will give me a sense of empowerment. I hope I can teach what's really needed instead of the same old thing. The idea that education is constantly changing is an important one. While I know the "quick fixes" aren't always the answer I must stay up to date and make changes that best help my students get the best education possible.
Reflections:
The role of our schools has changed significantly since I went. It's primary responsibility remains educating all children--but what we are educating them in has and continues to change. No longer is it just the "3 R's", or even the 3 R's plus science, etc. We now find ourselves having to teach respect for others, morals, getting along, and a whole grocery list of things that used to be the responsibility of the family. Shar made a good point in that "the learner must be accountable for his/her own learning". However, how can they be, when they are not held accountable for most anything in their lives at home?
My principal gave us a sheet last year of how the curriculum of schools has increased from about 15 subjects to be taught when the public school system really started to blossom to over 75 subjects that schools are "responsible" for now.
Reactions:
I agree that as teachers we have had to change our ways of how and what we teach. What hasn't changed rapidly and who hasn't had to change in the last 20 years? Having had a career in the medical field for 16 years before returning to school and getting my education degree, I had to change much of my beliefs about education. I have gone through "whole language", (only to have it thrown out as "elite", because those families have the time and books to work with their kids in reading and to learn the context) and phonics embraced. Depending on where you are, even that is no longer "right".
One problem I see with this chapter is that some of what is said in the chapter doesn't apply as well to primary grades (especially 1st that I teach) as to the older. If we don't assist kids in learning letters and sounds, how can they make words and read? If we don't teach numbers and symbols, how can they understand the problems to solve them. I tell my kids--I show you math strategies--you decide which works for you. There is no "right" or only one way to find an answer. Our job is to help them find what works for them.
I agree with the points in the chapter about how parents now expect us to "teach" their child how to get along, how to respect others, to teach morals and values, and yet, there is no reinforcement of them at home, or consequences for actions that may hurt others. We had a child in our class this past year, that was caught stealing from our desk. She denied it both to us and her parents when they talked to her at home. When she finally admitted it there was no punishment or apology; only that they were proud of her for finally telling the truth. What is a school/teacher supposed to do without support? Acknowledging it is a problem doesn't really help.
I continue to look for new ways to meet our students needs, whether they be content/academic, social/behavioral needs. It is the only way I can continue to change to be a better teacher, and then assist kids to grow and learn.
Reflection:
The role of schools today is to prepare students to navigate successfully in our ever-changing world. It needs to provide students the skills required to be successful in the workplace and to educate students by teaching them how to learn and how to apply what they are learning to their future careers. Schools need to back away from the old methods of “what to learn” and begin to provide students the skills on “how to learn”. As teachers, we have become more than just the teacher who presents the material to students and have it be absorbed. We have become the surrogate parents to our students providing the necessary stronghold needed by these students. We deal with a number of issues that were not school issues in the past but were handled within the family dynamics. Today, teachers also have to compete with the media and technology resulting in the lack of respect for the teaching profession.
Reactions:
I agree with the issues presented in Chapter 1 that things have drastically changed in society and in our schools. I grew up during the time when the traditional family structure was intact and parents had a major say in how children acted. Education was very important and parents supported the school and the teachers. Times have changed: family structure has deteriorated, drugs have infected our schools, the safety of our children has declined, discipline is lacking, and technology has become a major influence in our everyday lives. Schools and educational programs have not kept up with the changes that have occurred over the years. In many cases we, schools and teachers, have not changed our way of teaching to meet the needs of our students. For myself, I need to continue to improve my teaching by updating my knowledge and skills and pass this on to my students. I need to be the “navigator” and help my students be committed to lifelong learning. What I would like to remember about this chapter is that I am willing to make changes in my teaching to benefit the learning that goes on in my classroom and to be there for my students by providing them support in their educational path
Reflections-
The role of schools today has not changed all that much. Our main goal is still to provide a solid education to all students. Even though our society is changing, "Changes [in education] are happening way too slowly". On the other hand, however, the role of the teacher has changed greatly. From how we present the information, to the people in our classes, to everything else that we have on our plates, our responsibilities have definiltely increased. We do take on the role of the second family, but I see that as a positive thing. We do get to see the kids grow, even if that means we have to help them along the way. If you ask me, it gives me more of a sense fulfillment each adn every day.
Reactions-
There is a lot of criticism from our media of our current eduational status, but things need to change in order for us to feel a sense of relief from this media pressure. The main issue in all elections these days is education..."without a tax supported system of educatoin, the future is being mortgaged". We need financial support from our economy, but one thing that I found very interesting was, "Countless research stuies have suggested that there is enough money available in education for a quality learniung experience. The problem is, however, that few schools or districts allocate the money in a way that makes this happen." So my question is, can someone help us. In Waukesha, we have been facing huge budget cuts for the past 3 years. If we have enough money could, it sure doesn't feel like it. So let's get someone in here that can help us straighten our current financial problems.
This chapter has a lot of good ideas, but there are a couple in pacticular that I will take with me. One is that teachers cannot stop learning, or trying to stay updated. Even thoug things are changing very fast and it is difficult for us to do this, it is our job as educators to keep up with the times. Since the job markets have changed so much, we need to be aware of that to be able to teach our students what they need to suceed.
The other idea I will keep with me is that we cannot lower our standards of our students. Even though this seems to be a trend the last several years, we need to stop doing this.
Reflection:
As teachers we are no longer preparing students for a career, but for a future that will have three to five careers. To be successful and productive members in a society in the information age our students need to learn how to learn, not what to learn. As teachers we are challenged to make our classrooms and curriculum a reflection of this changing role as navigator. The demographics of our student body are also changing and this has increased the expectations upon our education system. We are now a second home for many students and the disseminator of information previously taught in the home.
Reaction:
My school is struggling with many of the topics covered in this chapter. Low income and minority students are the largest growing segment of the student body in my school. We are constantly challenged to provide programs and resources to meet their needs and maintain our current curriculum offerings. How my at-risk students will make it after high school, if we get them through, is a big concern. Many do not have the resources or support outside of school to be successful. Post-secondary planning and preparation has become a major part of our program. We provide students an opportunity to learn how to survive independently and provide support even after graduation. Many return for help with resumes, financial aid applications, etc., and just to touch base in an environment that feels like home. This chapter is a great summary of the challenges we are facing as educators. As an educator, I need to continue to keep up on the changes that are taking place in the job market, so I can prepare my students to successfully navigate as adults.
Reflections:
The obvious role of schools today is to teach standards of the curriculum to all students at their appropriate level. More importantly schools must instill the importance of striving to be a life long learner in all students. It isn’t just the world of education that is constantly changing – just regular day-to-day life is constantly evolving. Just think about how much technology has impacted our lives over the last 10 years – DVDs, MP3s, Cell phones, Internet, etc… We are all constantly learning about new concepts and devices in our every day lives. To be able to be life-long learners, some basic skills are required. It is the schools’ responsibility to provide these basic skills (i.e. reading strategies and math skills etc…) so students can move from being content absorbers to “information navigators”. I think it is important for students to start out as content absorbers so they can evolve into information navigators. It is the teacher’s role to guide students in this transition and also to model the skills of being a life-long learner.
Teacher’s roles have changed drastically over the last 20 years, especially. As the chapter stated, more responsibilities that used to be those of the family, are now expected to be taught in school. Because family lives have changed so drastically, teachers have to teach social aspects and behavior expectations rather than just reinforcing what the parents were teaching and modeling at home. It is equally important for teachers to create a safe, respectful learning environment, as it is to teach the content. So many students are in situations where respect and acceptance are not part of their home lives.
Reactions:
I agree with you Nicole. I was surprised by the statement, "Countless research studies have suggested that there is enough money available in education for a quality learning experience. The problem is, however, that few schools or districts allocate the money in a way that makes this happen." If the research found this to be true, there must be people out there with the vision for schools to make this work.
I was also surprised by the statistic that “in 1960, 95 percent of all unwed mothers put their babies up for adoption and in 1994, 92 percent of all unwed mothers kept their babies. Unfortunately, these mothers generally do not vote.” It makes sense that if those with a vested interest in education are not voting, that laws promoting education at the expense of taxpayer money are not passed.
I definitely agree with the part of the chapter dedicated to school as a social reformer. I have found that much of my time is spent teaching basic social skills to fourth graders (i.e. sharing, cooperating, conflict resolution). It is not necessarily that the values were not taught before, but that they are not reinforced at home. It is very difficult to find enough time during the day to teach all aspects of the curriculum when we have to teach students how to behave in social situations.
One thing that I want to remember about this chapter is to be a facilitator in my classroom rather than the provider of information. It is my job to encourage students to be a partner in their education rather than just the information receptacle. Students need to be held accountable for their own learning.
Reflection:
What is the role of schools today and how are the roles of teachers changeing? It seems that the public wants schools to not only educate students in subject matter, but to become the caretaker as well. Schools provide breakfast, snack break, after-school programs, post-prom parties, aoda progams, bi-lingual programs, etc... the list is endless. Teachers do not just teach, but parent, nurse, patrol, guide, etc... Saying that, I do not agree that this is necessarily the role of the school or the teacher, but rather what is thrust upon the school and the teacher by the demands of our society.
Reaction:
What are your feelings about the topics presented in this chapeter? I was very depressed by the time I was done reading the chapter, but I could not disagree with any of it. We are not living in the same era as our grandparents were. Times are ever changing and so should education, but it is not! Technology is one example of the rapid changes and we are so far behind! For example: In my school, we have many of the same computers from more than 10 years ago. They are often updated...if you can call it that, but do not work as they should. It is difficult to get students on them, much less an entire class at one time. It is hard to count on them for lessons so we do not use them as we should. Our students can not keep up to the pace and go out into society, ready to go, as they should.
What are some practical applications for what your're learning? I agree with the statement that is: What most schools need, however, is a visionary leader who can empower shool faculty to create the kind of nurturing learning environment they know is possible, found on page 6. However, coming from a small district, we might be waiting a long time for that leader. We tend to get these stater people that move on right a way...or less desirables that don't make it in the big schools. I think it is possible for us to be that leader in our classroom first for our students. Sometimes we wait for others to guide us when maybe we could do the guiding ourselves. A SNL skit comes to mind: I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me!
What do you want to remember about this chapter? I've underlined several things as I read this chapter. 1. The average high school grad will have 3-5 careers! (Wow...we need to keep that in mind as we talk to them about their futures.) 2. Students who bring the mindset of telebision to class each day often see teachers as inadequate or boring. As a result, today's students typically have less respect for their teahers, they daydream more, and they participate less in class. (That explains a lot!) 3. Our brains may not at all be designed for formal instruction, but rather for learning that which is necessary for survival. (We need to rethink how we are teaching!!!)
This chapter was mind blowing. In general, the chapter was saying to me that while before the school's main priority was giving students a solid knowledge base,now a school's priority is getting them ready for the future and giving them the skills to be able to teach themselves, solve problems, regulate their emotions, get along with others, etc. Now the focus is one the whole child and is much more big picture. Giving them a solid knowledge base is just an appetizer. We need to move beyond that into how are they going to deal with what they know and/or don't know. How will they learn to navigate through life? What really got me, was how far behind education is, and the fact that educational discussions always focus on problems, money, and more things that we need to teach. If you are a teacher that can't get over these issues, you might as well quit. We all need to get over it and focus on what needs to be done. I think it is so important that we remind ourselves it's about how we teach, and not what we teach. There were so many interesting things in this chapter it's hard to address them all. Initially when I started reading about all of the reasons that teachers are not respected, it was like a slap in the face. However, it also made me understand where students and the community are coming from and then I was more understanding. I had a kid in my class say to me this year, I learn more from t.v. then I do in school. I thought to myself- what a little shit- there is no way he already knew the myriad of things we had covered- but then I also thought that although not entirely true, there was some truth to what he was saying. Depending on how you look at the information in this chapter, you could either feel used and ready to quit or you could get fired up and ready to take on the world. I think that the difference between an ok teacher and a great one is a person's ability to put their pride aside, recognize what you could do better and do it. Instead of making excuses and bitching you need to forge ahead, let problems roll off your back, and realize that there will never be a day when you "got it."
I have to agree with something shelzlab said. I also teach primary kids and some of ideas from chapter 1 were daunting to me as well. In the younger grades, building their knowledge base is really important and we can't get very far if they don't know the basics. I agree that they need to be taught to be aware of their own learning, figure out how to problem solve, etc. but these ideas need to be sprinkled into the regular curriculum because when they are young basic knowledge is so vital. I think when they are older, they can do more self-directed learning.
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