Presentation1 richarsonb

Reflections on: Why School? How Education must change when learning and information

are everywhere by: Will Richardson

http://funsmix.com/funny-education-quotes-beautiful-i-have-never-let-my-schooling/

• Because schools need to change!

• In the modern world we need more education NOT less…

• The teaching community “IS” global. Teachers from all around the world interact and come together virtually. It’s no longer just at the local level.

• Students also share ideas, perceptions and interact online in a global setting. Students need interaction and ‘critical thinking’ not to just sit by and regurgitate information from the “old school” classroom.

Why School?

• “Passing the test” is not nearly enough any longer. Richardson (p. 77)

• Test scores “tell us little” this needs to be addressed on a very real level.

• “one in two new teachers leaves the profession within five years” (p. 140)

• Our world is every changing and we need to adapt and move away from “old school” thinking.

Old School…what does it mean to you?

http://talesfromthemaelstrom.blogspot.com/2013/02/old-school-vs-old-school.html

• Learning through project-based lesson plans

• Interdisciplinary theme based learning

• What students are interested in helps determine what they will study

• “we live in an age of abundant electronic information.” -Richardson

Progressive Learning

• How do teachers learn?• How is this relevant in the 21st century

classroom?• As curriculum changes teachers need to

reassess their role in the classroom.• We need to move away from an old school

approach…

Higher education is gradually “adapting” but K-12 is only playing “catch up.”

• Old School• Not so progressive…

Technology not under teachers control.

• New School/Progressive• Computers, smart phones,

and IPads are important but we need educated teachers!

Technology then and now!

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.securedgenetworks.com/Portals/80068/images/images1.jpg

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.shorpy.com/files/images/5a23195u.jpg

Constructivism!

• NOT all children learn the same.

• Pay attention to learning “styles”

• Pose problems relevant to students

• Connect “their” interests to the standards

www.differentialedkindergarten.com

“Teachers need to be great at asking questions and astute at managing the different paths to learning that each child creates.”

• Traditionally:

– Go to conferences– Take after-school workshops– Read books

Ie: Teacher learning viewed as an “event” vs. “ongoing process”

Ideally, this should change!

How do your teachers learn?

• Cannot continue to focus on curriculum that’s “irrelevant” to today’s students with standardized tests are forefront.

• Reform is being written by businesses and policymakers…

Smart, dedicated teachers will “personalize” curriculum for their students.

http://standardizedtests.procon.org/

http://www.solarnavigator.net/sponsorship/bill_gates.htm

Rank and compare?

Common Core:

impersonalizes education by

imposing strict and unrealistic

standards

Another way…

• Question, question, question

• Focus on lifelong learning

• “from content mastery to learning mastery”

• Students have more control over their own learning.

Question “Quantifiable learning”

• Where does this leave our students?

Money moves politicians to promote policy that serves business…

http://shamrachronicles.com/643/pass-on-standardized-tests/

• Constructivism is the idea that “people construct their own understanding

and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting

on those experiences.” 2004 (Educational Broadcasting Corp.)

– Developing imagination and activation of all the senses help students

become actively “engaged” in learning.

• Through “experiments, real-world problem solving” students enjoy

learning. 2004 (Educational Broadcasting Corporation.)

– Not just regurgitating facts anymore!

Richardson backs ‘constructivism’

"I'd articulate the shift to

teachers like this: Don't teach

my child science; instead, teach

my child how to learn science --

or history or math or music.

With as many resources as they

have available to them today

(not to mention what they'll

have tomorrow), kids had better

know how.

Collaborative approach

New school approach:

http://dayspringacademyk12.org/?p=121

• Envision new approaches…

Integrative learning

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrative_learning

• “rethink” our learning practices

• Change attitudes around learning

• “rethink” classrooms and advocate change

• A pay it forward approach that works

Attn: Teachers… Use resources!

http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photography-social-media-logos-image23478617

http://www.fresnostate.edu/csm/ees/

• Standardized tests prove ‘problematic’ at best

Assessment culture is the WRONG approach

view-source:https://twitter.com/SirKenRobinson

• Tell us more about students know and their “readiness” for life

• Traditional tests have no room for real life information

• Performance based assessments are “worth it in the long run.

Problems:

– Time consuming

– Harder to correct

– Inefficient

– Subjective

Performance-based assessments

To prepare effective learners, educators need to be prepared themselves.

You can even: RateMyTeachers.com

(An online tool to find out what your students think of you!)

Know Thyself…

• Design and share • Do fieldwork

Real work for real audiences

http://drieculturen.blogspot.com/2013/02/interview-with-graphic-design-student.html

http://snc.mgarr.skola.edu.mt/category/year-5/

The biggest challenge, Yong Zhao states, “is

our mindset about what makes good

education and the seductive power of the

traditional paradigm.”

-Yong Zhao University of Oregon

A ‘Paradigm shift’ is needed

• Solution Tree: Will Richardson on 21st Century Learning 1:34

Will Richardson “talks”

http://teacherpreneurs1.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-is-paradigm-shift.html