Friday, January 14, 2011

A couple of recent TED talks

Gaming to Re-engage Boys in Learning
http://www.ted.com/talks/ali_carr_chellman_gaming_to_re_engage_boys_in_learning.html

Some pretty general, but interesting, information and ideas. Good example of how to present data at the start of the talk...
I'll be curious to see what our elementary teachers in particular think about some of her ideas.

Math Class Needs a Makeover
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_meyer_math_curriculum_makeover.html

As someone who has actively avoided math her entire life and is convinced that if 4 math credits were required in the mid-eighties to graduate high school, she'd be the oldest high school junior in the history of public education... this guy made me want to know more about math.

So, discuss... how do the ideas presented by these people intersect with YOUR view of teaching and learning?

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Generation R

I heard this on National Public Radio's Marketplace program this morning- (this is an excerpt from the transcript of the audio) an interview with a researcher who is studying "Generation R"- young people who are trying to find jobs in our current economy...

Hobson: Education in this country has often been touted as a ticket out of the social class you're born into. After having gone through college, do you think these kids feel some kind of faith still in the education system in the country?
Kefalas: Working class kids said to us, "Listen, we're going to be the first generation of Americans to do worse than our parents." One young woman said, "I just feel burned. My friends who didn't go to college, they don't have debt and they're making more an hour than I am."
Hobson: She actually wanted to have not gone to college?
Kefalas: She actually said, "I don't even know why I spent the money." The middle class kids were saying, "It's very tough, I am filled with anxiety. I can't sleep at night, but I still believe in a college degree. I'm just going to have to work harder and it's going to take longer." And those ellite kids said, "Is there really a recession? It's more like -- it's just harder for me to get a job." And they're sitting out this recession in a lot of ways.

Caused me to think about some of the conversations (like Rebecca Vinzant's comment in the post below ) We've all likely had regarding the role of "post secondary" education plays in our world today...

In one of his first speeches about education, President Obama asked all Americans to commit to pursing some form of education, training, etc. past high school. As we look at the reauthorization of NCLB and the implementation of the Common Core Standards as well as the messages coming from the Federal Dept of Education, business and industry, etc. How is theory aligning with practice? Preferred state with actual reality?

So, as educators, how are we helping students and their families make wise choices informed by what we know about the student, their abilities, their interests, potential based on their performance so far? Is it only the responsibility of the guidance counselor when a kid is a senior in high school?

What do "high expectations" really mean? Are we pushing kids towards a definition of "being successful" based on OUR life experiences or what THEY will face in the world we do and will live in after they leave us?

I'm not suggesting that we should ever tell a kid that they aren't "college material" or that we as humans lack the capacity to continue to learn and grow after we leave high school but, are we preparing kids for a "differentiated" life experience?

Why do I keep hearing the words of Ken Robinson in the back of my mind?

Here's a link to the whole interview-
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/01/06/am-recession-gives-rise-to-generation-r/