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 practical applications for what you're learning?
What do you want to remember about this chapter?
Click on comments to leave your response
7 comments:
The role of schools today has changed from its role in the past. Our society is now in the Information Age. This means the teacher and the schools are no longer the source of all knowledge. Schools need to teach children how to learn. They will most likely hold many jobs in their lifetimes and will have to learn many new skills to acquire them. Because of the decline in traditional family structure, schools-not family- are now expected to teach youth values, give them feelings of value, support them emotionally and provide discipline to students. Although schools are expected to provide more services, public support for schools has been declining. The people who vote for or against school spending often don’t have children. They would prefer to pay lower taxes and give less to schools.
The role of teachers today has also changed. Teachers don’t get the respect they used to. They are no longer the main source of information they once were. They must teach students how to get the information they need by providing the necessary skills. In some communities, teachers are expected to provide instruction in more than one language because of the huge influx of people from other cultures.
Every time I read about the changes in our society and the family structure, I am saddened. I think it is sad children are growing up being raised by people who are not family members. I get depressed when I read about the lack of public support for schools. I see and hear about it here whenever we have teacher contract talks. Everyone considers himself an expert on education, because everyone has gone to school, and everyone feels free to comment on teacher high salaries and their summer vacations.
Living in the Information Age is a good thing. Having instant access to information is priceless. What were we all doing ten years ago, when we wanted to find something out?
As a teacher, I should continue my lifelong interest in learning. I should continue to challenge myself and be aware of what’s going on in my school and community.
The new brain research is intriguing. It is interesting that we are all preprogrammed to learn certain things.
The roles of schools and teachers today are obviously much different from the past. Teachers are not necessarily the source of information anymore, but rather the facilitator. Students now need to be taught skills on how to get the information they need. In addition to this, the list on page 9 provides more examples of what needs to be included in today's schools. Although this list is mainly geared for middle/high school teachers, I find myself as a third grade teacher, spending a lot of time stressing life skills to the students. We spend time on manners, morals, values, good choices, etc. - things that perhaps aren't stressed as much at home as they used to be.
After reading this chapter, I feel somewhat nervous for the parents of these children. I think that most parents need to be educated in today's technology. Most of my students easily know more about technology that their parents, and if we don't somehow start educating these parents, their role/involvement in their children's education is really going to lessen.
Some practical applications are using technology in the classroom, continually making students aware of real world connections, and keeping parents informed and educated.
What I would like to remember about this chapter is the line "...our brains may not at all be designed for formal instruction, but rather for learning that which is necessary for survival." This quote really stuck out for me, it reminds of the wide range of students we are working with each day - all with unique needs.
When I started teaching in 1993, the students that I saw that behaved badly were few and far between. Todays parents, in some cases, are not doing the job that would help their children understand what it means to live in society. Now, on a regular basis, we see in our school kindergarten and first grade students who behave so badly that some of the things they do are on the verge of criminal. These students can and sometimes do generate havoc in the classroom, disrupting everybody's learning. Much effort is made to help these students become active learners instead of disruptive students, but they are in school only a short time and progress is slow. In many cases, steady improvement is made, so the effort is worthwhile, but it's a shame that schools need to do the parent's job. Overall, I think that schools provide the security and safety that all students need to succeed. Unfortunately, another thing that we have had to do is to be sure to have all the doors locked and staff wear badges so that we can recognize when there are strangers in the building who have not signed it at the office due to physical threats. The prevalence of violence in school today is very sad.
A saying I heard some years ago reminds me of what change teachers need or are going through...we are not the 'Sage on the Stage, but the Guide on the Side.' The chapter discussed that it isn't what is taught, but how it is taught. To create a life-long knowledge learner, this seems essential. How do you do that? I guess by creating lessons that provide flexibility, creativity, and problem solving techniques. The computer and the internet are great tools for this, but students do need to understand and be taught how to authenticate, validate, and verify the information they use as much on the internet can be incorrect. Students aren't naturally going to understand this and wasn't it mentioned in the video that about 35% of college students don't validate the information they find on the internet. Could be dangerous.
All of topics discussed are interesting and of a concern to all in the teaching profession. I do think that while the knowledge learner may "redefine what it means to be educated," I think that all the learners, and perhaps even the manual-industrial worker, will need to keep up-to-date on new trends, methods, etc. to keep viable in the profession that they choose. It was easy in the old days to determine who was educated. They knew and could speak Greek and Latin, they were doctors, lawyers or other professional people. Today, it is very difficult to know who is an educated person. They don't look the same. The founders of Yahoo were just some young men who started something new using technology.
Practical application to what this chapter is telling us is that we need to help students to learn to learn and not be worried about spewing back information that is given them. We need to help them process information and help them with strategies to be successful at being a life-long learner.
What struck me about this chapter, was that change is so difficult. I believe it is the bureaucracy that does that. Any systemic change, which I believe is what we are talking about, if difficult even in the smallest school district much less a place like Milwaukee. So, I guess we have to do it on an individual basis. Better to start somewhere.
When I started teaching in 1993, the students that I saw that behaved badly were few and far between. Todays parents, in some cases, are not doing the job that would help their children understand what it means to live in society. Now, on a regular basis, we see in our school kindergarten and first grade students who behave so badly that some of the things they do are on the verge of criminal. These students can and sometimes do generate havoc in the classroom, disrupting everybody's learning. Much effort is made to help these students become active learners instead of disruptive students, but they are in school only a short time and progress is slow. In many cases, steady improvement is made, so the effort is worthwhile, but it's a shame that schools need to do the parent's job. Overall, I think that schools provide the security and safety that all students need to succeed. Unfortunately, another thing that we have had to do is to be sure to have all the doors locked and staff wear badges so that we can recognize when there are strangers in the building who have not signed it at the office due to physical threats. The prevalence of violence in school today is very sad.
A saying I heard some years ago reminds me of what change teachers need or are going through...we are not the 'Sage on the Stage, but the Guide on the Side.' The chapter discussed that it isn't what is taught, but how it is taught. To create a life-long knowledge learner, this seems essential. How do you do that? I guess by creating lessons that provide flexibility, creativity, and problem solving techniques. The computer and the internet are great tools for this, but students do need to understand and be taught how to authenticate, validate, and verify the information they use as much on the internet can be incorrect. Students aren't naturally going to understand this and wasn't it mentioned in the video that about 35% of college students don't validate the information they find on the internet. Could be dangerous.
All of topics discussed are interesting and of a concern to all in the teaching profession. I do think that while the knowledge learner may "redefine what it means to be educated," I think that all the learners, and perhaps even the manual-industrial worker, will need to keep up-to-date on new trends, methods, etc. to keep viable in the profession that they choose. It was easy in the old days to determine who was educated. They knew and could speak Greek and Latin, they were doctors, lawyers or other professional people. Today, it is very difficult to know who is an educated person. They don't look the same. The founders of Yahoo were just some young men who started something new using technology.
Practical application to what this chapter is telling us is that we need to help students to learn to learn and not be worried about spewing back information that is given them. We need to help them process information and help them with strategies to be successful at being a life-long learner.
What struck me about this chapter, was that change is so difficult. I believe it is the bureaucracy that does that. Any systemic change, which I believe is what we are talking about, if difficult even in the smallest school district much less a place like Milwaukee. So, I guess we have to do it on an individual basis. Better to start somewhere.
It's apparent that the role of schools and teachers has changed. As a teacher who has "been in the business" for 30 plus years, it's been an interesting ride. I've seen trends come and go (and then come back again) and have seen my share of confused, distressed and burned out teachers. As I mentioned previously, being educated as a teacher in the 1970's, I came out of my college years with a "free to be you and me" attitude. Just let students do their own thing- which in theory has its positives. But as it stated in out text, students need to learn HOW to learn. There are many students who don't know how to do this or where to begin. Teachers need to show students how to be "information navigators". But on the other side, as I have mentioned before, I still feel there are some content skills that need to be taught. For example I still believe that teaching phonics and basic word attack skills are very important. (My daughter is not do well with the whole language in the early 1990's.) Also, things like math facts are important. (I love manipulatives but let's face it, just memorizing the facts makes life easier.) I know there are many who would disagree with me but I believe that sometimes teaching the "what" as well as the "how" is a necessary thing.
The first chapter of our text brought up many interesting topics to consider. Technology has changed the most, I feel, since I began as an educator. This is definitely something that should be addressed in the schools. How to navigate through this information and even how to stay safe. The internet is a blessing but can be a curse.
Multi-culturalism is a big issue for many schools. The school that I taught in for many years had very few minorities so unfortunately I didn't have many opportunities to address this area. It is a topic I think I should explore in greater depth.
Our text brought up the topic of "school as a social reformer". I'm sure most teachers have felt at some time overwhelmed by all that is required of them, sometimes even stepping in as a parent figure. I noticed how the "quantity" of the curriculum increased during the years that I taught full time. (I taught in Illinois and among other things had to create a unit on Casimir Pulaski- and most people reply, "Who?")
Brain based learning interests me and I'm looking forward to the next chapter. I would like to see some of our conventional education models "shatter like glass".
What I want to remember most about this chapter are the words "new spirit of empowerment". Kick it up- teachers can make a difference!
As I read Chapter One, I wanted to see the glass as half full not half empty! I like the comparisons that Eric Jensen makes to show us how far we as educators have come as well as how many challenges we will encounter. I was lucky to celebrate my 25th year as a teacher this year and yes, there have been many, many changes since I started teaching music all of those years ago! I am still very proud to say that I am a teacher! I know this is not true for some colleagues as I have seen great teachers change professions or leave the profession early due to the often unreasonable demands and pressures that are put on teachers by both administration and parents!
I feel that the stress, pressure and demands that I feel as a music teacher are not always the same as a classroom teacher at the elementary level. While all eyes are on test scores and achievement I acknowledge that there are no district comparisons or published results that provide parents with a score on how well their child plays the recorder compared to other district, state or national students and standards! Also, since I am the only music teacher at my school, I do not feel what I call the unspoken competition that I sense is there for grade level teachers. Some of these feelings are put on teachers by themselves but parents and administration are also at fault.
As I read this chapter I feel that the field of education is on it’s way to getting stronger. On Super Tuesday I felt encouraged to hear both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama include teacher respect and teacher pay in their speeches. I am also hopeful as I see changes in my district. Instead of what seemed to be yearly goals that were never quite achievable before the goal changed, I see the district working so that all curriculum areas are working on the same goals that were identified by community members, teachers and administration.
Sometimes it is a very difficult task to take part in extra meetings or committees especially when there is the feeling that the decision is already made or it doesn’t really matter anyway! But, a practical application that all of us can make is to be involved in making decisions at our schools, involved and engaged educators help assure the glass remains “half-full.”
The role of schools today should be teaching the skills of being a life long learner. It seems that it really is to do better on the WKCE as compared to the district next door. Which questions on the WKCE accurately test the skill of life long learning?
I started teaching in 1992. I was hired as a secondary math teacher. Now, during a given day, I council/teach students about making proper choices, using proper manners, displaying appropriate behavior, and appropriate skills for completing assignments. It is sad to say, I feel I am more of a parent to some children than their own parent. I do not have any children of my own, however I council parents on how to be an effective parent.
Apathy is a huge concern of mine. More and more children don't care about school, and sadly, neither do their parents.
I was happy to hear Obama say that parents need to take an active role with their childs learning, we need to turn the tv off and families need to sit down and eat supper together.
The material from this chapter that I will share with my students is the job market changes. The fastest growing fields are the technologists, service provider, and the knowledge worker. The students we have now will have 3 to 5 careers. They need to be taught how to be a life long learner.
Another emphasis from this chapter is the expansion of knowledge through technology. We teachers need to embrace all aspects of technology if we want to be effective. Of course, this means we will have to be continually trained, which should be the push of every district.
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