Please complete the following assignments before 6am Thursday, Nov 17th. Thank you!
1. Comparison of UK and US educational systems
Please visit these two sites. The first is the UK's Department for Education. The other is The British Council organization and provides a good overview of the UK education system. They are both good (reliable) sources of information regarding education in the UK. I want you to examine the resources, follow some of the links, familiarize yourself with the similarities and differences between the US and UK education systems. Then, create a list comparing the two. Your list of items comparing UK and US, for example "age of entry into school" should consist of at least 30 items. If you like, you may do this with a partner, or as a group. Both (all) of you will each submit the list on your individual blogs. Please see my note at the end of #3 re: more than one person working on this...
2. The moral values that form the basis of our political decisions.
We've talked about how cultures educate, and that education is political, and further in this blog, how schools are paid for (based in part on culture and politics!). Before that, I'd like you to watch this video. It's very provocative and as I think I mentioned to some of you, it totally changed the way I thought about politics...particularly the idea of one side being right, the other side being wrong. I want this to broaden your understanding of the dichotomy of liberals vs. conservatives. The video is 20 minutes long, but it's worth it and I want you to watch it closely. Haidt is quite entertaining! Then, when you've completed the video please follow this link in order to take the quiz that Jonathon Haidt refers to. This will take you a couple minutes to register (don't worry, you won't get bugged later, and it's completely safe). Take the quiz and then report back in your blog what the results were--what did you find out about yourself that surprised you, didn't surprise you, and so on. I'd also like you to comment on several issues raised in the video that caught your attention...do you agree with his thinking? Some of it? None of it? Where do you stand in the discussion?
3. Who pays for schools...
I want you to consider what systems are in place that impact why schools "look" different in the United States. Just because children are owed an education doesn't mean they'll get the same education as everyone else..I want you to answer the WHY of that statement. This will require you to do some research. You might start by finding the answers to the following questions (and include more information than just the answers to these questions): Who pays for schools? What is the funding based on? How does it differ state to state? What are schools supposed to provide for the money they get? (i.e. what strings are attached?). Why do some schools have art, music, phy ed and others don't? Why do some schools have foundations? Where does parent involvement come into play? Or doesn't it? Share in your blog what else you find out about school funding that you didn't know before...and last, where would YOU want to send YOUR (future!) children to go to school, and why? This response should be a hearty post explaining (as if I don't know anything about it) who pays for schools. You may also do this with a partner, but the written response must be in one voice and reflect the idea that two heads are better than one, and that the quality of submission should be enhanced by having more that one person completing it. (For example: If two of you are looking it over there should be NO spelling or grammatical errors).
That's enough for this week!
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Friday, 4 November 2011
Week #6 Assignment (due Nov 10)
This week's blog assignment will look at various issues in education--Diversity, inequality, impact of language, and many others.
Your assignment should be posted in your blog by 6am Thursday, Nov 10th. Please respond to the following as three separate blog posts, using the same titles I have provided.
1. Title: Conversations with minority parents: Discourse in Diversity
This particular article focuses on a school district's attempt to create relationships with diverse families. (I will send you the article as an email attachment). Please read carefully to discover what the researcher asked families, what the families reported experiences were and importantly, what surprised the researcher. If the researcher had conducted this research project in the United States, what might he have found? Would the results have been different? Please comment on at least 3 other points that caught your attention. Provide numerous examples in your blog post (this is your evidence that you read the article).
2. Title: The Economics of Inequality
This is a very recent publication in the American Educator. (I will send you the article as an email attachment). It is an excellent overview of the importance of investing in early childhood education. Not investing in young children has serious repercussions. Please read the article carefully and provide answers to the following questions the author poses in the article (your answers should be based on the article):
1. When does inequality start?
2. Is it worthwhile to reduce inequality by investing in education?
3. How best to invest limited resources to create more productive human capital?
Please comment on your early childhood experience--did it feature some of what the author talks about? Did it differ?
If you were king or queen of the United States, how would you insure that all children had the opportunity to live up to their full potential?
What other issues, raised in the article, caught your attention?
3. Title: Representations of Native Americans in elementary school social studies
This is a very thought provoking article written last year for the publication Multicultural Education.
While the article is coming from a teaching strategies perspective the content alone is valuable for our discussion here. (I will send you the article as an email attachment). Please keep in mind the authors are describing a research project they conducted in elementary classrooms.
Please comment on how your experiences in elementary school were similar or different from many of the points made in the article. Additionally, please provide in your own words, what you think critical awareness of diversity means, and why it's important for educators (frankly, anyone living on the planet) to be aware of and to utilize. And, what do they mean by "the other" in terms of language use?
This article focuses on American Indians. Which other diverse groups would benefit from critical language discourse in the classroom? Include in your blog post several other points raised in the article which interested you, or that you disagreed with, or that made you think differently about the topic.
Your assignment should be posted in your blog by 6am Thursday, Nov 10th. Please respond to the following as three separate blog posts, using the same titles I have provided.
1. Title: Conversations with minority parents: Discourse in Diversity
This particular article focuses on a school district's attempt to create relationships with diverse families. (I will send you the article as an email attachment). Please read carefully to discover what the researcher asked families, what the families reported experiences were and importantly, what surprised the researcher. If the researcher had conducted this research project in the United States, what might he have found? Would the results have been different? Please comment on at least 3 other points that caught your attention. Provide numerous examples in your blog post (this is your evidence that you read the article).
2. Title: The Economics of Inequality
This is a very recent publication in the American Educator. (I will send you the article as an email attachment). It is an excellent overview of the importance of investing in early childhood education. Not investing in young children has serious repercussions. Please read the article carefully and provide answers to the following questions the author poses in the article (your answers should be based on the article):
1. When does inequality start?
2. Is it worthwhile to reduce inequality by investing in education?
3. How best to invest limited resources to create more productive human capital?
Please comment on your early childhood experience--did it feature some of what the author talks about? Did it differ?
If you were king or queen of the United States, how would you insure that all children had the opportunity to live up to their full potential?
What other issues, raised in the article, caught your attention?
3. Title: Representations of Native Americans in elementary school social studies
This is a very thought provoking article written last year for the publication Multicultural Education.
While the article is coming from a teaching strategies perspective the content alone is valuable for our discussion here. (I will send you the article as an email attachment). Please keep in mind the authors are describing a research project they conducted in elementary classrooms.
Please comment on how your experiences in elementary school were similar or different from many of the points made in the article. Additionally, please provide in your own words, what you think critical awareness of diversity means, and why it's important for educators (frankly, anyone living on the planet) to be aware of and to utilize. And, what do they mean by "the other" in terms of language use?
This article focuses on American Indians. Which other diverse groups would benefit from critical language discourse in the classroom? Include in your blog post several other points raised in the article which interested you, or that you disagreed with, or that made you think differently about the topic.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Week #5 Assignment (due Nov 4)
This week, we’re going to focus on one of the learning objectives for this class:
Identify, describe, and explain the organization, operations, and rationale of a variety of education systems
Please complete the following post by 6am Nov 4th:
Title: Overview of education in the United States
You've been asked to make a presentation to a group of educators from around the world. They want to know the who/what/when/where and why of the US educational system. You are the leading expert on the educational system and a much sought after speaker! (Your fee for this gig is $10,000).
Using THIS SITE to find many of the answers, create a powerpoint presentation with enough information that each of the slides could speak for itself--please carefully title each slide so it's easy to follow along. Be careful to choose your words carefully--you must give enough information, at the same time not putting too much text on a slide (too much text and people start to snooze). You want this to be a GREAT presentation.
Please answer the following questions:
Please answer the following questions:
1. Who is the present Secretary of Education? What is his role related to the president?
2. What is the federal role in education? When was the original Dept of Education created? What is the mission of the US Department of Education?
3. According to the Condition of Education 2006 Brief, how did the US do compared to other countries?
4. What is the projected enrollment of public elementary and secondary school enrollment in prekindergarten through grade 12? (answer found in the same brief, above). Can you find more current info than what's provided in the brief? Perhaps compare 2006 with 2010?
5. According to the definition found on this site, what are the differences between private and public schools?
6. How have private school enrollments changed (comparing 89-90 to 2003-2004 data).
7. What are past and projected undergraduate enrollment?
8. What are the racial differences in college graduation trends?
9. According to the 2007 budget, what is the total amount of money projected to be spent on the 2007 school year? (see what you find online for the 2012 budget).
10. What does the acronym IDEA represent? According to the site, what are some of the IDEA related programs the government supports? Provide some specific examples from the site. So your audience really knows what you're talking about...
11. How are colleges and universities accredited? Who decides? How many institutions of higher education are there in the US? Briefly, what is the process of becoming accredited?
12. Who/how is it decided what education is required? What is the process?
13. Who is eligible to be educated? When can a student quit school?
13. Who is eligible to be educated? When can a student quit school?
14. What are the challenges inherent in having a diverse educational system? Give some specific examples from the site.
16. What is a charter school? How many are there? Are they successful? How are they different from other schools?
17. What is Head Start? When did it start? Who is eligible for Head Start? What are some of the services of Head Start?
18. How has technology impacted education in US schools? (Give specific examples from the link above).
19. and 20. You decide...what hasn't been said that needs to be said to "round out" your presentation? Choose two more issue that you feel are important to be included.
You should have at least 20 slides to your presentation (20 items above)...you may have more.
Make it interesting...be creative...:-)
Make it interesting...be creative...:-)
Friday, 21 October 2011
Instead of face-to-face class on Thursday, Oct 27th...
We will NOT have class on Thursday, Oct 27th.
You will instead create a timeline/history of American education. You can complete this any time -- before class would normally meet, the day of class, during our class time on Thursday.... but it must be completed by noon on Friday, Oct 28th. (I am confident you will thank me for not allowing it to drag on!)
Expect to spend 3 hours working on this. You certainly have the option of doing this alone, but I MUCH prefer you do it together. I am totally certain that what you come up with together will be better than what each of you can do on your own.
I expect you to use divergent thinking with this activity...This is what we've been talking about. Don't do what comes easy...do what comes creatively!
You will post this on your blog under the obvious title History of American Education. If you all four work on it, you each post the same creation (many hands make light the work?).
As we discussed in class, you might want to check out "Jing"...there are other resources as well--you likely know about some I've never heard of! Surprise me with your brilliance! Actually, I know you're brilliant, so that won't surprise me. Instead, surprise me with your clever and creative divergent thinking!
Please read the handout "Introduction to History of Education." It at least has some "landmarks" you may want to loosely follow. Here is a link to a video that is rather clever. It's the one I talked about in class. It's not the best I've seen, but again, it's pretty clever. It at least gives you a sense of something someone else has done. I LOVE the music he chose. :-) So appropriate...You may also check out this link, which gives you a lot of resources to read about and then create your own timeline/history of education. This one is interesting because it's been done by the Research Center for Racial Justice.
Again, I don't want to limit your creativity. There is MUCH to pull from when creating this history (or timeline). YOU (and your compadres) have to decide what's the most important to include. Let me know right away if you have questions...
You will instead create a timeline/history of American education. You can complete this any time -- before class would normally meet, the day of class, during our class time on Thursday.... but it must be completed by noon on Friday, Oct 28th. (I am confident you will thank me for not allowing it to drag on!)
Expect to spend 3 hours working on this. You certainly have the option of doing this alone, but I MUCH prefer you do it together. I am totally certain that what you come up with together will be better than what each of you can do on your own.
I expect you to use divergent thinking with this activity...This is what we've been talking about. Don't do what comes easy...do what comes creatively!
You will post this on your blog under the obvious title History of American Education. If you all four work on it, you each post the same creation (many hands make light the work?).
As we discussed in class, you might want to check out "Jing"...there are other resources as well--you likely know about some I've never heard of! Surprise me with your brilliance! Actually, I know you're brilliant, so that won't surprise me. Instead, surprise me with your clever and creative divergent thinking!
Please read the handout "Introduction to History of Education." It at least has some "landmarks" you may want to loosely follow. Here is a link to a video that is rather clever. It's the one I talked about in class. It's not the best I've seen, but again, it's pretty clever. It at least gives you a sense of something someone else has done. I LOVE the music he chose. :-) So appropriate...You may also check out this link, which gives you a lot of resources to read about and then create your own timeline/history of education. This one is interesting because it's been done by the Research Center for Racial Justice.
Again, I don't want to limit your creativity. There is MUCH to pull from when creating this history (or timeline). YOU (and your compadres) have to decide what's the most important to include. Let me know right away if you have questions...
Week #4 Assignment (due Oct 27)
Remember, the blog assignments are due by 6am on Thursday. This allows me ample time to review your posts and to generate discussion questions as I prepare for our class. Thanks!
There's a lot to do this week. Some will take more time than others. We're going to continue to discuss "what knowledge is of most worth", divergent thinking and education, and teaching and learning on a global scale...a lot on our plates!
Reminder-each item should be a separate post using the titles I provide. :-)
1. Title: Divergent Thinking Puzzles
The handout I gave you in class "Divergent thinking/higher order thinking" had a number of definitions, examples and a puzzle. I'd like you to do a few things with this. First, Apple Pie Slicing, the puzzle on the handout...you may work on this with others. In fact, it would be more useful if you were to try it with others...(two or more heads are better than one in this case!).
Next, the tri-square puzzle. I'd like you to try it first, and then I'd like you to get two other people (not in the class) to try it (they can't see each other do it-so pick separate times). The first person you ask to do it you will not assist. What happens? The 2nd person you ask to do it you will please give them "clues" or suggest possibilities, helping them to figure it out, without actually doing it for them. Please report back here your experiences doing it yourself, watching someone figure it out, and helping someone to figure it out.
Lastly, the handout I provided on "invisible disability" was referenced by Sir Ken Robinson in the video you watched last week on changing education paradigms. Thoughts? What does this MEAN for us?
2. Title: If I were the teacher...
For this post please create a list of comments or questions (at least 10) a teacher might ask in order to promote divergent/higher order thinking in the classroom. Let's pretend you're the teacher. The class is an American history class and you have 30 10th graders. What will you say, what might you do, in order to promote higher order thinking...and, importantly, what will the students need to have (knowledge-wise) in order for you to be able to do this well....can it all be problem-posing...will there be times you would need to "lecture"...use rich descriptions to bring this classroom alive for us (who are reading this).
3. Title: Measuring student success around the world
A few things to do here. First, Andreas Schleicher has some very important things to say about teaching and learning. I have had the opportunity to listen to him in person--he is very inspiring. Please watch this quick overview. Make note of the things he thinks are most important, and what he thinks education is doing well...
Next, view this short video. This is a good overview for you to have--and supports the discussions we've had in the past few weeks. Plus, it's just darned entertaining to watch! Please watch it carefully and create a summary of what the PISA organization is, how they assess learning, (some great test questions, don't you think?!), how the information is used, and what some of their findings are. What caught your interest? What intrigued you? What follow up questions do you wish you could ask the narrator?
Last, this is another video of Andreas Schleicher. He talks more specifically about what we can do...what needs to be different...to impact education-which leads to economic outcomes.
Just for fun...Check out the conference that is referenced in the videos (actually, the organization is referenced, not the conference). It's not too late to attend!! See what you find--if you were going to this conference, what would you attend? What would you want to know more about? Who would you want to hear?
Please reflect (in writing here) on the videos, answering the questions I've posed, and including the thoughts and questions it poses for you...what else do you need to know about this?
4. Title: A dissenting opinion on Freire's essay on the banking concept of education vs problem posing
We talked about this a bit in class, but I would also like you to read this essay--the author provides a differing view of what Freire believes...it's at least worth knowing a different way to look at these teaching methods (and the resulting learning). Please comment on your views after reading the essay. Do you agree with some of what the author (Reese) is saying? Does he make some valid points? In case you have trouble connecting to this webpage, here's another way to access it.
5. What knowledge is of most worth?
Given the article you've read this past week (What Knowledge is of Most Worth) please provide your own list of what knowledge YOU think is of most worth and WHY. This need not be a lengthy post, but it must be evident that you have read the material and thoughtfully considered WHY certain knowledge is more worthy...provide justification for your decision(s).
There's a lot to do this week. Some will take more time than others. We're going to continue to discuss "what knowledge is of most worth", divergent thinking and education, and teaching and learning on a global scale...a lot on our plates!
Reminder-each item should be a separate post using the titles I provide. :-)
1. Title: Divergent Thinking Puzzles
The handout I gave you in class "Divergent thinking/higher order thinking" had a number of definitions, examples and a puzzle. I'd like you to do a few things with this. First, Apple Pie Slicing, the puzzle on the handout...you may work on this with others. In fact, it would be more useful if you were to try it with others...(two or more heads are better than one in this case!).
Next, the tri-square puzzle. I'd like you to try it first, and then I'd like you to get two other people (not in the class) to try it (they can't see each other do it-so pick separate times). The first person you ask to do it you will not assist. What happens? The 2nd person you ask to do it you will please give them "clues" or suggest possibilities, helping them to figure it out, without actually doing it for them. Please report back here your experiences doing it yourself, watching someone figure it out, and helping someone to figure it out.
Lastly, the handout I provided on "invisible disability" was referenced by Sir Ken Robinson in the video you watched last week on changing education paradigms. Thoughts? What does this MEAN for us?
2. Title: If I were the teacher...
For this post please create a list of comments or questions (at least 10) a teacher might ask in order to promote divergent/higher order thinking in the classroom. Let's pretend you're the teacher. The class is an American history class and you have 30 10th graders. What will you say, what might you do, in order to promote higher order thinking...and, importantly, what will the students need to have (knowledge-wise) in order for you to be able to do this well....can it all be problem-posing...will there be times you would need to "lecture"...use rich descriptions to bring this classroom alive for us (who are reading this).
3. Title: Measuring student success around the world
A few things to do here. First, Andreas Schleicher has some very important things to say about teaching and learning. I have had the opportunity to listen to him in person--he is very inspiring. Please watch this quick overview. Make note of the things he thinks are most important, and what he thinks education is doing well...
Next, view this short video. This is a good overview for you to have--and supports the discussions we've had in the past few weeks. Plus, it's just darned entertaining to watch! Please watch it carefully and create a summary of what the PISA organization is, how they assess learning, (some great test questions, don't you think?!), how the information is used, and what some of their findings are. What caught your interest? What intrigued you? What follow up questions do you wish you could ask the narrator?
Last, this is another video of Andreas Schleicher. He talks more specifically about what we can do...what needs to be different...to impact education-which leads to economic outcomes.
Just for fun...Check out the conference that is referenced in the videos (actually, the organization is referenced, not the conference). It's not too late to attend!! See what you find--if you were going to this conference, what would you attend? What would you want to know more about? Who would you want to hear?
Please reflect (in writing here) on the videos, answering the questions I've posed, and including the thoughts and questions it poses for you...what else do you need to know about this?
4. Title: A dissenting opinion on Freire's essay on the banking concept of education vs problem posing
We talked about this a bit in class, but I would also like you to read this essay--the author provides a differing view of what Freire believes...it's at least worth knowing a different way to look at these teaching methods (and the resulting learning). Please comment on your views after reading the essay. Do you agree with some of what the author (Reese) is saying? Does he make some valid points? In case you have trouble connecting to this webpage, here's another way to access it.
5. What knowledge is of most worth?
Given the article you've read this past week (What Knowledge is of Most Worth) please provide your own list of what knowledge YOU think is of most worth and WHY. This need not be a lengthy post, but it must be evident that you have read the material and thoughtfully considered WHY certain knowledge is more worthy...provide justification for your decision(s).
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Week #3 Assignment (due Oct 20)
First, a reminder that the blog assignments are due by 6am on Thursday. This allows me ample time to review your posts and to generate discussion questions as I prepare for our class.
Because we'll be traveling this week, I will offer you a lighter blog homework assignment, primarily based on reading you've already done for class. The article What knowledge is of most worth that I have assigned for this week will go very well with our discussions today about Freire and the banking concept of education, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and other topics relevant to education. We will be discussing this article in class so please be prepared for a hearty round of conversation!
Please complete the following for this week. Remember, complete each as a separate post with the title I provide below. Thank you!
1. Title: Education terminology from How cultures educate
First, please find definitions to the following words that were named in the chapter (brief-show me that you know them!). It's important to understand the terminology within the articles you're reading...
--pedagogy
--mimetic
--situated learning
--distributed knowledge
--educational milieu
--Japanese amae
--German Gemutlichkeit
--Chinese hao-xue
--Confucian milieu
--E pluibus unum
2. Title: Theorists from How cultures educate
Please do a search and provide a brief summary of each of these well known educational theorists. I want you to know the main ideas (in a few sentences) that represent each of their beliefs. Just the highlights... ;-)
Piaget
Montessori
Vygotsky
Dewey
Bruner
3. Title: Changing Education Paradigms video
Please view this animated YouTube on education Changing Education Paradigms. I strongly suggest you watch the video first, just watch it through. Then, watch it again a day or two later, this time with a notebook-jot down your ideas. It will make better sense to you the second time around (just a friendly suggestion!). Please provide your reactions to the video--what did you agree with? Anything you disagree with? What have been your experiences, related to the points Sir Ken Robinson makes? What is he saying that matches what we've been talking about?
Because we'll be traveling this week, I will offer you a lighter blog homework assignment, primarily based on reading you've already done for class. The article What knowledge is of most worth that I have assigned for this week will go very well with our discussions today about Freire and the banking concept of education, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and other topics relevant to education. We will be discussing this article in class so please be prepared for a hearty round of conversation!
Please complete the following for this week. Remember, complete each as a separate post with the title I provide below. Thank you!
1. Title: Education terminology from How cultures educate
First, please find definitions to the following words that were named in the chapter (brief-show me that you know them!). It's important to understand the terminology within the articles you're reading...
--pedagogy
--mimetic
--situated learning
--distributed knowledge
--educational milieu
--Japanese amae
--German Gemutlichkeit
--Chinese hao-xue
--Confucian milieu
--E pluibus unum
2. Title: Theorists from How cultures educate
Please do a search and provide a brief summary of each of these well known educational theorists. I want you to know the main ideas (in a few sentences) that represent each of their beliefs. Just the highlights... ;-)
Piaget
Montessori
Vygotsky
Dewey
Bruner
3. Title: Changing Education Paradigms video
Please view this animated YouTube on education Changing Education Paradigms. I strongly suggest you watch the video first, just watch it through. Then, watch it again a day or two later, this time with a notebook-jot down your ideas. It will make better sense to you the second time around (just a friendly suggestion!). Please provide your reactions to the video--what did you agree with? Anything you disagree with? What have been your experiences, related to the points Sir Ken Robinson makes? What is he saying that matches what we've been talking about?
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Week #2 Assignment (due Oct 13)
First, a friendly reminder that we have no face to face class this week, therefore you have a heavier blog assignment than you will normally have. (As a further friendly reminder, I imagine it taking you at least 6 hours to complete these tasks--counting it as a substitution for no face to face class time, and your weekly homework. If it's taking you way less time, then you've not spent as much time on it as you need to).
Here are the activities for this week's blog. Please remember to post each assignment as a separate blog, with the headings I provide. This will cut down a LOT on confusion...Also, PLEASE break your writing down into paragraphs within each post--makes it waaaaaay more readable. :-)
1. Title: How Cultures Educate
I've asked you to read a chapter out of Howard Gardner's book The Disciplined Mind: Beyond Facts and Standardized Tests, the k-12 Education That Every Child Deserves. The chapter you're reading is called: How Cultures Educate. I would like you to consider, after reading the chapter (at least twice!), the following:
How DO cultures educate?...What DO educational leaders need to know? Given Gardner's discussion of culture, consider...IS education political? Or is it cultural? Or?...What? Perhaps you'll want to find reliable definitions of "political" and "cultural" and include those in your blog...finally, what did you learn from reading this chapter that you didn't already know?...(Personally, I like bulleted lists)
2. Title: What's the Point of School?
First, please view this video. It is an excellent compliment to the Gardner reading, and to the research you did on life long learning for week #1. It will also be a good background for the coming week's reading (The banking concept of education). It's long, 29 minutes, but I think it's worth your time. I want you to jot notes while you're watching the video and then post on your blog your reactions, thoughts, questions regarding the video. We'll discuss those in class. Bonus point...why does he ask the question about children having water to drink?...what does drinking water have to do with learning? :-)
3. Title: Philosophies of Education
We're going to do something different here.You will self-direct this section. I want you to find out for yourself what the major philosophies of education are. (Note: go beyond (way beyond) wikipedia). Prepare an overview in your blog--giving links to where you found the information (or reference citations). Provide brief descriptions of each of the philosophies. Also, do a search in youtube (or other source) specifically on "philosophies of education" and choose several (3) you determine to be reliable. View them carefully. Share the links to the videos with us in your blog. Describe what you learned in each video. Additionally: As a part of this assignment I want you to be sure to visit one anothers' blogs in order to learn what others found out...
As always, let me know right away if you have questions.
Here are the activities for this week's blog. Please remember to post each assignment as a separate blog, with the headings I provide. This will cut down a LOT on confusion...Also, PLEASE break your writing down into paragraphs within each post--makes it waaaaaay more readable. :-)
1. Title: How Cultures Educate
I've asked you to read a chapter out of Howard Gardner's book The Disciplined Mind: Beyond Facts and Standardized Tests, the k-12 Education That Every Child Deserves. The chapter you're reading is called: How Cultures Educate. I would like you to consider, after reading the chapter (at least twice!), the following:
How DO cultures educate?...What DO educational leaders need to know? Given Gardner's discussion of culture, consider...IS education political? Or is it cultural? Or?...What? Perhaps you'll want to find reliable definitions of "political" and "cultural" and include those in your blog...finally, what did you learn from reading this chapter that you didn't already know?...(Personally, I like bulleted lists)
2. Title: What's the Point of School?
First, please view this video. It is an excellent compliment to the Gardner reading, and to the research you did on life long learning for week #1. It will also be a good background for the coming week's reading (The banking concept of education). It's long, 29 minutes, but I think it's worth your time. I want you to jot notes while you're watching the video and then post on your blog your reactions, thoughts, questions regarding the video. We'll discuss those in class. Bonus point...why does he ask the question about children having water to drink?...what does drinking water have to do with learning? :-)
3. Title: Philosophies of Education
We're going to do something different here.You will self-direct this section. I want you to find out for yourself what the major philosophies of education are. (Note: go beyond (way beyond) wikipedia). Prepare an overview in your blog--giving links to where you found the information (or reference citations). Provide brief descriptions of each of the philosophies. Also, do a search in youtube (or other source) specifically on "philosophies of education" and choose several (3) you determine to be reliable. View them carefully. Share the links to the videos with us in your blog. Describe what you learned in each video. Additionally: As a part of this assignment I want you to be sure to visit one anothers' blogs in order to learn what others found out...
As always, let me know right away if you have questions.
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