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...
Friday, 21 October 2011
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.
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
After you've created your blog...Here's your Week #1 Blog Assignment (due on Oct 6)
For your first assignment, please consider and respond to the following questions as separate posts:
(Note: Do this in a brief, essay-like, blog-style fashion. Be sure your writing is crisp (to the point), break it up into paragraphs and check that it’s free of spelling errors. (You need only share what you’re comfortable sharing in this public domain). Remember, each title is a new post...
Title: An educated citizen
How were you educated? Where were you educated? Private/public schools? What values does your family place on education? Is it important, not important, and what's the proof of that...How far do you intend to go with your education? Anything else you’d like to share in this post?
Title: Stories from my educated youth
What have been some of your educational experiences? Tell us a couple of stories from your own educational experiences. What do you remember about school? What were your favorite school memories? What do you remember about what you learned when you weren't in formal school (e.g. summertime)...
Title: Life long learning
In your opinion (please do some researech on this) what is your definition of what it means to be a lifelong learner? Give examples of life long learning in everyday life...Site your sources (beyond your own opinion). :-)
Before our next class, please go into each person's blog and see what they've found out...make some comments...
(Note: Do this in a brief, essay-like, blog-style fashion. Be sure your writing is crisp (to the point), break it up into paragraphs and check that it’s free of spelling errors. (You need only share what you’re comfortable sharing in this public domain). Remember, each title is a new post...
Title: An educated citizen
How were you educated? Where were you educated? Private/public schools? What values does your family place on education? Is it important, not important, and what's the proof of that...How far do you intend to go with your education? Anything else you’d like to share in this post?
Title: Stories from my educated youth
What have been some of your educational experiences? Tell us a couple of stories from your own educational experiences. What do you remember about school? What were your favorite school memories? What do you remember about what you learned when you weren't in formal school (e.g. summertime)...
Title: Life long learning
In your opinion (please do some researech on this) what is your definition of what it means to be a lifelong learner? Give examples of life long learning in everyday life...Site your sources (beyond your own opinion). :-)
Before our next class, please go into each person's blog and see what they've found out...make some comments...
Welcome to Class!!
In preparation for this semester's class,, please complete the following tasks:
1. Create a blog here, at blogspot.com
2. Decide on appearance-I prefer it not be dark background with light printing-hard to read!
3. Name your blog (your name)’s Education in Modern Society Class (just like mine is titled).
4. Be sure you activate your account (if necessary)
5. In "settings", archive your work weekly - this will allow us to access your weekly posts more easily
6. Email me and the members of the class the link to your blog so we can become a "follower"
7. You should have this completed by Wed. Oct 5th.
8. Questions? Don't wait til the last minute! email me at kriordan@d.umn.edu
Thank you!!
1. Create a blog here, at blogspot.com
2. Decide on appearance-I prefer it not be dark background with light printing-hard to read!
3. Name your blog (your name)’s Education in Modern Society Class (just like mine is titled).
4. Be sure you activate your account (if necessary)
5. In "settings", archive your work weekly - this will allow us to access your weekly posts more easily
6. Email me and the members of the class the link to your blog so we can become a "follower"
7. You should have this completed by Wed. Oct 5th.
8. Questions? Don't wait til the last minute! email me at kriordan@d.umn.edu
Thank you!!
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