Inspired
If you follow me on twitter or are my friend on facebook, you may have noticed some updates about how incredible the OTF Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century.
I was so inspired at the conference. The educators I met there blew me away with what they are doing in their classrooms right now. Wow, that’s just about all I can say, WOW! (Kevin Henkes). I don’t even know where to start. My brain is full of ideas and it is Invigorating!
I could write about the incredible use of technology in these classrooms. Integrated into the curriculum, used well as a learning tool. I learned so much about how to do this. And how to imbed critical thinking in all lessons and units.
What I really want to write about are the ideas of the people whom I call the “The Ches“. The ones who want the system to change, and I don’t mean only by using technology.
Paradigm Shift
These educators believe in a more autonomous way of learning. In Situated Learning. Situated Learning is learning in the same context and culture where it is applied. The setting must be authentic. The learner must want to learn it. A simple example is learning to bake. We learn to bake in a kitchen. We bake for a reason, to make bread for the family for example. We want to bake for a number of reasons. We love to eat the product. It’s enjoyable. We need to feed a family.
It means learning through problem solving, not word problems, but real problems that are relevant and timely. That doesn’t mean simulating real problems either. These are problems that truly intrigue the learner (I hate that word). It means individualized programs for students, based on interests and needs. Schools would be communities in the true sense of the world. Teachers would have relationships with the children that are not based on power and disseminating information. Teachers and students would learn together. Everyone would be emotionally invested. Emotional investment is critical. This is a very radical idea in our system. But I think it’s necessary. I want it for my kids.
Forgive me if this isn’t clear. I’m just starting to get a handle on what this is and how it can be applied in the education system. Many educators talk about inquiry-based learning. That’s a good start, but it’s not enough. And, it doesn’t really happen enough in spite of the best efforts of many teachers.
I’m also struggling a bit with how to apply this to primary, before kids can read & write. It’s something I’ll be thinking about. And tweeting my wonderful group of education tweeps. (corny I know)
In many ways, this is similar to unschooling so I know there won’t be much support for it in the general public. We really have a hard time letting go of the old ways, even when they are not relevant to our current and future culture and economy.
The OTF conference inspired me to start another blog where I write about these issues. When it’s up and running I’ll post a link here.
Read Shelley Wright’s blog about a year of change in her classroom. It’s not unschooling, but it’s great schooling.
In the mean time. Do you think our system is OK and just needs a few tweaks? Or do you believe there should be radical change?
Erin, I love your comment, “I’m going to try to make small changes that are within my power.” It’s all anyone can ever do. Kind of like “think globally, act locally”, right?
And doesn’t it echo Margaret Mead’s famous quotation: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Small changes within our power. EXACTLY!
Thanks Desi & Karen for commenting. Sometimes I think these topics scare people off!
Desi – I think you are right, there needs to be radical change. However, I can’t do that alone so I’m going to try to make small changes that are within my power.
I think that public education is important. I’ve wanted to run away from it all but I can’t.
Karen – it is challenging with 20+ students, and it won’t be what homeschooling is, but we can get better at it. You’re right about the assessment – there is soooo much focus on assessment and the “D” word, data.
I’ll keep you posted on how it’s going – on my other blog when I start it!
Hi Erin
You sound pumped about the conference.
I keep starting a reply and then erasing it because I don’t feel qualified to answer. A couple of years ago I would have said that the system needed a radical overhaul. But I am too removed from it now to really have the right to comment.
I keep thinking about what it would take to lure us back to the system – and as of right now I don’t know there is anything the system could become that would interest us in returning to the school system (unless our lives changed radically and we needed all day care for our kids.) We homeschool for reasons outside of the educational system now.
My interpretation of Situated Learning (it’s a new term for me) is that it is exactly what homeschooling is and its not a problem to implement it for pre or early readers and writers, but that’s because I have just a couple of kids in that situation at once, I don’t need to have an assessment component beyond observation, and I have an established intimate relationship with my kids.
Trying to translate that into a system where there are 20+ kids, one teacher, and assessment requirements seems to be a huge challenge and I think it is awesome that you are willing to take it on.
Karen
We need radical change. I think there has been incremental improvement over the last five years, but we still have so far to go. In Alberta, we’re cutting teaching jobs at the same time as enrollment skyrockets. Teachers struggle with 35-seat classrooms and students who only see their parents for an hour or two each day. IPP’s are recommended, but only implemented in the schools with the best parent-funded support. “Special Needs” coding is encouraged for “gifted” children to ensure a strong funding stream will follow them through elementary. Segregating kids by aptitude and learning style is not the solution because that denies them the essential experience of true collaboration, among other reasons. There is so much wrong with our system right now! Let’s fix it.