Wednesday, March 16, 2011

“Yeah, I think that’s what they call learning.”

Am taking a brief break from blogging this week, but since I feel guilty if I don’t feed the blog, here is a link to an interesting piece in the New York Times about how high school kids might be allowed to become, at least a little, “the authors of their own education.” I’m not sure, though, whether this idea could satisfy the rigorous standards of our assessment industry.

(c/o msf)
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5 comments:

Raleigh said...

Hi, Chris;

I'm really enjoying your blog. We in Hawaii have a coalition of schools looking to change standard education practices to a more student-centered approach, and my own school is attempting to build a student-directed project-based "school within a school" (I know I used "school" four times in that sentence.) I'm one of the project-based teachers, even tho' I teach in the IB program.

I'm curious to know your thoughts, and those of others connected to your network, about the IB program, which does have content and curriculum standards, but which also promotes student reflection, communication and collaboration.

I also have a blog where I try to wrestle with how to promote student independence and initiative while still delivering mandated content (not that I'm promoting anything, just trying to provoke a critical conversation so I can reflect on my own practices.) It's at pwninghistory.tumblr.com.

At any rate, I enjoy reading your thoughts, and occasionally send your posts to the group. Like thinkers anywhere are good to find for the great struggle...

Chris said...

Raleigh -- Thanks for commenting! I just spent some time reading your blog, and it's interesting stuff. I know next to nothing about the IB program -- I don't know whether any schools near here are involved in it at all. Maybe other commenters know more than I do?

Chris said...

Correction -- The most recent version of Raleigh's blog is actually here.

Raleigh said...

Hi, Chris;

I just put up a post on my thoughts on the IB (a two year program wherein students study six major subject areas, write a major investigative paper, take a course in cognitive theory and perform community service). Basically, I don't know how to make it kid-friendlier and student-centered with some major overhauls that would horrify schools that sign up for in the expectation that it will strengthen their curricula.

http://pwninghistory.tumblr.com/

Chris said...

Thanks, Raleigh! Again, here's a clickable link to Raleigh's blog.

It's hard to read Raleigh's post without feeling a depressing sense of deja vu. The thrust of it is (I hope Raleigh will pardon my synopsis): the IB program would be great if only it hadn't fallen prey to the top-down, test-driven, standardized vision of what education means. So many good ideas out there, and so many enthusiastic and dedicated teachers, and all of them hopelessly hamstrung by our refusal to turn our back on these ersatz conceptions of "rigor" and "accountability." (That last part was me, not a summary of Raleigh.)

On the issue of "content," my thoughts here.