Comments on: Out of the Box Thinking About Education and Teaching http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/ Learning with the Read/Write Web Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:36:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mary Healey http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-47091 Mary Healey Sat, 01 Mar 2008 14:11:16 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-47091 Suppose that next week all students would attend schools in their communities based on names pulled out of a lotery; and FIRST NAMES ONLY! And, all children for this week would wear the same chosen outfits to school. wou Can you imagine the changes that would take place!!!!! l. Teachers could suddenly be jolted into the reality of what it means to deal with childrens needs. 2.The entrenched differences of dealing with children of the "HAVES" and "HAVE NOTS" would be HIGHLIGHTED for what it is(DISCRIMINATION). 3. Principals would be seen for their actual leadership abilities. 4. Parents would be paid for this weeks attendance at schools . Voluntarily they would dress in jeans and white tops. I know this would never happen! But, until some gestalt action is taken regarding the education of our children, I for one feel that it will always remain the same old: "rich get richer, and the poor get poorer". Technology can give us information faster. BUT, until those in education use this ability for systemic changes, it serves us very little in this endeavor for change. In a system that is serving the needs of the staff more than the needs of the children, the future seems very certain to create a REAL CLASS DIVISION in our COUNTRY> WE need to re-define what it means"to teach", "to learn" and how best the field of education can make these changes a reality for everyone. Suppose that next week all students would attend schools in their communities based on names pulled out of a lotery; and FIRST NAMES ONLY! And, all children for this week would wear the same chosen outfits to school. wou
Can you imagine the changes that would take place!!!!!
l. Teachers could suddenly be jolted into the reality of what it means to deal with childrens needs.
2.The entrenched differences of dealing with children of the “HAVES” and “HAVE NOTS” would be HIGHLIGHTED for what it is(DISCRIMINATION).
3. Principals would be seen for their actual leadership abilities.
4. Parents would be paid for this weeks attendance at schools . Voluntarily they would dress in jeans and white tops.
I know this would never happen! But, until some gestalt
action is taken regarding the education of our children,
I for one feel that it will always remain the same old:
“rich get richer, and the poor get poorer”.
Technology can give us information faster. BUT, until those in education use this ability for systemic changes,
it serves us very little in this endeavor for change.
In a system that is serving the needs of the staff more than the needs of the children, the future seems very
certain to create a REAL CLASS DIVISION in our COUNTRY>
WE need to re-define what it means”to teach”, “to learn”
and how best the field of education can make these changes a reality for everyone.

]]> By: Bill Gaskins http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42595 Bill Gaskins Sun, 13 Jan 2008 12:49:15 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42595 I stand amazed at what the education system continues to do to our kids. There is a lot of blame to go around- teachers,higher ed, administrators, and politicians, etc. No one wants to change! It is like a big ship lost at sea that has lost site of its vision. My last five years in the classroom with fifth graders we learned lots of tech skills together and we taught each other most of the time. Many kids come back to me and tell me how they miss the experience we had together in our classroom. No other teacher has taken them on such a journey and no other teacher had allowed them to learn so much. I stand amazed at what the education system continues to do to our kids. There is a lot of blame to go around- teachers,higher ed, administrators, and politicians, etc. No one wants to change! It is like a big ship lost at sea that has lost site of its vision. My last five years in the classroom with fifth graders we learned lots of tech skills together and we taught each other most of the time. Many kids come back to me and tell me how they miss the experience we had together in our classroom. No other teacher has taken them on such a journey and no other teacher had allowed them to learn so much.

]]> By: Mark Ahlness http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42243 Mark Ahlness Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:51:49 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42243 Will, I remember when you announced you were leaving the classroom. I was really disappointed, feeling like the best, brightest, and most influential voice from the classroom had deserted us, had left town. With apologies to the many wonderful teacher bloggers out there, nobody has replaced you. So I thank you for remembering the classroom when you write. And I thank you for pushing for change, even if you are outside the box now :) All the best in your quest for that new system. - Mark Will, I remember when you announced you were leaving the classroom. I was really disappointed, feeling like the best, brightest, and most influential voice from the classroom had deserted us, had left town. With apologies to the many wonderful teacher bloggers out there, nobody has replaced you.

So I thank you for remembering the classroom when you write. And I thank you for pushing for change, even if you are outside the box now :) All the best in your quest for that new system. – Mark

]]> By: Penelope http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42204 Penelope Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:15:17 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42204 It's that last question that gets me. As Janice up above said, I don't know how to balance out the desire to go find something else that works better with the need to ensure that those still "stuck" in public education aren't being shorted. I know I can't solve it all myself, but I stick to public education right now because I want these students to at least have one teacher who's trying. The starting a school idea is so sexy, and developing alternatives is important, but... Waldorf and Summerhill and Montessori and other alternatives have been around for a while. Have they made any difference outside of their own students? It’s that last question that gets me. As Janice up above said, I don’t know how to balance out the desire to go find something else that works better with the need to ensure that those still “stuck” in public education aren’t being shorted. I know I can’t solve it all myself, but I stick to public education right now because I want these students to at least have one teacher who’s trying.

The starting a school idea is so sexy, and developing alternatives is important, but… Waldorf and Summerhill and Montessori and other alternatives have been around for a while. Have they made any difference outside of their own students?

]]> By: Jenny http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42183 Jenny Sat, 05 Jan 2008 09:40:58 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42183 Janice, I was glad to read your final comment because as I read through all of these comments I was struck by the term dysfunctional. And, still, I'm struggling with it. I agree with you that there are so many fantastic public schools and even more amazing teachers out there. But, where that leaves our educational system as a whole, I'm not sure. As to the original post, that question, "How can we start to think differently about teaching?" seems key to me. Plenty of folks are doing so already, as evidenced by these comments, but how do we expand that thinking? The critical analysis of education today needs to be done by teachers, administrators, parents, politicians, and our communities at large. Inertia is a powerful force and it will hold us at the status quo without some significant effort. Janice,
I was glad to read your final comment because as I read through all of these comments I was struck by the term dysfunctional. And, still, I’m struggling with it. I agree with you that there are so many fantastic public schools and even more amazing teachers out there. But, where that leaves our educational system as a whole, I’m not sure.

As to the original post, that question, “How can we start to think differently about teaching?” seems key to me. Plenty of folks are doing so already, as evidenced by these comments, but how do we expand that thinking? The critical analysis of education today needs to be done by teachers, administrators, parents, politicians, and our communities at large. Inertia is a powerful force and it will hold us at the status quo without some significant effort.

]]> By: Change Agency - Advocating a better education system for the 21st Century. » Dreaming http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42176 Change Agency - Advocating a better education system for the 21st Century. » Dreaming Sat, 05 Jan 2008 04:38:45 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42176 [...] By Stephanie I just read Will Richardson’s recent post… and after reading the comments I am reminded of a brief discussion among some of the [...] [...] By Stephanie I just read Will Richardson’s recent post… and after reading the comments I am reminded of a brief discussion among some of the [...]

]]> By: Janice Friesen http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42144 Janice Friesen Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:04:05 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42144 Michele (and everyone), I am in agreement with the statements you make above about the status of the educational system. When my children were in school (25 and 23 now!) I often debated that solution. I was not someone who could start a school like Will is considering and we didn't have enough money for private school. The issue that I grappled with and I think a central issue in this debate is the fact that the majority of our society is stuck in our "dysfunctional" education system and if all of us who can teach or work for change drop out of that system what will happen to our society? I also don't think that all of our educational system is dysfunctional. There are many terrific public schools and fantastic teachers out there. Janice Michele (and everyone),

I am in agreement with the statements you make above about the status of the educational system. When my children were in school (25 and 23 now!) I often debated that solution. I was not someone who could start a school like Will is considering and we didn’t have enough money for private school.

The issue that I grappled with and I think a central issue in this debate is the fact that the majority of our society is stuck in our “dysfunctional” education system and if all of us who can teach or work for change drop out of that system what will happen to our society?

I also don’t think that all of our educational system is dysfunctional. There are many terrific public schools and fantastic teachers out there.

Janice

]]> By: Mark Wagner http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42129 Mark Wagner Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:50:39 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42129 Will, I appreciate this post for a few reasons. First, I've been investing some time in my own financial education lately... so stumbling upon the personal MBA here is timely for me and I'll probably be chipping away at the reading list this year. Second, of course, I'm excited about network learning and am interested in any efforts to find a formal system for implementing it on a large scale - and perhaps more importantly, monetizing it on some scale. I'm also excited to hear you "seriously considering" opening a school. It seems like a step many edubloggers have flirted with and I like to imagine what would happen if many came together and made it a reality. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I'm not sure the consulting model is a sustainable (or particularly effective) one for many of us now engaged in it. I'm looking for a new system in which we might work... to make a living, and to make a difference... without burning out. And I think some new web 2.0 technologies might help make this possible. Will, I appreciate this post for a few reasons. First, I’ve been investing some time in my own financial education lately… so stumbling upon the personal MBA here is timely for me and I’ll probably be chipping away at the reading list this year. Second, of course, I’m excited about network learning and am interested in any efforts to find a formal system for implementing it on a large scale – and perhaps more importantly, monetizing it on some scale. I’m also excited to hear you “seriously considering” opening a school. It seems like a step many edubloggers have flirted with and I like to imagine what would happen if many came together and made it a reality. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I’m not sure the consulting model is a sustainable (or particularly effective) one for many of us now engaged in it. I’m looking for a new system in which we might work… to make a living, and to make a difference… without burning out. And I think some new web 2.0 technologies might help make this possible.

]]> By: MicheleB http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42124 MicheleB Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:27:47 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42124 I am a fairly new reader to your blog, but your ideas have added a new dimension to what I have already thought about within the educational system. I am a certified elementary school teacher but left the classroom after a year. Now with 2 children, I am homeschooling my oldest, and this blog has helped me to think about the vast potentials available to my children because they are removed from the dysfunctional institution of schooling. Experts are all over online and there is more and more content and knowledge available at our fingertips. Last week I "donated" to the one laptop per child project in the give one/get one campaign. I then provided a child in a developing country a laptop and got one for my 5 year old son to use. We will be daily incorporating technology into our studies and hope to be able to connect with students around the world using these systems. If the system will not change, that doesn't mean we have to deal with the broken system...we can change it one child at a time if that is the only way available to us. Thanks for your discussions... I am a fairly new reader to your blog, but your ideas have added a new dimension to what I have already thought about within the educational system. I am a certified elementary school teacher but left the classroom after a year. Now with 2 children, I am homeschooling my oldest, and this blog has helped me to think about the vast potentials available to my children because they are removed from the dysfunctional institution of schooling.

Experts are all over online and there is more and more content and knowledge available at our fingertips. Last week I “donated” to the one laptop per child project in the give one/get one campaign. I then provided a child in a developing country a laptop and got one for my 5 year old son to use. We will be daily incorporating technology into our studies and hope to be able to connect with students around the world using these systems.

If the system will not change, that doesn’t mean we have to deal with the broken system…we can change it one child at a time if that is the only way available to us.

Thanks for your discussions…

]]> By: Notes from a Teacher: Mark on Media » Thursday squibs http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42113 Notes from a Teacher: Mark on Media » Thursday squibs Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:57:07 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42113 [...] Out of the Box Thinking About Education and Teaching. Details about a free online roll-your-own MBA (without the piece of paper at the end of the process) have me wondering about the potential for combining readings, forums, file-sharing and the like to help keep journalists educated. [...] [...] Out of the Box Thinking About Education and Teaching. Details about a free online roll-your-own MBA (without the piece of paper at the end of the process) have me wondering about the potential for combining readings, forums, file-sharing and the like to help keep journalists educated. [...]

]]> By: Will Richardson http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42110 Will Richardson Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:48:09 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42110 So, it seems like there are two options, right? Get someone in the White House who has some vision and some guts to really take a hard look at what's going on and make change, or work for a critical mass of teachers, administrators, board members and parents to heed the call. I just don't think the latter happens without the former. So we have to build alterantive models that are sustainable and that work in the interim. We have to model the change, be the change with our own kids. I'm starting to think pretty seriously about starting a school... Now, does that scale? ;0) Obviously not. Which is why I'm gearing up for this election. We need to make some waves at some point... So, it seems like there are two options, right? Get someone in the White House who has some vision and some guts to really take a hard look at what’s going on and make change, or work for a critical mass of teachers, administrators, board members and parents to heed the call. I just don’t think the latter happens without the former. So we have to build alterantive models that are sustainable and that work in the interim. We have to model the change, be the change with our own kids. I’m starting to think pretty seriously about starting a school…

Now, does that scale? ;0) Obviously not. Which is why I’m gearing up for this election. We need to make some waves at some point…

]]> By: Will Richardson http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42109 Will Richardson Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:43:20 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42109 Hey Graham...thanks for reading. Glad to hear the conversation we started in Lorne is ongoing! I agree with you that the definition of what a teacher could be is changing. And I do think there are more and more people who are beginning to come into the same line of thinking when they themselves experience the new learning opportunities available to us. There are answers to that question out there, but right now, they don't seem to scale. Hey Graham…thanks for reading. Glad to hear the conversation we started in Lorne is ongoing! I agree with you that the definition of what a teacher could be is changing. And I do think there are more and more people who are beginning to come into the same line of thinking when they themselves experience the new learning opportunities available to us. There are answers to that question out there, but right now, they don’t seem to scale.

]]> By: Michele http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42106 Michele Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:57:00 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42106 The most interesting thing that comes to mind for me, when thinking about your post, is that I truly believe that the kids all realize now that schools are way behind the times, and most of them realize that there must be a better way to get an education than going to a traditional school. However, their hands are tied much more than ours are. They are not in a position that they can do anything about it (unless they have a parent who is open to other ideas about education), but we are. In my search to find a better educational opportunity for my children (which finally led me to a rather unschooling approach to homeschooling - the only thing I am forcing them to learn right now is how to type, since I realized that this is the one thing that is truly preventing them from fully experiencing the benefits of the web), I stumbled upon many different schools that are doing things differently, and doing it successfully. From the North Star Learning Center in Hadley, Massachusetts, to an alternative high school in Ithaca, New York, to charter schools and Waldorf schools and Sudbury schools, to free schools - there are so many schools that have developed a different model that the public schools could be looking at and learning from, if only we could open our eyes and minds a bit. But, like you said, we are tied to the traditional public school idea so tightly (since we all went through them, we all teach at them, most of our kids all go to them, and our government endorses them) that most teachers won't even think about doing anything drastically different. In addition, too many people are afraid of change - it's easier to just stay with what they are used to. I, for one, welcome change! The most interesting thing that comes to mind for me, when thinking about your post, is that I truly believe that the kids all realize now that schools are way behind the times, and most of them realize that there must be a better way to get an education than going to a traditional school. However, their hands are tied much more than ours are. They are not in a position that they can do anything about it (unless they have a parent who is open to other ideas about education), but we are.

In my search to find a better educational opportunity for my children (which finally led me to a rather unschooling approach to homeschooling – the only thing I am forcing them to learn right now is how to type, since I realized that this is the one thing that is truly preventing them from fully experiencing the benefits of the web), I stumbled upon many different schools that are doing things differently, and doing it successfully. From the North Star Learning Center in Hadley, Massachusetts, to an alternative high school in Ithaca, New York, to charter schools and Waldorf schools and Sudbury schools, to free schools – there are so many schools that have developed a different model that the public schools could be looking at and learning from, if only we could open our eyes and minds a bit. But, like you said, we are tied to the traditional public school idea so tightly (since we all went through them, we all teach at them, most of our kids all go to them, and our government endorses them) that most teachers won’t even think about doing anything drastically different. In addition, too many people are afraid of change – it’s easier to just stay with what they are used to.

I, for one, welcome change!

]]> By: Janice Friesen http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42102 Janice Friesen Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:18:00 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42102 Wil, Can you please add to your reflections thoughts about what to do with education on a larger scale? I think you are right that we are stuck in the box and that the box is not working for us. But so far change is such an elite thing which influences only a few kids, but does nothing for the larger society. hmmmm Good to be thinking about this... Wil,

Can you please add to your reflections thoughts about what to do with education on a larger scale? I think you are right that we are stuck in the box and that the box is not working for us. But so far change is such an elite thing which influences only a few kids, but does nothing for the larger society.

hmmmm Good to be thinking about this…

]]> By: Graham http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-42100 Graham Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:05:04 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/out-of-the-box-thinking-about-education-and-teaching/#comment-42100 Hi Will ....your conference buddies from down-under again. We have been continued to follow your posts and thoughts since meeting at Lorne. This topic is one we have been discussing for quite some time now ....and all going round in circles. I've posted a question asking for a definition of a teacher these days. Seems central to the arguement to me. What should the expectations be? We are all sick and tired of working our butts off, only to have all the work undone the following year when disinterested, chalk and talk teachers take over. But what to do ..... how to get the system into gear? Everyone seems to be getting fed up with tiptoeing around and are ready to resign (Clay)or get really radical. Its as though there is a global call-to-arms going on. Trouble is its only having an effect on those who are already converted ...... no matter how much we jump up and down, the inertia of the system seems to absorb all of our energies. You say this is the most difficult question. I think it is the only question. What is the point of isolated and passionate teachers highlighting the needs of 21st century kids, if a large majority of the teaching population thinks these needs are being met by the old traditional methods? Hi Will ….your conference buddies from down-under again. We have been continued to follow your posts and thoughts since meeting at Lorne.

This topic is one we have been discussing for quite some time now ….and all going round in circles. I’ve posted a question asking for a definition of a teacher these days. Seems central to the arguement to me. What should the expectations be?

We are all sick and tired of working our butts off, only to have all the work undone the following year when disinterested, chalk and talk teachers take over. But what to do ….. how to get the system into gear? Everyone seems to be getting fed up with tiptoeing around and are ready to resign (Clay)or get really radical. Its as though there is a global call-to-arms going on. Trouble is its only having an effect on those who are already converted …… no matter how much we jump up and down, the inertia of the system seems to absorb all of our energies.

You say this is the most difficult question. I think it is the only question.
What is the point of isolated and passionate teachers highlighting the needs of 21st century kids, if a large majority of the teaching population thinks these needs are being met by the old traditional methods?

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