I found this article to be extremely enlightening and motivating. “How do we bring our schools to the 21 century?” by creating a “global students”
I found the idea of a “global student” to be a concept of forward thinking, by thinking into the future. Developing a student that can co-exist in an ever changing world. A world that speaks more than one language that is constantly advancing socially, technologically and academically. How can we keep up with this world? If our student can’t see the world past their school door.
As a new educator you become a little disheartened when you see the direction our educational system is heading towards. You have this ideal of what your purpose is an educator, which for me is to help my students find their purpose in this constantly evolving world we live in. In observing teachers teach for the test you begin to see how big of a hurdle it will be to help your students find their purpose, when the student’s imagination and creativity are completely stunted everyday. The article touches on these topics of why and how we can bring our schools to the 21 century. It suggests that we need a revamp our educational system and get with the changing world. The article states
“Become smarter about new sources of information. In an age of overflowing information and proliferating media, kids need to rapidly process what's coming at them and distinguish between what's reliable and what isn't. "It's important that students know how to manage it, interpret it, validate it, and how to act on it," says Dell executive Karen Bruett, who serves on the board of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, a group of corporate and education leaders focused on upgrading American education.”
So how can we possible teach these skills if we are teaching for a test rather then preparing our students with tools that can help them analyze, think critically and develop ideas. If we think that these test are helping validate what they are learning we are truly mistaken. This old way of teaching will not help develop the economy of this country if we don’t build curriculums that are diverse, competitive and allow student to use their creativity and imagination. This is the only way the United States
I completely agree with your post, because I feel like we are stuck in 20th century classrooms. It's true that the way we are told to teach is not helping our students think globally which is what they will have to do in the future. I also agree that teaching to the test is not helping our students either. I think it is great that schools have smartboards and curriculum programs that help teachers teach certain subjects but not every school in the US can afford them and that's what puts our education system behind. I do agree that we need to start thinking outside of the box but I feel like money is always the issue when the government tries to improve the system.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on the subject of the state exams dictating the way teachers teach. I remember back in the day when I was in elementary school, all the fun and exciting projects that offered me the opportunity to learn through a creative hands on approach. As a teacher now, I can honestly say that due to these exams and the pressures put on the teachers and students by the state, those hands on creative projects are put on the back burner until the last month of the school year. Instead of offering projects and activities that promote creativity and critical thinking we are resorted to constant repetition of reading comprehensions, listening comprehensions, and practice exams. New York State is driving the education program into a hole they will have a difficult time getting out of. The constant pressure being put on teachers to produce high test scores are reaching new levels. Teachers are now putting all of their efforts into delivering 3's and 4's on state assessments rather than developing the overall growth of their students as a whole.
ReplyDeleteThe technology itself isn't necessarily the answer, it is what we are doing with it. Does project based learning and the $ Cs (Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Communication) provide enough of a framework to teach the necessary skills that the state assesses... or do we need to focus our curriculum on "test prep?"
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ReplyDeleteDuring my class observation, I noticed that some teachers don't teach content directly. Dialogue, questions, critical thinking, and debate surrounding content are low on the list of things to see in a 21st century classroom. However, students end up with convoluted ideas about history, a cursory understanding of an appreciation for literature, and a shaky foundation in math and science. I questioned myself how do teachers will find time in the curriculum to do project- based learning units instead to test preparation?
ReplyDeletevery interesting.. Teachers are only trying to get their students to pass tests. They are forgetting about teaching them life skills that will be vital in the future. What does this mean for our future? I wonder what kind of skills these children will have when they enter the real world where there is no standardized tests
ReplyDeleteThe concept of "Global student" is certain a forward thinking. To develop our students to be open minded and educated on other cultures on a first person perspective is very enlightening. Imagine what it would be like to have our children learn of other cultures first hand via skype with students from other parts of the world? It would be awesome! Education is key in this movement. The word must be spread in order for these concepts and ideas to move forward as well. We are no longer a chalkboard classroom learning from books, but rather a forward classroom using technology to enhance our learning.
ReplyDeleteAfter observing in the Westbury school district for this entire school year, this articles directly correlates with what I have seen. The teachers in the school i was placed in teach to the test rather than having an equally balanced curriculum encouraging critical thinking. The subjects of social studies and science are put on the backburner while ELA and math are the focus of the day, in preparation for the statewide tests. This truly puts the students at a disadvantage and prevents them from thinking outside of the box.
ReplyDeleteThe goal for us as educators is to create "college-ready" students. Teaching towards a test only prepares our students for one exam, on one day. What about every other day of their lives? State issued scantron exams are a bad measure of our students knowledge, we should not compound the problem by teaching to the test. The "Global student" of the future will not be bound by state or even national boarders. Why would we limit our instruction to what one state thinks should be taught?
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