Anti-teaching-BP2

When I first glanced at the title of Michael Wesch's article "Anti-teaching", I was rather curious. I must say that I am in complete agreement with his thoughts and practices. When he states, that in the process of conducting a survey of 131 college students for his article, that hundreds of dollars are spent on textbooks that are never opened, students pay for classes they never attend, I totally agree. I have a friend who has paid for numerous college courses for her son to attend and he didn't attend the majority. Why? He stated that they were boring. Perhaps he went to each once or twice and concluded that he could spend his time doing more worthwhile endeavors. And, today, he is establishing his own photography business. When I was an under grad student, I will admit that I attended the typical lecture class with 75-300 students in an auditorium and found it to be very boring. Several students either slept through, or played games or did homework for other classes and the list goes on. Mr. Wesch talks abut creating a learning environment conducive to learning for students and getting away from the rows of desks and lecture style teaching. I couldn't agree more!! My classroom is not your typical classroom either. I don't have rows of desks and I don't lecture. I may explain some things, but as I do, I walk around the room or sit in a student group or sit on the floor with a group. I have rugs for students to sit or lay on while doing their work. I also have a chart of their lessons and what they can do once the lesson have been completed and checked by a peer or me. And do you know their favorite activity, you guessed it, getting time on the computers. I have 6 computers in my classroom. Granted many sites have been blocked, but we have found several that the students can explore. In my humble opinion, students need to feel comfortable in their learning environments and free to express themselves. We sometimes take our lessons outdoors, which they thoroughly enjoy. In the article Mr. Wesch refers to John Dewey's statement that" people learn what they do." That is so correct. As teachers, what and how we teach is what our students do. Teachers, have you ever allowed your students to "teach" a segment of your lesson? If so, you will see that the majority will mimic you. Occasionally you will have an independent thinker who teaches to his own tune or beat, as one might say. It is an eye-opener.

In reviewing the Personal Learning Environment paper, I found that it is fast becoming the most effective way for people to learn, whether they be school-age students or adults like us taking our courses on line. PLE tools make learning much more interesting and interactive and engaging for the student. It really does represent a shift away from traditional learning. What I like most about PLE is that it shifts accountability from the teacher to the student. In other words, yes, the teacher is responsible for managing the lesson and providing the necessary tools for learning; however, the student now becomes responsible for and takes ownership of his learning. In Florida, teachers are held accountable for their students' ability to pass the FCAT. Teachers are required to teach certain curriculum and are generally instructed to "teach to the test." I am so against this and have voiced my opinion probably too many times. My opinion is that if a teacher teaches the curriculum content and the tools to learn the content to students, students will pass without all the stress of having certain criteria drilled to them. Our students are smarter than than they are given credit for. I am very proud to state that I teach above the level of my students and cover all the standards and have had an excellent pass/fail ratio. My average is 88% in a Title 1 school which is higher than the district and state's averages. But, I am a non-traditional teacher. I don't want to be stressed every day and I don't want my students to be stressed every day and constantly told that "learn this or you won't pass". This is not my way. I would love to see these tests go away because they are not an accurate gauge of a students learning.

I do not think our current educational system is working for our students. I believe this partly because the majority of our schools are still stuck in the Industrial age in their way of thinking and in the way education is presented. Within our government, education should be at the top of the list for considerations. Do our legislators not realize that these students we have in our classrooms are our future leaders? Globally, countries are passing us by in technology and employing 21st Century learning skills. It is so difficult for me to grasp why the US is supposed to be the wealthiest, most forward moving country, yet we are trillions of dollars in debt, we have people living on the streets and there is not enough money for education and healthcare!

In this country alone, our resources, if used properly, and money distributed properly, could feed and clothe every person in our country. Most likely, every family could be provided with shelter as well. Sure, other countries have poverty, but none compare to us. That's a shame!

What would work? Well, first there would have to be a total revamping of our government. Education would have to be first in line of considerations. The millions of dollars that is wasted on certain types of research, like why birds migrate south for instance, could be spent on education. And we have all read or heard about the $5000.00 toilet seats in government offices, hahahahaha. Well, need I say more? Our government wastes so much money that could be targeted for education, like providing every school with Web 2.0 tools, and the computers with which to use the tools. Train all of teachers in Web 2.0 technology. Buildings need to be remodeled and as new schools are built, construct them to look pleasing and welcoming and not like boot camps with high fences and barbed wire! With proper education, crime would be less, there would be less unemployment. Perhaps if our country would provide our students with the education that is required for the 21st Century, our senior citizens and baby boomers could rest a little easier knowing that our country would be in good hands and not facing a likelihood of being absorbed by another country.

I really like virtual learning environments especially for our Title 1 students who basically have no global knowledge base when they enter school. The virtual environments can help them to build the knowledge bases that they are lacking. Technology in itself is not enough to construct a new school of learning. Like when FSO crashed and other institutions' computer systems crash, there has to be a back up. Good old-fashioned reading, writing and arithmetic always needs to be taught and learned. As an under grad, I actually knew classmates who could not do math on paper because all of their lives they had depended on calculators. What if the calculator breaks right in the middle of an exam and you can't just get up and get another one?

Everyone needs the good old-fashioned foundation. Then add to that base, the Web 2.0 tools and any other technology that is going to enhance learning.

At my school we are fortunate to have smart boards in every classroom and computers in every classroom plus two computer labs. However, we have teachers who do not have a background in the technology to utilize these wonderful resources and our district has blocked so many important Web 2.0 tools. Granted, all content must be monitored for children, but there are ways to password protect many sites that would be advantageous for the students to access.

As I mentioned earlier, students need to learn much more than what is contained in a state test. I would say that our legislators probably could not pass the FCAT. And, if their job was in jeopardy if they didn't pass, wonder how quickly technology would be available?

The courses I have taken with FSO during the past three months have helped me tremendously in developing better lesson plans and are preparing me for my AR project. I also have a Masters in Psychology and therefore the past courses with Multiple Intelligences and Brain-based Learning have been particularly interesting to me. I think all teachers could profit from these courses if they can avail themselves of them. Our last course on Instructional Design was particularly interesting and I might add, a bit overwhelming, however, I learned so much valuable information. The project my team worked on relates directly to my AR project. I learned so much from my teammates. If we did not have a PLE I probably would not be as successful as I hope to be with my final project. Key components for 21st learning skills are incorporated into the FSO platform as it is a Course Management System structure. This structure allows the instructors to manage many more students than if it were a physical classroom. Students are able to interact and learn at their own speed and develop intrinsically as well. Instructors and students can access assignments, use Web 2.0 tools and manage their own destiny. 21st Century skills require that students learn and master more than just a base of knowledge. They must be able to use Bloom's at its higher order and 21st Century puts accountability where it belongs, on the student. In nutrition, "you are what you eat" and in the learning environment, "you are and project what you learn." Hopefully, in this 21st Century, state testing will be abolished and students can move at their own pace as is intended. Students do not need to be held back in a class because there may be 2 or 3 not absorbing as quickly, but because the state mandates certain criteria, students are forced to become bored. Not in my classroom! Components of 21st Century skills dictate that students learn what and how as quickly as they can absorb. They master skills more quickly when allowed to move forward.

Student outcomes will be mastery of skills, knowledge and expertise that they need to succeed in work and life. Students will become lifelong learns and not just learners to get by or to memorize just enough to pass a test. Students can be motivated to become eager learners. True, in our environment today, that motivation is sometimes to inspire and some students are more difficult to reach, but I believe that anyone can learn, perhaps not to the mastery level of some, but learn more than they knew, just the same.