First off, I know this is formatted incorrectly. Can we look at this as a rough draft? Here are my thoughts on the topic of *why* the educational landscape is flattening.
Look— we all know that systems work. SYSTEMS WORK. Look at a household, a sports team, a business... in most every case, I would argue that some sort of fundamental system exists that the organization can count on. Teacher preparedness is changing and becoming more systematic. High quality teachers that are prepared are hired. Educational resources are becoming available in ways they haven’t been before. Standards— while not everyone is on board— in ELA focus on content skill and depth over shallow coverage and multiple choice test taking strategy. And while our current global pandemic is absolutely tragic, I would argue that teaching and learning is in a massive paradigm shift. You can’t tell me that some families will begin to see that they can access quality instruction and curriculum from a distance— and recognize what opportunity that might create. If you aren’t in a successful district but have internet, you will have new opportunity for learning. You will no longer be subject to the district/school lottery where some get access and some do not. Now, as I say this I am well aware of the fact that money creates opportunity. My daughter has joined a learning POD and we all contribute upwards of $1,000 a month (four families) to pay for someone to work with our kids during their distance learning. We have created an opportunity that others may not have. And in some ways, we perhaps have perpetuated a form of inequality. But I do see a future where access for *most* is coming. Access for all to high quality instruction is still a ways off. Progress is being made exponentially, but until we all have internet and computing equality, even from a distance school won’t be a level playing field. Brick and mortar school will of course live on, but the “opportunities of more” are beginning to show. First off, I know this is formatted incorrectly. Can we look at this as a rough draft? Here are my thoughts on the topic of *why* the educational landscape is flattening.
Look— we all know that systems work. SYSTEMS WORK. Look at a household, a sports team, a business... in most every case, I would argue that some sort of fundamental system exists that the organization can count on. Teacher preparedness is changing and becoming more systematic. High quality teachers that are prepared are hired. Educational resources are becoming available in ways they haven’t been before. Standards— while not everyone is on board— in ELA focus on content skill and depth over shallow coverage and multiple choice test taking strategy. And while our current global pandemic is absolutely tragic, I would argue that teaching and learning is in a massive paradigm shift. You can’t tell me that some families will begin to see that they can access quality instruction and curriculum from a distance— and recognize what opportunity that might create. If you aren’t in a successful district but have internet, you will have new opportunity for learning. You will no longer be subject to the district/school lottery where some get access and some do not. Now, as I say this I am well aware of the fact that money creates opportunity. My daughter has joined a learning POD and we all contribute upwards of $1,000 a month (four families) to pay for someone to work with our kids during their distance learning. We have created an opportunity that others may not have. And in some ways, we perhaps have perpetuated a form of inequality. But I do see a future where access for *most* is coming. Access for all to high quality instruction is still a ways off. Progress is being made exponentially, but until we all have internet and computing equality, even from a distance school won’t be a level playing field. Brick and mortar school will of course live on, but the “opportunities of more” are beginning to show. |
Here are three pieces of “21st Century Learning” that I found. The third one is my favorite— and I will use it.
https://www.nextvista.org/soaps/
https://www.nextvista.org/harry-potter-and-his-hero-journey/
https://www.nextvista.org/constructive-peer-feedback/
https://www.nextvista.org/soaps/
https://www.nextvista.org/harry-potter-and-his-hero-journey/
https://www.nextvista.org/constructive-peer-feedback/