Fluid Conversations

I am a big fan of the “Partnership for Partnership for 21st Century Skills”. Their work is important and necessary if we are to compete in the 21st century. Bringing states on board, one by one, is what sets them apart from others with the same goals. You can hardly read an article on 21st century learning, education, teachers, students without hearing about their work.

I worry, however, that we might be focusing almost exclusively on preparing students for life after high school while losing sight of another important goal: to create K-12 learning environments that foster a genuine love for learning. If we are to remain relevant to our students, we must find better ways of engaging them in the learning process. Long gone are the days where all students learn from the “sage on the stage”.

Karl Fisch, another one of my favorite bloggers, has a post that beautifully reflects these ideas. In his post entitled, “Let’s Stop Preparing Kids for College” he says,

“Let’s make their high school experience meaningful and relevant, so that they rarely feel the need to ask the question, “When are we ever going to use this?” because the answer will be so darn obvious. So often the answer teachers typically give to that question is, “In the next course” – which is a travesty. If we can’t give them a better answer than that, then we shouldn’t be teaching that topic. Let’s follow the words of Seneca that are posted in my school’s cafeteria, “Not for school, but for life, we learn.”

He goes on to say,

“Oh, by the way, I would argue that if we do this – if we stop “preparing them for college” and actually make their education meaningful and relevant right now, a by-product will be they will actually be better prepared for college and the world of work. They won’t be meeting seat-time requirements with no regard for what they actually know and understand, but instead will be placed in relevant situations solving meaningful and important problems that will prepare them for college, the world of work, and to be effective and contributing citizens in a vibrant democracy.”

Brilliant, Karl. We are all so fortunate that you share your thoughts and ideas so freely.

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is the following:

–the end of asking kids to write all of their spelling words ten times even if they got them right on their pre-test.

–teachers who…
“differentiate instruction by modifying the depth or complexity of content, the processes by which students learn, the content itself, and the products students are expected to create based on considerations of learning styles, interests, and skill levels.

–teachers who are open to the promise technology has to support and enhance learning.

–states that realize we must move beyond a 20th century way of educating children.

–educators like Chris Lehmann who continually inspire me with words like these…

“I’d rather have to deal with the balance between (student) empowerment and entitlement than sleep and absence.”

Time for bed, Santa…but I’ll be back later…don’t you worry…

Love always,

Cary Harrod

So a person in my network emails me and asks what I’ve turned her into…I just shared the Classroom 2.0 Ning site and she can’t stop! I know, I know! It is truly addicting…this collecting of ideas, knowledge and other bits of information. My AHA moment came when it occurred to me that this is what happens to our students OUTSIDE of school…then they come to school and it must often be agonizing to sit and listen to us drone on and one about seemingly irrelevant stuff. (Yes, WE know it is relevant.) Which is why it’s even more important to find ways to engage them.

My other AHA moment is that Twitter finally, finally clicked for me! Intuitively I knew it had to be good because millions of people are using it but I just couldn’t wrap my brain around it. Now I’m excited about building my PLN. It was helpful to find Twitter4Teachers, as it was confusing trying to figure out how to get started with meaningful interactions. Now you can start with this list and build out from there. Best of all, I’m starting to feel what our kids must feel when they connect with other people…it’s electric.