“Why School?” After reading “Why School?” by William Richardson, I feel that I have a better understanding of the important role technology plays in our schools and will continue to play in the future. I always felt that it was important for students to have basic computer skills when they left high school but after reading this article understand the importance of having more than basic skills. Students will be better prepared for college and to enter the work force if they can get a good grasp on the diverse ways they can use the web to gain knowledge and take advantage of the resources available to them. I personally do not like to spend a lot of time on social media but I can now see how it can be of benefit to me as a future educator. The article suggests that schools are in need of reform because of the technological advances that make information accessible to students. Students can now decide what they want to learn and hunt for the knowledge on the web. Due to the vast amount of information and opportunities for learning we have to stop to ask what the role of school is in today’s society. Furthermore, the author suggests that a traditional method of assessing students does not measure the skills students are learning that will benefit them in their futures. Teachers can use technology to begin to make changes in the ways that our students learn and gain authentic life skills because passing a test (traditional way of assessment) is not enough. I believe that school reform with an emphasis on technological tools in the classroom is important. The six unlearning ideas that Richardson presents in his article are all important to consider if we want to begin to change our definition of what constitutes good teaching. He refers to them as; the sharing of information, (allowing for) discovery within the curriculum, talking to strangers (experts of knowledge), be a master learner, have real audiences, and transfer the power (to your students). I found the first to be the one I am ready and willing to commit to starting today. I see the value and importance of sharing resources and knowledge. He refers to the web and posting ideas as a “virtual wall.” I understand the value of people building on my lessons and vice versa. Sharing ideas is beneficial to students and teachers because it increases the quality and authenticity of the content while it also saves teachers time. This allows for greater focus on students’ development and understanding. Secondly Richardson highlights the importance of discovery of knowledge versus focusing on the curriculum. I believe this would be a struggling idea for me because as a new teacher I am starting to learn how to implement standards and how to evaluate curriculum. I feel that I need to better understand the methods of teaching before I can critique them. I do however see the benefit of allowing students to pursue their own interest in the context of the subject matter. It is something that I already find beneficial in literature discussions. I find it important to ask questions in a way that guides student learning. Richardson, W. (2012) Why School? How Education Must Change When Learning and Information Are Everywhere. [Kindle version]. Retrieved from Amazon.com.
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AuthorCristina Perez Archives
May 2016
CategoriesArchives
May 2016
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