Blog Assignment # 1

          

A Summary of S. Mitra’s and K. Venosdele’s “Ideal School”.

            S. Mitra Summary: If we, as human beings, are given the means to learn, we will. Mitra argues through his “hole-in-the wall computer” experiment in a third world country that anyone can increase his or her knowledge simply by having access to a computer/ Internet which provides a means to find knowledge on their own without the guidance of a teacher.  Although, I can understand his point of view, I am unsure we can solely rely on the powers of the Internet for teaching knowledge to all types of students at every stage of learning. 

K. Venosdele Summary: With a kooky coffeehouse classroom set up that lacks structure but offers access to various learning opportunities, each student can excel his or her education that is personalized to their own strengths. Venosdele’s ideal school may seem a bit far-fetched, but I feel her school ideal is closer to my opinion of the ideal school.  People are different. No two children have the same learning styles, interests, or strengths.  Thus, having a standard type of learning structure for everyone (whether independent learning or structured lectures) may be, in fact, cripple those that learn outside of this standard.  Old school teaching methods such as didactic lectures should not be forgotten as many individuals thrived from this structured style of learning. However, we should learn to integrate a novel set of tools that technology has developed to complement previous learning styles so as to create a more diverse set of learning norms.

B. Spillman’s Ideal School: Active Learning – DO IT.

            Reading, mathematics, writing and science is the framework of our educational system.  At one point, by providing the basics in text form to students was sufficient for a group of students to succeed.  However, we realize now that we can no longer depend on providing the basic fundamentals as being sufficient for EVERY student to succeed. In order for each student to have equal opportunities for success, we must move forward and offer our kids more learning options. My ideal school, k-5, will offer these kinds of learning choices.  The fundamental coursework will remain in place but supplemented with additional active experiences that illustrate those fundamentals. (gardening for plant biology, cultural field trips for geography/social studies, banking for mathematics, etc.)

I would implement courses such as finance, building, automotive, debate, cooking, etc. Hands-on learning will be the focus. With the aid of technology learning experiences are no longer impossible. We can now visualize processes via movies and create learning programs that allows students to experience a dynamic event. 

Technology will be used as a starting line. If a student wants to understand why his dad’s truck is not working, then he can use a computer diagnostic to identify the problem. However, my school will not stop at this stage. With unlimited funds, we will have the ability to bring the truck into an automobile DO IT site where the student may learn how the diagnosis can then be translated into an actual hands-on fix.

Multiple Classrooms Designated as “DO-ing IT Sites”.

            Our automobile site will have many types of vehicles including modern day technology to develop an understanding of mechanics at a young age.  As students, they will realize they have some control over their learning process. Projects will be driven by their own interests and strengths. If they develop a motivation for finding answers at an early age, I believe these kids will carry it forward into their careers. In addition to automobile DO IT sites, there will be banks that have individual financial branches offering different money management deals in which students will learn to understand the pros and cons of each type of deal.  There will be a “quick-loan” branch offering high interest deals to insure our 5th graders understand when and why these institutions exist.  Children will have online banking accounts and bills. I will provide students with an online world in which one student is a single mom on minimum wage while another has a successful salary and family of four. Students will have access to their accounts and make purchases at our local market where all the produce was grown by our students.  This leads me to the greenhouse DO IT site that will be in the front of my school.  At this site, students will learn about various growing conditions and techniques such as hydroponics.  Computers will be used to organize and set up a water and light system needed for their crops. Furthermore, students will be able to see his or her plants from their own home by logging into a personal online video that allows for students to monitor their crops’ growth conditions.  In addition, I’d like to introduce a DO IT site in which students learn the basics of debates. I’d want my kids to learn how to research, discuss and support controversial topics without malice. I would introduce topics such as race and politics while teaching them the patterns of both our and others’ history would be my way of creating independent thinkers and, hopefully, motivate dynamic DO-ers.

Unlimited Means and Funds to DO IT.

            Everybody’s ideal school should include the option to have unlimited funds.  Technology is great, but with no funds you will find yourself always behind the eight ball.  Unlimited funds allows us to travel and meet different cultures, study a variety of different environments, and have the opportunity to take hands-on learning to a whole new level.  What our DO IT sites cannot deliver for our students’ active learning process, I believe our field trips to factories, countries, cities, museums, etc. will provide.

Teaching Philosophy: Read it, DO IT, Teach it.

            As stated earlier, we will continue to provide information through basic teaching and research that has previously built our education system: read it.  What will change is that more opportunities to DO IT will be provided through our DO IT sites and supplemental field trips: do it. Finally, to ensure the learning process, the older kids will have the opportunity to teach the younger children in tasks and lessons that they have had the chance to READ and DO: teach it. I believe that if a student reads it, perfects it, and then teaches the subject matter to another then they will have a more complete understanding of the information than simply reciting the information they have read on a written test.

The Role of Technology in my school: Researching and Organizing prior to DO-ing IT.

            Having technology in the classroom will be a crucial key to the success of my school. It will be important to read and research about a topic prior to removing students from the classroom to DO IT.  For example, our students will be able to skype with different students that reside in different cultures to receive first-hand knowledge.  After learning about these different cultures in the classroom and online, we will take field trips to unique destinations that illustrate that culture.  We will not go to a local museum to learn about tribesman of Uganda, but, instead, take our class to Uganda and learn from tribesman directly.  Education is changing; technology provides opportunities that were once unavailable. It is an educator’s job to determine how best to supplement these technologies without compromising the DO-ing IT.