Reflect on this question: In what way do the AASL and NETS standards represent a departure from education as you experienced it when you were in high school? We're already 11 years into the 21st century. Are we already behind in implementing these standards? Using your own school (or a school you know well) as an example, how would your school measure up. Use specific examples.
I graduated high school in 2002, so only 9 years ago, but there have been so many changes within the last 9 years! I think that each teacher had a couple computers for student use when I was in school, but we had a computer lab and the business classrooms, which had several computers. I do not recall working collaboratively very often. Most instruction was done through lecture and note-taking. I don't recall very much inquiry-based learning, like the AASL and NETS standards both lean towards.
As far as being 11 years into the 21st century, I think that my school falls somewhere in the middle. I do think that the district that I work for (which is the same one I graduated from) is pretty advanced for a rural district. We are an eMINTS district. Most of the classroom, I believe from third grade and up, have at least 8-10 student computers. Each classroom has a Smart Board. One big part of eMINTS is the collaboration piece, which is also very important to the AASL and NETS standards. Looking at the AASL standards, I think that we have definitely reached the goal of #3, which is all about collaboration and teamwork. My school is also trained in MRI (Missouri Reading Initiative), which also focuses a great deal on collaboration. My principal really pushes Kagan in my building, in fact, she requires a monthly observation of a Kagan strategy being used in the classrooms. So, as far as collaboration goes, I think we are there. I also think we do quite a but of inquiry-based learning, but I am not sure we are at the goal quite yet. The students have the knowledge and the tools, but aren't always capable of putting it all together to create new knowledge.
As I understand the Kagan strategies, aren't they mainly for team building? So the collaboration happens among the students, does that mean that teachers are collaborating with each other? Do they collaborate with the librarian?
ReplyDeleteI thought that about the Kagan strategies as well until I learned about all they have to offer. I have two books in particular that are amazing for cooperative learning activities. Here is one and the other one is similar: http://www.kaganonline.com/catalog/look_whats_inside/BCLA1_inside.php
ReplyDeleteAnd the teachers are collaborating as well. The way it worked last year was that the principal would assign a strategy of the month that she wanted to observe in our classrooms. So, we would be forced to collaborate with one another so we didn't repeat activities. I don't think there was much collaboration with the librarian that went on, but I do plan on changing that this year since I'll be in the library.