As I was walking back to my room today after making some copies in the office, I glanced into some classrooms. I noticed many students and teachers doing some great things and figured there was some good learning going on. But I also noticed that some students had their heads down, or were looking out the window. There were also a few students wandering the halls. It got me thinking, is forcing every student to take certain classes the right thing to do?
(I had also recently read this blog post over at Teachpaperless which got me thinking.)
I was thinking about students that have no desire to learn about Shakespeare, the French Revolution, atomic bonding, or polynomials. I was thinking that many of them may pass these classes and graduate, but not really have gained anything from the class. They may have a poor outlook on education because they were not excited or engaged by their classes. They may feel that school was a waste of time. How many of these students drop out of high school because they hate school? How many dropouts would stay if they could take classes that they WANTED to take? How do we fix these issues?
I am a firm believer that we need more vocational education in our high schools. "Shop classes" and "industrial arts" have been cut and many schools have minimal classes in these areas. I did a summer externship (through the CBIA) two years ago with local manufacturing companies and they all complained that there are not enough machinists and technicians to meet their needs. They were also seeing a shortage of CAD (computer aided design) technicians in the area. Our schools have a limited number of these types of classes, but they are not enough. The state vocational-technical schools are always facing budget issues. We need more.
Many high school students will not go to college, and that is ok. They need to know basics in English, Math, History, and Science, as well as computer basics, to be informed citizens and to be able to function in a workplace. But, do they really need to struggle in upper level classes? Maybe we need to get them to a certain level and then let them pick the classes they want to take. Why do we have to have so many restrictions and requirements?
We should be offering more vocational classes such as machining, CAD, electrician, carpentry, auto mechanics, culinary arts, computer technician and more. This would prepare non-college bound students for good jobs and careers.
We should also take advantage of technology and use it to truly differentiate student learning experiences. Let's get rid of our very old, stagnated system and come up with something new. Like individualized programs for students. With this, we could accommodate more students in the subjects that they really want to learn. Trade/Vocational programs for non-college bound students and more advanced classes for the students who are bored because the work is too easy.
Project Based Learning, online classes, non-traditional sequences of classes, a greater variety of classes, and some outside-of-the-box thinking can help more of our students succeed in life. Online classes and testing could help some students learn the basics and prove proficiency and then allow them to move onto other classes. Imagine what a school like that could look like! All students engaged because they are learning things that they want to learn. Applying all classes to their future needs, whether that is college or job. Authentic learning that truly engages and prepares students for the future.
I would love to teach in that school.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
UPDATE:
There are some very similar discussions going on in right now. Check out these articles too:
http://synthesizingeducation.com/blog/2010/01/18/the-ugly-truth-of-what-we-teach-in-schools
and
http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/should-we-force-students-to-learn.html
and
Check them all out and join the discussion.
The things we enjoy are the hooks that lead us to learning.
ReplyDeleteIn an old book on the Summerhill School in England I recall an account of a young man who by 16 had not yet learned to read and write. He discovered machine work and wanted to become a certified machinist, but a written test was required for certification. By age 18 he was reading and writing proficiently.
David,
ReplyDeleteIt is a great point. I do not think one could force a student to learn bc they are always learning. Those students with their heads on their desks are still formulating some idea about the world. It may not be the content the teachers want them to learn, but with schools being inherently social places some values are being passed along.
I agree with you on the types of vocational schools. Its funny all this push for charter and magnet schools (art, medicine, law, etc). My parents used to call them vocational schools.
David,
ReplyDeleteSome great, thoughtful ideas here. Isn't it funny that policy makers and adminstrators advocate for "school choice" but that only goes so far as the actual facilty a student walks into and out of each day.
You raise the more important choice question here and point out areas that have been sorely neglected for some time. What would happen if students were allowed a role in the construction of their high school years? Much of what is deemed as "core" could be handled in any variety of class settings. We need fluid content used in a framework of process driven curriculia.
For example: writing, considered fundamental in all lifes adventures doesn't have to occur between 8:00 and 9:00 each day, it can be an integral part of shop class where the student needs to market her innovation or promote his design style.
It is interesting that the organization of school does nothing to allow students to develop a focus or explore an interest they see as being a potential career path. Instead we fracture the real world, take the pieces and allot them 40 - 60 minutes a day, and never connect the pieces to each other . . . and then we wonder why students have difficulty seeing the big pictures of the world.
Greg,
ReplyDeleteYou made an excellent point. If we don't connect each subject with the others the students will never see the use for each one or how to apply what they've learned outside of the classroom.
Thanks for the feedback and comment.
I managed to get lots of normally unmotivated students engaged in revising for their modular exams by using the free games-based learning website what2learn.com. I used ready-made units and added some of my own quizzes.
ReplyDeleteSame here. I used to have a lot of uninterested students in my class before but with a series of fun and interactive games before a session seemed to work and attract attention.It's a great way to start a class.
ReplyDelete