There are 3 main themes that I think need to be addressed in order for schools to advance into the future and provide students with an education that is relevant to their lives and to their future. They are all follows:
1. Allow for the integration of technology into our schools
This is a characteristic that I find extremely important, for there are a large number of technologies that are highly beneficial to student learning, yet are banned or not incorporated into the classroom. An example given in Chapter 10 is the usage of Youtube. Many school districts ban the use of Youtube, yet it is highly beneficial to the classroom. I can personally attest to this, as my district allows the usage of Youtube, and more than half of my historical video clips now come from that source. Additionally the usage of cell phones, Ipods, social networking sites, and so forth, all have a large benefit in being used in the classroom. There are a variety of different strategies that can be implemented so that these technologies are not a distraction, but rather a learning tool. There are technologies that can even allow students to communicate with other students around the globe! These are the technologies our students connect with and use on a daily basis, so why wouldn't we promote their usage in learning? Schools need to take a step back and reanalyze their goals. All of these technologies will most likely be needed in these students' future - why not give them the necessary skills to use them for "good"?
2. Nonstandardized Assessments
I am a firm believer in providing alternative assessments in the classroom. Not all students are good test takers, and simple regurgatations on tests will never allow them to develop the skills they need to be successful in their future. Instead, we should be preparing students to think outside the box and learn that unexpected questions and problems will inevitably come their way throughout life and they need to be prepared to handle those kinds of situations. By giving nonstandardized assessments, students develop the ability to handle the unknown, think on the spot, and develop a solution. This kind of assessment would be a part of Quadrant D on the Rigor and Relevance Scale of Blooms Taxonomy, the quadrant that promotes higher order thinking skills. A simple teach to the test approach would not come close to the quality of instruction provided in Quadrant D. I personally feel that all districts should promote teachers being in Quadrant D as much as possible. My district does, and we have had excellent results (there is a reason we are one of the top school districts in the state). Building upon this approach will only allow for students to obtain even higher achievements.
3. Focusing on both Individual and Team Results
For too long, our schools have promoted competition among individual students: class rank, individualized testing, individual papers, etc. However, when we truly think about it, there are very few professions where people do not need to work with other coworkers to some degree. Even as educators, we are constantly reminded that we should be working in professional learning communities (PLCs) to work collaboratively in providing our students with a better education. Why is it, then, that we do not promote the same collaborative learning in the classroom? Why do we still focus on the individual rather than the group? Our jobs as educators is to prepare students for the real world, and in order to do that we need to allow for both individual AND team results. In the work force, "performance will be measured not by the success of the individual, but by the success of the team, perhaps a multinational team with members spanning the globe." (Bellanca & Brandt, 310). As good educators, we need to strive to show our students that teamwork and collaboration are the key to success.
I have heard many times over again throughout my college and professional career that schools lag very far behind when it comes to technology and solid educational practices. As advanced as technology and research may be, schools are typically three steps behind. It is time that we, the educators, seize the reigns and do what it is we set out to do: provide our students with the best possible education our world has to offer.
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