For this lesson, we had to watch two videos on the TED website and answer the required questions for each video. One video was about peronalized learning and the other was about why students drop out of school. Afterwards, we were to research a question that related to our lesson.
EDUC 2110 – Lesson 12 – Educational Reform
Evaluation
Sir Ken Video Questions
Do you agree with Sir Ken Robinson as he makes the case for a radical shift from standardized schools to personalized learning – creating conditions where kids’ natural talents can flourish? Why or why not?
I do agree. I believe that kids need room to flourish in their own natural talents in the classroom. I’ve never really thought about a shift from standardized schools to personalized learning before, but I think that Sir Ken Robinson is a very wise man in education and knows what he’s talking about. Children in the classroom don’t need to be copped up learning in ways that are hard for them. Students need to have a few ways of their own that are easier for them to learn. Not everyone learns the same, so there needs to be more options in the classroom to help them learn better. I think that it’s important for students to learn at their own pace. Even when students are learning at their own pace and in the way that best suits them, the teacher needs to be checking behind them to make sure they’re learning what they need.
How would YOU, as a teacher, “personalize” the learning in your classroom? Explain.
Personalized learning focuses more on the students as individuals, instead of as a whole. In a personalized classroom, learning starts with the learner. Student voice and student choice is important in a personalized classroom. Students need to learn at their own pace and in their own way. A few ways that I would personalize the learning in my classroom would be having a few different spots in the classroom with different types of learning, to give them options. I would have computers, a group table where students could work together, a couch or a few chairs where students can sit comfortably and study as they would like, and possibly maybe an area where students could stand at tables and learn for themselves.
List and describe at least TWO (2) points that Sir Ken made in his speech that you agree with and describe why you agree.
Sir Ken mentioned passion. He says doing something isn’t about talent, but more about passion, and without passion you have nothing. If you’re doing something you love, hours seems like minutes. Passion is what’s important. Sir Ken also mentioned how we are obsessed with college, getting people to college, and some people are just not wanting to do that and we shouldn’t force them. He mentioned how one of his friends wanted to be a fireman and his teacher shamed him for it because he was putting his talent to waste and he told him he should attend college and become a professional man instead of wasting his life and his talent. So, I agree with Sir Ken. I believe that we should all do something that brings passion and excitement to our lives. We shouldn’t try to make everyone happy, it starts with ourselves.
Rita Pierson Video Questions
Why do kids dropout of school? Are Rita Pierson’s reasons accurate?
Rita mentions five reasons of why kids dropout of school. The reasons are poverty, low attendance, low peer influence, value, and lack of human relationships. I completely agree with Rita’s reasons. The first four reasons I mentioned are the main ones that people think of when they hear of a child dropping out of school. Rita mentions that relationships are the least thought about reason. According to her, relationships go a long way and are very important and I agree completely.
What is Rita’s point in her TED Talk video? Explain.
I think Rita’s point in her TED talk was to get across to her listeners that relationships are important and the least subject talked about when it comes to the reason why students drop out of school. She wants educators to know that they need to believe in their students and to connect with them on a real, human, personal level. There are going to be times when educators want to give up because it gets hard at times, because of the situations that educators will go through throughout the years, but it’s definitely not impossible.
Summary
I really enjoyed this lesson. I learn so much from watching the TED videos and I enjoy them thoroughly. They teach me so much. I also have never thought about personalized learning before, until this lesson and I think it’s a great idea for students to have a chance to learn on their own and in their own way instead of being forced to learn away that doesn’t help them learn.
Research Question
What are some strategies that educators can do to create a relationship with their students?
Reference: http://www.nea.org/tools/51057.htm
Research Analysis
In this article, there are five great ways that can be used by teachers to help them build that strong relationship with their students. I will start off by listing the five strategies, and then explain what each means. First: Become A Popular Teacher. Second: Get To Know Your Students. Third: Protect The Student’s Self-Esteem. Fourth: Build Goodwill On Good Days. Fifth: Listen To Students.
Become A Popular Teacher: Being a “popular” teacher shows students that you treat them the way that you want to be treated. You don’t show favoritism, and you will help them in any way possible. Offer positive reinforcement, being consistent, smiling, and listening to your students all help with building a positive relationship with your students.
Get To Know Your Students: Get to know your students as individuals. Find out their interests. Initiate conversation with them. Once you start having conversations with your students, they realize that you are interested in them, that you aren’t just a boring teacher. You want to build a friendship with them.
Protect The Student’s Self-Esteem: A student’s self-esteem must be protected. Students will do anything to protect their dignity, especially in front of their peers. If a student is misbehaving, try talking to them in private about their misbehavior instead of in front of their classmates. They are likely to respond better when no one is watching how they will respond.
Build Goodwill On Good Days: Take time to recognize the good behavior in the classroom as much as you do when your students are misbehaving in the classroom. Take time to appreciate and let your students know that you appreciate their good behavior.
Listen To Students: Taking time out of a day to listen to your student’s suggestions will show them that you care enough about them and respect their ideas. The only way to get feedback for your teaching is to listen to your students. Some of the best ideas come from your students.
Research Summary
I completely agree with my research. I believe that building that strong positive relationship with your students is the key to teaching. I think that some teachers overlook the relationship part and only think about their “job”, which is teaching students required material for tests. Teaching is so much more than teaching. It’s building lasting relationships.