Why school? by Richardson elaborates on the future of using technology in the classroom. He presents two views of the future of technology in school. First, there is the view of many people such as business leaders ("corporate reformers") who see technology as being used to essentially achieve the same sorts of goals as before, but faster and in more high tech ways. The emphasis would still be on measurable skills that can be tested and quantified and technology is focused on new methods of delivery. These reformers want to fire teachers who have poor performing students, deliver personalized content to students based on their needs via technology, and privatize schools. The other viewpoint which is being created by a wide range of educators, is based on "discovery" and technology being employed both inside and outside of the classroom. This method takes a progressivist and collaborative view of education. In this new method of education, school is not so much about learning per-determined information, as much as collaborating with peers, adding information to the global archive, doing real tasks that have a real world application and asking questions. And the learning isn't just local, it is global. This is the second type of reform way of doing school, and the one the author, Richardson, is clearly more in favor of.
In my own case, I think the second model, the "discovery" model sounds fantastic overall. I think it is the better model, and the model that we should move too. I think in the end, it is the most natural way of learning, when the learner takes the biggest interest in their own learning and success and has a say. However, I do think there is a lot of work to be done in order to make that vision a reality. Also, while I think a global focus is great--we want to be friends and colleagues with people from around the world in my opinion--aren't there people who have raised a concern that we aren't living locally enough anymore? For example, it is great to work on a project with someone from another country, but if you don't know 9/10's of your own neighbors on your street, isn't there a balance to be had?
One of Richardson's 6 unlearning strategies I would like to try to implement in the classroom more is the discovery rather than delivery method of teaching. I would like to move mostly to this method of learning but just simply have not mastered how to use it effectively. One of the 6 unlearning strategies I may struggle with, is talking to strangers in terms of opening a dialogue with those who are doing good work, who I do not already know. It is hard to approach someone for the first time, and I am not as good at it as I would like to be. However, I have done it before and can see the value in it.
In my own case, I think the second model, the "discovery" model sounds fantastic overall. I think it is the better model, and the model that we should move too. I think in the end, it is the most natural way of learning, when the learner takes the biggest interest in their own learning and success and has a say. However, I do think there is a lot of work to be done in order to make that vision a reality. Also, while I think a global focus is great--we want to be friends and colleagues with people from around the world in my opinion--aren't there people who have raised a concern that we aren't living locally enough anymore? For example, it is great to work on a project with someone from another country, but if you don't know 9/10's of your own neighbors on your street, isn't there a balance to be had?
One of Richardson's 6 unlearning strategies I would like to try to implement in the classroom more is the discovery rather than delivery method of teaching. I would like to move mostly to this method of learning but just simply have not mastered how to use it effectively. One of the 6 unlearning strategies I may struggle with, is talking to strangers in terms of opening a dialogue with those who are doing good work, who I do not already know. It is hard to approach someone for the first time, and I am not as good at it as I would like to be. However, I have done it before and can see the value in it.