Jealous…

Found this film via a tweet from Michael Walker

March 22, 2011 Uncategorized

Keishla Ceaser-Jones says:

March 23, 2011 at 12:26 am

I teach AP World History at a large suburban high school in Houston, Texas. I constantly struggle against the requirements from upon high and the desire to create true learners and thinkers in my classroom. It stung a bit when the young lady in the video said that many teachers don’t “inspire” students. I wish she knew that many teachers wished they had an “Independent Project” of their own. I wish that I was trusted to teach my curriculum like the professional that I am should be able to. But the power of standardization is strong.

I know many people think student can just be let loose and can run it themselves, and for the greater extent, I agree. But these students definitely have a certain level of skill sets that must contribute to that level of focused autonomy. I don’t see how it can be replicated on a large scale…mostly because I don’t see the powers that be “letting go.” I am also curious how such a program is reflected on transcripts…how does it “meet state requirements?” I mean…I live in Texas…the home of STANDARDIZATION.

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- Paul Bogush says:
  
  March 23, 2011 at 6:32 am
  
  The STANDARDIZATION that Texas inspires does trickle our way…ugg.
  
  I know that the AP curriculum is set in stone, but I have started to think more carefully about how to do an “Independent Project” style class next year within my curriculum. A step beyond project based learning. I agree that these students had something special that allowed them to be autonomous from the start, but I think all kids have it, some just need more nurturing to get back to it. I think if I started the year with this style with no coaching, just “go,” I would be lucky to have 3% of the kids who would do something with the opportunity. Even in years past when there was more freedom, I could usually get about 80% of the kids to this point by the last month of school. Gone are the days when during the last month I could tell the kids to work on their own independent project as long as we could somehow connect it to “social studies.”
  
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  - Keishla Ceaser-Jones says:
    
    March 24, 2011 at 12:45 am
    
    First, I apologize for the not so cool things that come out of Texas…We struggle against it here.
    
    I do have more opportunities for autonomy with AP, but the issue is that sheer amount of content that must be covered on top of the skills. I have created opportunities for student driven projects that relate to the content, but it’s still nothing like this project. I also think that it is a lot easier for this school district with one high school to do this. I live in a district with 10 high schools…this could be an issue that many were deem “equity” and “fairness.” But I am seriously intrigued.
    
    Thanks for sharing.
    
    Reply
- Paul Bogush says:
  
  March 24, 2011 at 6:28 am
  
  Hmmm…did not think of the “fairness” issue. We are currently in a situation in which they are trying to get every kid in the district to get the “same experience.” Can’t suggest a great idea if it is one teacher…one team…or even one school…unless every kid can do it.
  
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Keishla Ceaser-Jones says:

March 25, 2011 at 8:36 pm

Here’s the question…if we are trying to get to the point that we are reaching kids where they are…is every “great idea” FOR every student?

I mean, will every kid thrive in the independent project? Is it possible that the very model of education that we have right now in some ways works for some kids?

I am wary of tossing the model completely….it can’t be all bad. But I think that things have gotten to be so regulated that teachers don’t feel that they have the support to be innovative. I mean, let’s be real…we see these examples of teachers doing these amazing things, and we prop them up as banners to follow. But really, if every teacher was being this innovative in every classroom….I wonder if the “powers that be” would accept that? And let’s be honest….not every teacher’s brain works that way. I appreciate the talents that my colleagues bring to the table that are different than mine. They help me see my blind spots. I mean…this independent project may not be ALL THAT in every way. But we are so intently looking for that MAGIC BULLET…that CURE for what ails education. Personally, there’s no such thing. First of all, I don’t think the education is a “sick” as we are led to believe. And even the best cures have the worst side effects (just listen to the disclaimers on these medical commercials….some of the side effects are downright scary!) So I think that we look at what the Independent Project, or Flipped Classroom, or whatever is the great new thing is, and we give teachers the freedom and autonomy to be the professionals that most of them are and they we want them to be. Instead of just talking about accountability for teachers, give teachers the sense of freedom and purpose that comes with the task at hand.

Thanks for the dialogue.

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Mike Kaechele says:

March 27, 2011 at 9:44 pm

Thanks for sharing this Paul. I am thinking about how this could apply to my new job.

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Week 7 Reflection (JEALOUS…) | Pavel Martinez says:

April 30, 2013 at 3:53 am

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Jealous…

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