Category: Uncategorized
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Multiple Intelligences need to be considered
in curricular design. And by that I mean the multiple intelligences of the learners and the curriculum designers. The theory of multiple intelligences put forth by Howard Gardner (1983) has been generally accepted by educators as a more accurate portrayal of human intelligence than the traditional, general intelligence theorized by proponents of the Stanford-Binet and…
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Knowing "how" and knowing "that"
In a robust curriculum, one finds at least two sorts of planned lessons: one that teaches students how to do something (process) and another that teaches them to express their content knowledge in un-prescribed, open-ended ways (expressive activities). In an English classroom, the writing process may be explicitly taught, so that students can express their…
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A Dewey-an, Progressive "Philosophy of Education"
The aim of education is to enable individuals to continue their education … (and) the object and reward of learning is continued capacity for growth.” –John Dewey What makes Homo sapiens sapiens distinct is the capacities of their relatively large brains. It is on nurturing the healthy growth and maximizing the productive potential of our…
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The President of the USA wants to talk to the students of the USA
And that’s causing all sorts of furor? I think I can explain this. Let us suppose that the initial lesson plan for following Barack’s speech tomorrow, the lesson plan that Arne Duncan said was “poorly worded” and that many Americans have reacted to so negatively, were still there. In that case, after hearing what is…
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So, I'm finally getting the chance to take a "blended" class
and so far, so mandatory. But that’s not a bad thing, necessarily. I bet that I learn a lot. My expectations were for something more exotic, I guess, but our prof had a lot to impart in a little time, it being only one of three occasions that would find the entire 12-strong class together.…
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Take heed, classroom teacher
Your days are numbered. One can see the evidence accumulate. This article in the NY Times backs up what Don Tapscott (1998) and this post of mine (and this, and this)have noted earlier: online learning may not merely be a substitute for, but actually superior to, conventional classroom education. The article says that it is…
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Here is where social networking is really dangerous
In World War II, there was a propaganda motto spread to the US population: “Loose lips sink ships.” Don’t go blabbing what you know about our military if you don’t want enemy spies finding out and using the information against our people. The artwork of propagandists is an example of effective visual communication. In 2009,…
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"But I don't want to keep up with my students after school hours!"
I can hear the self-righteous teachers union-members whining already, in response to this addition to my list of the ways we can improve instruction by use of social media— Twitter this time. According to this article by Susan Kinzie, progressive US educators are already taking advantage of social media to facilitate the very social act…
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Ten reasons Teachers should Tweet
British teacher Laura Walker makes a nice argument, adducing NINE reasons teachers should get onto Twitter. I want to add a tenth: 10. Twitter‘s the most efficient social medium available in terms of overall quality and sheer numerical quantity If teachers are to be able to use the literacy tool du jour–the pencil and pen,…
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Music Education = healthful intellectual steroid
A new study in the midwest sets out to measure what Nancy Flanagan and other champions of music and arts education have always claimed: students will learn better–derive measurable cognitive benefit–from music education. An observant high school instructor can tell within two weeks of the start of school which of his students have been or…
The Wikiness 