My Educational Philosophy

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In a nutshell Daniel and Eden-Lee (and all the gorgeous children I teach)

AIM HIGH, DREAM BIG!

Be principled, prosperous and reach your potential! (Thanks RSA)
All underpinned by excellent education, good values and positive self esteem!

Changing Education Paradigms

http://youtu.be/zDZFcDGpL4U

This is the most superb video by RSA that I have seen. RSA is a charitable organisation which encourages the development of a principled, prosperous society and the release of human potential.

BRILLIANT!

Social Media

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Education is always evolving to find the most efficient and culturally relevant ways to enlighten students. The power and versatility of social media has prompted many educators to experiment with it in the classroom.

Schools teaching a second language could consider using Skype to link each of their students with a native speaker in a different country to help them develop their language skills.

Below is a link to a YouTube video which explains Connectiveness (learning with social media) in the most creative and unique way. I originally found it on Darcy Moore's blog which is also worth a visit.
Darcymoore.net

The Importance of Belonging

The importance of belonging to adolescent children.


Recently I wrote about the importance of middle schools to create quality exciting extra curricula clubs and activities for the students in their care. I wrote how it can improve children's self esteem, give them a sense of belonging and even prevent bullying.

It is sometimes hard for adolescent children to understand and express themselves. They begin thinking that playing board games with their parents is babyish. Instead, they will be looking for new role models, be seeking affirmation from their peers and also want to learn new ideas and be challenged further. Joining a group such as a school club at this time will benefit them greatly.

Being with like-minded children who are going through this adjustment period will help children with their own adjustment.They should be encouraged to join these clubs, sporting teams or groups as it will help them enormously with their sense of belonging. Schools should be actively involved in creating these extra curricula activities for the students in their care.

Technology and Teenages

Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction
Published: November 21, 2010

An article written in the New York Times, titled Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction,(Nov 21 2010) has got me thinking....(Below are just a few quotes from the article that I found fascinating)

"Like Dr. Rich, he says he believes that young, developing brains are becoming habituated to distraction and to switching tasks, not to focus.

“If you’ve grown up processing multiple media, that’s exactly the mode you’re going to fall into when put in that environment — you develop a need for that stimulation,” he said."

"Sam Crocker, Vishal’s closest friend, who has straight A’s but lower SAT scores than he would like, blames the Internet’s distractions for his inability to finish either of his two summer reading books.

“I know I can read a book, but then I’m up and checking Facebook,” he says, adding: “Facebook is amazing because it feels like you’re doing something and you’re not doing anything. It’s the absence of doing something, but you feel gratified anyway.”

He concludes: “My attention span is getting worse.”



At the University of California, San Francisco, scientists have found that when rats have a new experience, like exploring an unfamiliar area, their brains show new patterns of activity. But only when the rats take a break from their exploration do they process those patterns in a way that seems to create a persistent memory.

In that vein, recent imaging studies of people have found that major cross sections of the brain become surprisingly active during downtime. These brain studies suggest to researchers that periods of rest are critical in allowing the brain to synthesize information, make connections between ideas and even develop the sense of self.

Researchers say these studies have particular implications for young people, whose brains have more trouble focusing and setting priorities.

“Downtime is to the brain what sleep is to the body,” said Dr. Rich of Harvard Medical School. “But kids are in a constant mode of stimulation.”

“The headline is: bring back boredom,” added Dr. Rich, who last month gave a speech to the American Academy of Pediatrics entitled, “Finding Huck Finn: Reclaiming Childhood from the River of Electronic Screens.”



Discuss.....

An Interdisciplinary Approach

In the previous post, I mention that students would benefit from an interdisciplinary approach to learning.

An Interdisciplinary Approach

A school that adopts an interdisciplinary approach focuses on 6 essential learning achievements. These are:

Uses a range of strategies to think and learn
• Thinking is the deliberate use of mental powers to form ideas, develop mental images and solve problems. Thinking calls upon perception, reasoning, logic, creativity and imagination.

Some ways to generate thinkers
• Taxonomies of thinking skills (e.g. Bloom’s taxonomy or the SOLO taxonomy)
• Multiple intelligence tools (e.g. Six thinking hats, CORT thinking)
• Mind or concept maps
• Problem solving models (e.g. SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats)

Understands and applies the inquiry process

• Seeks information and uses it to draw conclusions and generate new knowledge

Some ways to generate the inquiry process
• Clarifying and defining purpose and what information is likely to be needed
• Planning methods to collect it
• Developing preliminary hypotheses to be examined
• Assembling and evaluating information
• Communicating and justifying conclusions
• Understands the variations of the inquiry process used in particular disciplines (e.g. in historical research, scientific testing, mathematical analysis, critically interpretation in texts)

Makes considered decision

Some ways to generate the decision making process
• Restraining impulsiveness
• Gathering information
• Identifying the significance of decisions
• Weighing up consequences
• Justifying choices

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Acts with integrity and regard for others

• Integrity is about acting consistently with moral principles and ethics.

Some ways to generate integrity and regard for others
• Investigate real life situations where integrity is required to work with others
• Discuss why it is easier to act with conviction in some situations than others
• Identify the values and beliefs of role models who have acted with compassion and integrity and assess those against their own developing values and beliefs
• Explore and clarify personal and social values

Contributes to group effectiveness

Some ways to generate group effectiveness
• Develop the skills of teamwork, leadership and cooperation
• Develop the skills of communication, negotiation and conflict resolution
• Demonstrate mutual respect and support and learn how to balance commitment to personal needs and views with those of the group
• Recognise and value the different roles and contributions individuals can make in a group


Uses information and communication technologies effectively

Some ways to generate ICT
• Develop confidence and a sense of enjoyment in using ICT for different purposes
• Develop an attitude of openness to new ways of doing things
• Appreciate the responsibility, legal and ethical use of information by using ICT


Students of a school that adopts an interdisciplinary approach
• Become self-motivated learners
• Develop a positive attitude towards learning new things, including the use of ICT in creative ways
• Persevere when thinking through ideas, issues and problems
• Seek help when they need it
• Value creativity and imagination
• Become reflective about their thinking
• Appreciate and value the aspirations of others