Project 9-10 @ PMH

Have we missed something?

After visiting a talk by Will Richardson I have been pondering a number of thoughts about the current existence of education. I always love the time magazine example in 2006 which outlines the irony of education. The article outlines how Rip Van Winkle awakes from a 100 year nap to find himself consumed by a future he cannot recognize. However, to his comfort he finds refuge in the one place that is familiar to him and without change - the classroom.

This definitely highlights the irony of current education methods and emphasizes the need for innovation and critical evaluation. We start out as teachers wanting to change the world. Longing to inspire youth to make a difference and be a part of something special. However, many believe that due to the daily drain of classroom management teachers become stale and complacent. It is because of this that teachers continue to regurgitate worksheets, textbooks and rote learning on students, boring them to the point where they believe that this is the only way to learn.

But have we forgotten something? At he start how innovative, forward thinking and creative was that teacher. If i remember my first years I had a great deal of motivation but the only thing on my mind was survival. My idea of good classroom was an expression of what I had experienced as a student. Before too long I had joined this vicious cycle. Not drain cycle, but the reason why education has not changed in the last 100 years. I was just modeling the ways I was taught in classroom. I did know or think about important questions like: How do students learn? Are they learning from me? Will they retain what I am teaching? Do they have a passion for my subject?

I believe that if we are to make changes in education, we must break this cycle. It may be to hard to teach an old dog new tricks. But we cannot keep believing that young teachers are innovative, ICT literate and ready to transform eduction. They must be shaped, skilled and immersed in 21st century learning - then gain the experience to become the future of education.