Comments on: Considering Education

By: phaedrus » Blog Archive » Monica’s Comment

phaedrus » Blog Archive » Monica’s Comment — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:15:56 +0000

[...] of the comments on my earlier post deserves some attention: Considering Education Education, I think is often seen as formal instruction, and learning as something that can be [...]

By: Kim Clevinger

Kim Clevinger — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:17:01 +0000

I think that Monica described the relationship between education and learning very well — “Education, I think is often seen as formal instruction, and learning as something that can be concretely measured”. When we think of education we think of a general type of term - a level of learning (such as a high school education or a college education) or a formal type of instruction. When we think of learning we might think of what we gain, which can be measured concretely (for example by a pre test and post test). So, yes I feel there is a direct relationship between education and learning. We learn by getting an education.

Learning in the school setting can be measured in a number of ways, and should be measured. We need to be able to “see” what children have learned from a particular unit/lesson of study. We want to be sure our children are working towards mastery of a particular topic.

I think that the relationship between education and learning real. We go to an institution for learning to take place and I think that all children learn something–not everything you try to teach them–but they all learn (of course, at different levels).

By: monica

monica — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:51:31 +0000

Education, I think is often seen as formal instruction, and learning as something that can be concretely measured. I think the variable that we neglect is the individual learner’s schema. How does what I am teaching connect to the particular learner? Once, I was doing reading intervention with a child on a story about a child who had moved into an apartment with an elevator. He had a ‘comprehension breakdown’ and did not seem to understand the story. In an attempt to stimulate his background knowledge, I asked him about his experiences with elevators. He told me he had never been on one “because my dad is afraid of them” This child was not trying to process the story as I wanted him to - he was trying to understand why the child in the story was so excited by having an elevator in the buildingl. This child was learning (adding to his knowledge of the world) even though it was not what I was expecting him to learn.

Another point that we miss in our schools is building the love of learning for our kids. I will never be able to teach all that a child needs to know about any given topic, but if I am able to spark and interest in that topic AND I give him the tools to pursue learing independently, then his potential to learn is unbounded. I regret not being able to follow the curiosoities of the children in my classroom, but as others have mentioned we are so curriculum driven that I would be percieved as not doing my job if I spend any time doing any thing that I cannot tic off the Core Content for my grade level.

By: Shonda Ash

Shonda Ash — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 22:12:22 +0000

I read so very good points in the comments of my classmates. Education encompasses many different ideas, theories, and strategies. As educators it is our responsibility to find the combinations that meets the needs of the students. So in other words education is the same as providing others with the information, skills, and knowledge they need to better themselves and to discover things on their own. Also the testing topic tends to bring out strong opinions from many people. I’ll be the first to admit to having strong opinions about test. I don’t like that the method of testing is the same for every child and every subject. The tests do not allow for different learning styles and they don’t take into consideration best ways to demonstrate different subjects. Take my favorite subject “math” there are many areas in math that it is more important that the students understand how to do things then it is for them to get the right answer. So I’m a strong believer that the students need to demonstrate and understanding of the processes.

By: Jacqulyn Eldridge Parsons

Jacqulyn Eldridge Parsons — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:11:08 +0000

I agree with both Amy and Carla. Teachers are suppose to help students learn or educate them. It is hard due to the fact that we are teaching to the test any more. I am a new teacher and at times I have been told that we only teach what is on the test or I have to test them in ways that will be similar to the test. How is that really educating the next generation? They will not be tested in this format in the future. They will be using skills and knowledge retained from our classes to work in a job setting, whether it be a custodian or a doctor or etc. A doctor isn’t tested with multiple choice questions and open response/on demand writings. Their knowledge is tested through their actions and their work. So I agree it is getting harder to be the person responsible for teaching those students everything they need to know before heading out into the world when they are only taught to answer questions with an A, B, C, D, or sometimes E response. So what are we as teachers? Are we educators and responsible for everything each student is to know before heading out into the real world?

By: Elizabeth Freeman

Elizabeth Freeman — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:31:29 +0000

I think that learning is dependent upon education/educators and education is dependent upon ones learning ability, apptitude, desire, etc. Education should be directed in a way so that it meets all students needs (even though this task can be difficult) thus making sure that all students are learning to the best of their ability. In my class I teach one concept several different ways to appeal to all modalities. We can measure a students education/learning through observations, discussions, tests, and interactions. If I ask a student to add 2+2 and they give me an off the wall response then I have a problem. As some point there was lack of communication in the education of this student and thus their learning of the content was obstructed. I do think that we need to measure to keep us as teachers on track as well as the students. If I assess my students and several of them do not grasp the concept then I know that I need to approach the content in a different manner. If a student is not understanding the education approach that is presented to them then they will not learn. I think that a variety of tests need to be offered on any given content area to make sure that artifical results are not possible.
On another note from the posting I think that education should be preparing the next generation for their place in society, but I think that it fails at times. For example, just academically preparing a student for college is not enough-they need to be prepared to handle the pressure of society and have the independent skills necessary to make good decisions. I think that edication and learning should extend beyond book knowledge.

By: Ashley Pelfrey

Ashley Pelfrey — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:27:50 +0000

I see two different worlds when I think about what education is compared to what we want it to be, or “Education Real” and “Education Ideal.” I think that along the way of molding the next generation by inspiring them, we have become more that teachers. I often feel like a baby sitter trying to keep students quiet and seated, because as was mentioned, classroom management is so important. I have often though that we have lost focus on what is really important. Will test scores really matter to students when they are looking for a job or trying to make it in the real world? Probably not.

I really want to say something really inspirational about education and its definition, but I think that we are moving farther away from what education should bem which is preparing students for the real world.

By: Amy Howard

Amy Howard — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:32:32 +0000

I feel that education is the process we use to motivate students to require knowledge. How we do that depends on the individual student’s needs. Students need to be motivated and want to learn before we can teach them. There are many different methods and philosophies to teach students and as an educator we have to cater to all these needs. The way we see success in these students is through different types of assessments. Are we evaluated on test scores? I think yes. I had a PD over the summer and they talked about the importance of making tests in class the same format as the state test. These way students will be use to this form of testing and do better. I heard about resources that test designers pulled from to make questions and so on. I didn’t hear anything about what excites individual children or how to find many ways to test. I understand testing is important to see if we are doing our job, but why can’t we test in a way that the child can express their knowledge. If they learn how to add 2+2 by only showing me with counters, isn’t that still correct.

By: carla

carla — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:49:50 +0000

Keep in mind, when you read this I hope not to offend anyone.
I love the ideal of “we’re preparing the next generations to take their rightful place as productive members of society.” In reality we are not. Students are not held accountable for their actions, grades, or test scores; the teachers are. IEP’s have made students less responsible therefore making educating them harder. When they have no conquences, they do not perform. As an adult, I react to conquences so why don’t students have some.
Some students are not going to college; learning how to mop, sweep, clean will be some of their professions. That is not a negative thing. What would our world be like with out our custodians. Yuck! (Much respect..many thanks)
As far as education, I am a way to try to teach students to think, connect and understand the topic. What some think is important, others do not. As a student, this class is supposed to teach “inform” me of new ways to do things. I did not see a ‘test’ on the syllabus so Dr. Lowell will assess my learning by other means. We all as teachers may need to do this.
I have rambled so I hope I have answered the question.

By: phaedrus » Blog Archive » The E-word

phaedrus » Blog Archive » The E-word — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:39:22 +0000

[...] Yesterday we thought about the concept of “Distance.” (Well, I did anyway. Your voices were conspicuously absent from that consideration.) Today I want to take up the idea of “Education.” See Considering Education. [...]