Comments on: NCLB has been a destructive tragedy, not an accomplishment http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/01/12/nclb-has-been-a-destructive-tragedy-not-an-accomplishment/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:17:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Moving at the Speed of Creativity » Blog Archive » Developing blog post topics http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/01/12/nclb-has-been-a-destructive-tragedy-not-an-accomplishment/#comment-30409 Moving at the Speed of Creativity » Blog Archive » Developing blog post topics Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:03:28 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/01/12/nclb-has-been-a-destructive-tragedy-not-an-accomplishment/#comment-30409 [...] Issues and topics I’m passionate about. I suspect many of us do NOT live out our lives on a daily basis clearly focused on the things we find most important in life. Blogging helps me focus on issues I care about, and process what others are saying that influence my own views and even beliefs. I hope that in addition to focusing my attention on these “issues that matter,” my writing will positively influence others to do the same, or comment if they disagree or have a different view that will challenge my perspectives. Sometimes I blog to share a resource or instructional idea, but the posts I enjoy writing the most (and think may be the most important) are the ones I am moved by conviction and passion to write. A few examples are “Opposing ethnocentrism in schools and society,” “NCLB has been a destructive tragedy, not an accomplishment,” “Reservations about empowerment without accountability,” “Messy assessment instead of flogging with the standards,” and “Let’s fight for recess.” I think posts I put in my leadership and politics categories often follow this line of thinking. [...] [...] Issues and topics I’m passionate about. I suspect many of us do NOT live out our lives on a daily basis clearly focused on the things we find most important in life. Blogging helps me focus on issues I care about, and process what others are saying that influence my own views and even beliefs. I hope that in addition to focusing my attention on these “issues that matter,” my writing will positively influence others to do the same, or comment if they disagree or have a different view that will challenge my perspectives. Sometimes I blog to share a resource or instructional idea, but the posts I enjoy writing the most (and think may be the most important) are the ones I am moved by conviction and passion to write. A few examples are “Opposing ethnocentrism in schools and society,” “NCLB has been a destructive tragedy, not an accomplishment,” “Reservations about empowerment without accountability,” “Messy assessment instead of flogging with the standards,” and “Let’s fight for recess.” I think posts I put in my leadership and politics categories often follow this line of thinking. [...]

]]> By: Kyle Brumbaugh http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/01/12/nclb-has-been-a-destructive-tragedy-not-an-accomplishment/#comment-30282 Kyle Brumbaugh Sat, 13 Jan 2007 23:49:05 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/01/12/nclb-has-been-a-destructive-tragedy-not-an-accomplishment/#comment-30282 Do rigor and differentiated learning have to be mutually exclusive? I feel we can have a rigorous educational process that allows students to learn through the application and acquistion of skill. I understand the point that was made, but I just get the feeling that we are often times stuck in a dichotomy where the scores on standardized tests, because they are easy to quantify, are the sole measure of student achievement, yet we want students to be analytical problem solvers. After the events of the past week, I am even more convinced that we are entering a watershed year in education not because of technology per se, but because the fallacy of NCLB is on the brink of being exposed to everyone as a short sided, top down mandate, that does not recognize application, but rewards how well students memorize scripts. In 2007, the catch phrase is going to be 'transparency.' All of the things we do in schools will need to be transparent to students, their parents and our community. The one thing that technology does is that it facilitates transparency. What does technology do to make the educational proccess transparent? - It allows teachers to post their grade books online, so parents and students can work from a common point of reference. - It allows students to publish their work online for authentic assessment from all interested parties: teachers, other students, parents and the community as a whole. - It allows teachers, students and parents to work as a team to facilitate the academic achievement of each student. - It allows the school to take a more active role in the community and the community to take a more active role in the school. There are certainly more, but I think the point I am trying to make is that the current educational paradigm is about to be exposed as being short-sided and ineffective. In response, as educators, we need to develop a system that allows parents, teachers and students to work as a team to create structure that allows students to apply their knowledge in a sequential and increasingly complex way. Technology facilitates this process by making the entire educational system more transparent and accessble to all students and families. PS: Wesley... Great to be able to meet you face to face on Wednesday! Do rigor and differentiated learning have to be mutually exclusive? I feel we can have a rigorous educational process that allows students to learn through the application and acquistion of skill. I understand the point that was made, but I just get the feeling that we are often times stuck in a dichotomy where the scores on standardized tests, because they are easy to quantify, are the sole measure of student achievement, yet we want students to be analytical problem solvers.

After the events of the past week, I am even more convinced that we are entering a watershed year in education not because of technology per se, but because the fallacy of NCLB is on the brink of being exposed to everyone as a short sided, top down mandate, that does not recognize application, but rewards how well students memorize scripts. In 2007, the catch phrase is going to be ‘transparency.’ All of the things we do in schools will need to be transparent to students, their parents and our community. The one thing that technology does is that it facilitates transparency.

What does technology do to make the educational proccess transparent?
- It allows teachers to post their grade books online, so parents and students can work from a common point of reference.
- It allows students to publish their work online for authentic assessment from all interested parties: teachers, other students, parents and the community as a whole.
- It allows teachers, students and parents to work as a team to facilitate the academic achievement of each student.
- It allows the school to take a more active role in the community and the community to take a more active role in the school.

There are certainly more, but I think the point I am trying to make is that the current educational paradigm is about to be exposed as being short-sided and ineffective. In response, as educators, we need to develop a system that allows parents, teachers and students to work as a team to create structure that allows students to apply their knowledge in a sequential and increasingly complex way. Technology facilitates this process by making the entire educational system more transparent and accessble to all students and families.

PS: Wesley… Great to be able to meet you face to face on Wednesday!

]]> By: Joel Rainbow http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/01/12/nclb-has-been-a-destructive-tragedy-not-an-accomplishment/#comment-30281 Joel Rainbow Sat, 13 Jan 2007 23:36:45 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/01/12/nclb-has-been-a-destructive-tragedy-not-an-accomplishment/#comment-30281 Fantastic! Thank you for stating so clearly the argument made by many. As a teacher I have seen the power of inquiry-based learning (IBL) with my students. Now about 20 months away from a doctorate in education, specializing in IBL, I hope to convince others of its effectiveness. Your post makes a powerful call for effective leadership. Fantastic! Thank you for stating so clearly the argument made by many. As a teacher I have seen the power of inquiry-based learning (IBL) with my students. Now about 20 months away from a doctorate in education, specializing in IBL, I hope to convince others of its effectiveness. Your post makes a powerful call for effective leadership.

]]> By: Sarah Mcintosh Puglisi http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/01/12/nclb-has-been-a-destructive-tragedy-not-an-accomplishment/#comment-30280 Sarah Mcintosh Puglisi Sat, 13 Jan 2007 19:12:44 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/01/12/nclb-has-been-a-destructive-tragedy-not-an-accomplishment/#comment-30280 What a beautiful post. Absolutely correct. You get so down, I do, teaching like this you just lift up your voice in silent scream. How can bureaucracy be so removed from the lives and schools of the poor. This I cannot understand. What a beautiful post. Absolutely correct. You get so down, I do, teaching like this you just lift up your voice in silent scream. How can bureaucracy be so removed from the lives and schools of the poor. This I cannot understand.

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