Looking at the assignments taught in th Buffalo school district, I see that the administrators are finally getting the picture. So much can be taught through using different types of media; it's almost getting easier and is definitely more interesting than traditional essay/ditto learning. What is even better than using different media solutions is that even the assignments are online!
I just watched a video done by a student named Mitchell Vasquez. The actors were very unprofessional, laughing in almost every scene. The director obviously has no idea what he was doing, the lighting is terrible and the wardrobes were horrendous...But other than that I thought it was an excellent alternative to the traditional institutions of education. Instead of writing an essay about the Third Reich or making a boring Powerpoint about the Fuehrer, they used some real creativity that I wish I had the opportunity to employ when I was in middle school.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Differentiations
Perusing the friendly confines of Renee Hobbs' Reading the Media, I stumbled upon Chapter Five, a chapter discussing the representation of different genders and opinions through the media. One of the first things that struck out to me was this line: "All media texts are 're-presentations' of reality" (74). One may not think of the media as such, but everything you read or see or listen to is an attempt from someone to influence your thinking or perception about a certain topic. This can be a real 1984 thought if you are one to give into conspiracy theory, but for the sane it brings to realization a sobering thought. Even now I am listening to Metallica sing about faded rock stars. On the surface, it doesn't mean much but when I really look into it, Papa Het is warning me not to take fame for granted and that even those that are great will indeed fade. Enter Percy Bysshe Shelley's Ozymandias here ("My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings, / Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!" (10-11)).
The point of that last passage, other than referencing a pretty sweet poem, is that everything we read is telling us something and even something as 'brainless' as a Metallica song (which is something I most certainly would not agree with) can have the relevance of a poem by a revered author such as Shelley (take your pick as to which one).
Speaking of which, Hobbs also talks about Frankenstein and the media's portrayal of the oft-misunderstood creature. If you have taken ENG 356 with Dr. Alwes, you may have read Frankenstein and if you did, you have seen her Frankenberry box. Being a child in the 90's, I most certainly have consumed a box or two and laughed at the silly monster on the box. And like most people that had never read Frankenstein, I was expecting to hear Mad Scientist Dr. Frankenstein summon Igor and shout It's ALIVE! But alas, I was surprised to see that the creature was not some beast under the control of Victor, but so repulsive that Victor was sick for months after his creation. In the book, I honestly felt bad for the monster; what kind of life can you lead when you are hated by everyone- especially the one who created you? Anyway, when they made the movies, they took an excellent story and made it into something that would make money; the bane of everything good in the world. Apologies for my tangential rantings, I have a point buried here somewhere. What I am trying to say is that Shelley used the Monster and his birth to be symbols whereas Hollywood used them as cash cows. Sometimes beautiful ideas are woefully misrepresented and sadly most people will never know the author's true intentions.
The point of that last passage, other than referencing a pretty sweet poem, is that everything we read is telling us something and even something as 'brainless' as a Metallica song (which is something I most certainly would not agree with) can have the relevance of a poem by a revered author such as Shelley (take your pick as to which one).
Speaking of which, Hobbs also talks about Frankenstein and the media's portrayal of the oft-misunderstood creature. If you have taken ENG 356 with Dr. Alwes, you may have read Frankenstein and if you did, you have seen her Frankenberry box. Being a child in the 90's, I most certainly have consumed a box or two and laughed at the silly monster on the box. And like most people that had never read Frankenstein, I was expecting to hear Mad Scientist Dr. Frankenstein summon Igor and shout It's ALIVE! But alas, I was surprised to see that the creature was not some beast under the control of Victor, but so repulsive that Victor was sick for months after his creation. In the book, I honestly felt bad for the monster; what kind of life can you lead when you are hated by everyone- especially the one who created you? Anyway, when they made the movies, they took an excellent story and made it into something that would make money; the bane of everything good in the world. Apologies for my tangential rantings, I have a point buried here somewhere. What I am trying to say is that Shelley used the Monster and his birth to be symbols whereas Hollywood used them as cash cows. Sometimes beautiful ideas are woefully misrepresented and sadly most people will never know the author's true intentions.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
This post is about the future of education. First to the plate is Robert Epstein. Epstein's commentary talks about competency based learning, something clearly evident in the Alternative Schools; something I think that should be the future of education. He mentions his own son: he is fifteen and very "mature" for his age. This then leads into the discussion of why he isn't allowed to drive a car or vote or do other "adult" things, simply because he is only fifteen years old. From here he displays the history of child labor and education laws in the US which can be summed up with this: in the beginning there was no mandate that required kids to go to high school if they could prove they knew the material (competency) but because of all the poor starving immigrants and the Great Depression the wanted jobs for 'grown ups' so they started forcing kids to go to school.
Although Epstein doesn't exactly promote the idea of abolishing high school, he realizes that something has to change. Kids in other nations where there is no federally regulated education systems essentially have no teenage angst. But think about it; there is so much going on in a teenager's life, especially in America and especially when the rigors and demands of school are implemented. He mentions in one part that it is unfair to cram an entire education into twenty years of one's life; that we should be learning throughout our lives and the Internet makes this possible. This sounds vaguely familiar, I wonder where I've heard this...
In the Baltimore County Public School system, they now have an on-demand video service used throughout the entire district. Teachers work together to create curriculums. This collaboration is exactly what needs to happen for students to be fully engaged. If all of the teachers are on the same wavelength, then that will help streamline the student's own educational experience. This is also good news because everyone knows that all students learn differently; so to implement a school wide visual-learning based program, it will only compliment the lesson plans and encourage those students who are not reading/aural based learners to become more engaged.
The Technorati report reports that there are now 70 million blogs worldwide, 1.7 million posts per day (make that 1.7000,001), and over 120,000 new blogs a day. What does this mean? This means that people are becoming connected. They realize that they have something to say and are hoping that people will read what they write. People are becoming contributors to the machine; they are creating content that they want others to notice.
What does this all mean? That people, mainly educators but not excluded to, are realizing the benefits of our current technologies. In Baltimore, they realize that students will become the beneficiaries of a school wide video service. Epstein realizes that students shouldn't be forced to learn everything they need in life in two decades, we have the technology (and wikipedia) to make education a life long experience. The excess blogging shows that people are using technology to express themselves in ways that only diaries had seen before (and honestly, it's one thing to admit that you have a blog, but no one will 'fess up to owning a diary). Technology is the base of tomorrow's enlightenment.
Are you pumped?
Although Epstein doesn't exactly promote the idea of abolishing high school, he realizes that something has to change. Kids in other nations where there is no federally regulated education systems essentially have no teenage angst. But think about it; there is so much going on in a teenager's life, especially in America and especially when the rigors and demands of school are implemented. He mentions in one part that it is unfair to cram an entire education into twenty years of one's life; that we should be learning throughout our lives and the Internet makes this possible. This sounds vaguely familiar, I wonder where I've heard this...
In the Baltimore County Public School system, they now have an on-demand video service used throughout the entire district. Teachers work together to create curriculums. This collaboration is exactly what needs to happen for students to be fully engaged. If all of the teachers are on the same wavelength, then that will help streamline the student's own educational experience. This is also good news because everyone knows that all students learn differently; so to implement a school wide visual-learning based program, it will only compliment the lesson plans and encourage those students who are not reading/aural based learners to become more engaged.
The Technorati report reports that there are now 70 million blogs worldwide, 1.7 million posts per day (make that 1.7000,001), and over 120,000 new blogs a day. What does this mean? This means that people are becoming connected. They realize that they have something to say and are hoping that people will read what they write. People are becoming contributors to the machine; they are creating content that they want others to notice.
What does this all mean? That people, mainly educators but not excluded to, are realizing the benefits of our current technologies. In Baltimore, they realize that students will become the beneficiaries of a school wide video service. Epstein realizes that students shouldn't be forced to learn everything they need in life in two decades, we have the technology (and wikipedia) to make education a life long experience. The excess blogging shows that people are using technology to express themselves in ways that only diaries had seen before (and honestly, it's one thing to admit that you have a blog, but no one will 'fess up to owning a diary). Technology is the base of tomorrow's enlightenment.
Are you pumped?
Friday, April 20, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Oh Mylanta
Call me a loser, but I spent most of my snow day reading stories by H.P. Lovecraft. One of the essential horror writers in early 20th century American Literature (think Edgar Allen Poe but with it's own mythology) Pretty incredible stuff, I might say. But anyway, I was looking up the stories on wikipedia, you know, to gain extra insight and analysis and I happened to stumble upon wikisource. Are you sitting down?
Wikisource is a compilation of literature across the annals of time. Want to read Dracula but are snowed in and can't get to the library? BAM. It's there. In it's entirety. Completely free. Lord knows what would compel you, but if you wanted to read the original version of The Canterbury Tales and don't have your handy Norton's English Literature Volume One on hand? Money in the bank.
Now normally this is something I wouldn't exactly share with my 'homies' so to say, but I can safely assume that since lovers of English are my predominate readership I think this is a handy tool; for if you are looking to peruse through some poetry or need to find a reference for some paper you are writing, this is an essential and invaluable resource that I am extremely surprised that I hadn't stumbled upon before. Similar to the previous references of the free education supplied by the likes of MIT, people in charge of technology are starting to get the hint: if you don't make it free and available on the internet, people will just have to steal it.
Or I guess technically you could visit your local, friendly library but memberships are just really expensive and it would require you to go somewhere, where wikisource is just oh so convenient.
Wikisource is a compilation of literature across the annals of time. Want to read Dracula but are snowed in and can't get to the library? BAM. It's there. In it's entirety. Completely free. Lord knows what would compel you, but if you wanted to read the original version of The Canterbury Tales and don't have your handy Norton's English Literature Volume One on hand? Money in the bank.
Now normally this is something I wouldn't exactly share with my 'homies' so to say, but I can safely assume that since lovers of English are my predominate readership I think this is a handy tool; for if you are looking to peruse through some poetry or need to find a reference for some paper you are writing, this is an essential and invaluable resource that I am extremely surprised that I hadn't stumbled upon before. Similar to the previous references of the free education supplied by the likes of MIT, people in charge of technology are starting to get the hint: if you don't make it free and available on the internet, people will just have to steal it.
Or I guess technically you could visit your local, friendly library but memberships are just really expensive and it would require you to go somewhere, where wikisource is just oh so convenient.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Hmm
Apparently, people are controlled by their television. The show "The Office" had someone on there using wikipedia and now wikipedia has had to stop new people from entering content. Masses of people flocked to the site to add their decidedly less than two cents on what they will. I personally think it's pathetic that people are now travelling to wikipedia just because it was on a television show.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Tomorrow I am Eating a Breakfast of Champions
I just saw this tonight. Not that I was a personal friend or anything, but I feel a little saddened because I found out that Kurt Vonnegut, authors of two of my favorite books, passed away tonight. Here's the complete article. If you haven't read any of his works, do yourself a favor and borrow "Slaughterhouse Five" from the library or a friend. It's truly an amazing work of literature; it combines satire, humor, science fiction and even time travel in a humorous but ultimately sobering look at the effects of war. Another book that I've read of his was "Breakfast of Champions". It was slightly less cohesive, but still an entertaining and biting satire. So yeah, do yourself a favor and read his books, or at least check him out on wikipedia; it's almost as good as the real thing.
No Trees Were Harmed In The Making of This Blog.
In the O'Brien Chapter, in the beginning he says this: "When students perceived that they were successful, and they could set personally relevant goals and see that they were improving, they would read and write more, build fluency, and decide to perservere, even on tasks that they perceived as being difficult" (30). This rings true for us in 307. Being somewhat comfortable with computers throughout my lifetime, I was never hesitant about using new technologies, but I believe I have heard my classmates (in the beginning of the semester) talk about being apprehensive about using new technology. And now look at us. We have no problem learning and operating new tools that can be used to benefit our own eduation. I look at myself. I was not really comfortable with having all of my words on public display and now I am comfortable, even facetious at times. The same can be said for the students at Lafayette Jefferson. O'Brien talks about how "Youth and adolescents navigate in and out of" the 'media-centric' world all the time, yet they need to realize that this literacy is essential for students in today's crazy world.
I feel like I've heard this somewhere before. No? Alright, I guess it's just deja vu. Must've been in an episode of The Sopranos or something.
What I am coming to realize is that slowly and surely people in academia are realizing that print centered learning, while still important, is not the keystone anymore. Students are not engaged like they used to be with books, they have television. iPods. Cell phones with the internet. They realize that the important watermark for literacy is no longer if they can understand To Kill A Mockingbird but if they explain it to their buddy who is struggling through instant messanger. Being literate through alternate forms of media is obviously essential, hopefully the rest of the world catches up before they are left behind.
I feel like I've heard this somewhere before. No? Alright, I guess it's just deja vu. Must've been in an episode of The Sopranos or something.
What I am coming to realize is that slowly and surely people in academia are realizing that print centered learning, while still important, is not the keystone anymore. Students are not engaged like they used to be with books, they have television. iPods. Cell phones with the internet. They realize that the important watermark for literacy is no longer if they can understand To Kill A Mockingbird but if they explain it to their buddy who is struggling through instant messanger. Being literate through alternate forms of media is obviously essential, hopefully the rest of the world catches up before they are left behind.
Ha...sorry if anyone got excited...
As the title suggests, there have been some major changes to our graphic novel. We decided that because of the limited space and time frame for the assignment, my project, in all of it's grandeur, breadth, scope and absolute mastery, simply would not work with what we want to do. So I am taking my idea back and will use it for a novel or short story for some place in the future. I am sorry.
Instead, you are going to get something very scholarly. Namely, a Shakespeare translation!
We (Phil andI) were bombing ideas around and somehow landed on the idea of doing a translation. Mainly because there is a killer scene from Hamlet that will work perfectly for what we want to do corroboratively. Strangely enough, Phil has yet to read Hamlet. But you know what, some people still think that the Wayans Brothers are funny. Likewise, the same people think that the common public want to see movies where they super-impose grown up faces onto an infant's and therefor, the common man will think its be funny. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, indeed.
I forgot to post about the last project, the now infamous Burn 'em and Turn 'em. Well, maybe not infamous but hopefully nefarious or even gregarious would work. At any rate, I enjoyed working on this project immensely. If you want the specifics on the project, check out Phil's blog. To me the benefit of a project like this is that everyone has a say. If one person dominates what happens then people's feelings are going to get hurt. During our project, everyone had good ideas and everyone had bad ideas. We decided together as a group. And as I've said before, I like the movie because it shows that learning is more than just books and boring documentaries; it can be produced and be entertaining. Granted, I am sure it would be more enlightening to know where Area 51 really is, but we had a good time working together and creating content for others to share.
Oh by the way, it's on Youtube.
Get cultured.
Instead, you are going to get something very scholarly. Namely, a Shakespeare translation!
We (Phil andI) were bombing ideas around and somehow landed on the idea of doing a translation. Mainly because there is a killer scene from Hamlet that will work perfectly for what we want to do corroboratively. Strangely enough, Phil has yet to read Hamlet. But you know what, some people still think that the Wayans Brothers are funny. Likewise, the same people think that the common public want to see movies where they super-impose grown up faces onto an infant's and therefor, the common man will think its be funny. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, indeed.
I forgot to post about the last project, the now infamous Burn 'em and Turn 'em. Well, maybe not infamous but hopefully nefarious or even gregarious would work. At any rate, I enjoyed working on this project immensely. If you want the specifics on the project, check out Phil's blog. To me the benefit of a project like this is that everyone has a say. If one person dominates what happens then people's feelings are going to get hurt. During our project, everyone had good ideas and everyone had bad ideas. We decided together as a group. And as I've said before, I like the movie because it shows that learning is more than just books and boring documentaries; it can be produced and be entertaining. Granted, I am sure it would be more enlightening to know where Area 51 really is, but we had a good time working together and creating content for others to share.
Oh by the way, it's on Youtube.
Get cultured.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
It's Lonely on Top...
For the third block project, Phil and I are going to create a comic. More like a graphic novel. We are planning on using similar techniques that Kaitlin, Theresea and Jon used in their ComicLife project. We are still going to use ComicLife and use the pictures, but that is where the similarities end. Ours is going to have an actual story line and from our initial brainstorming at the Neub (while I was working) I think it's going to rather serious. See, when I think about making a comic for a class project, I don't think about it like it is some fluff piece. I think about it as an avenue for students who may not be articulate enough to write a short story, but still have ideas that they would like to convey. The idea that I had, and I think we might go with it, or at least work with, is based on an Old Spice commercial.
I know what you are thinking. This can't be good.
But if you watch a lot of TV or have a good memory, you may recall sometime last semester (and they could still be on) the commercial where there was one lone male surrounded by a world of women. But because he didn't wear Old Spice he stunk like a dumpster and no female would approach him. Silly I know, but somewhere deep down inside the gears started turning.
What happened if you really were the only man left on Earth?
I am sure for most women, this would not be a terrible thing.
But think about it. If there was one man left on Earth, whether it be due to violence or disease, he is responsible for an entire race of people.
Let me repeat that.
The entire human race. Homo sapien is your responsibility. And what is more pressing, say to a man who was hurt by society, or by someone he loved.
Would you sustain the population? With all the degradation of morality, corruption, greed and just generally terrible things that human beings do to each other, is the world worth saving?
Now before you call the suicide hotline on me, this was a short story I was planning on writing sometime in my career, I may still so don't go copping any of my ideas. I don't know how it's going to end, who the characters are, how society is, the time period or anything like that. All I know is that this is a possible idea but no matter what Phil and I choose to do is going to be good, guaranteed.
If you liked our movie you have no idea what's ahead.
I know what you are thinking. This can't be good.
But if you watch a lot of TV or have a good memory, you may recall sometime last semester (and they could still be on) the commercial where there was one lone male surrounded by a world of women. But because he didn't wear Old Spice he stunk like a dumpster and no female would approach him. Silly I know, but somewhere deep down inside the gears started turning.
What happened if you really were the only man left on Earth?
I am sure for most women, this would not be a terrible thing.
But think about it. If there was one man left on Earth, whether it be due to violence or disease, he is responsible for an entire race of people.
Let me repeat that.
The entire human race. Homo sapien is your responsibility. And what is more pressing, say to a man who was hurt by society, or by someone he loved.
Would you sustain the population? With all the degradation of morality, corruption, greed and just generally terrible things that human beings do to each other, is the world worth saving?
Now before you call the suicide hotline on me, this was a short story I was planning on writing sometime in my career, I may still so don't go copping any of my ideas. I don't know how it's going to end, who the characters are, how society is, the time period or anything like that. All I know is that this is a possible idea but no matter what Phil and I choose to do is going to be good, guaranteed.
If you liked our movie you have no idea what's ahead.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Some people are smart cookies, while some...well let's just call them falafels.
Reading the lengthy chat session, we were asked to see who essentially "got it" and who were a couple minutes late to class. My first example is someone who didn't exactly get to the loading dock on time:
Andrew Schultz, ITE Supervisor:
Why do you, "Education Week", et al, persist in calling digital technology, "technology"? It is inaccurate and distorts the public's perception. The word "technology" is obviously much, much broader and more consequential than the narrow spectrum of silicon-based stuff. Technology really encompasses all human-made tools, and techniques and this begins in pre-history 100,000 years ago. To use this term so casually and inaccurately seems almost defiantly ignorant.
Well hot dog.
Look at who is ignorant here. Isn't digital technology encompassed in the overall technology? And if that is the case (which it is) then he is clearly contradicting himself. This person does not get it. Instead of trying to contribute to the discussion with helpful, meaningful questions he is attempting to hinder the progress of those trying to obtain knowledge.
On the other hand, the woman below him, Susan Victor, does indeed get it. She asks questions that are extremely relevant to what we have been reading and discussing, what is the greatest roadblock in regards to technology? The monetary gap or the lack of knowledge on the sides of the administrators, regarding the technology? The answer given by the staff writer, answers that as more teachers are becoming accustomed to using computer technology in the classroom, that more problems arise with regards to valid information (i.e. see my earlier post on Sinbad). These are the types of questions that will help people like myself understand the problems and concerns that teachers today are faced with on a daily basis.
Another lady who gets it is Ms. LaTonya S. Garner. She asked the question about the technology grants for her elementary students. I applaud the fact that she is concerned with having her students comfortable with new technology, for it only gets more complicated from here.
Andrew Schultz, ITE Supervisor:
Why do you, "Education Week", et al, persist in calling digital technology, "technology"? It is inaccurate and distorts the public's perception. The word "technology" is obviously much, much broader and more consequential than the narrow spectrum of silicon-based stuff. Technology really encompasses all human-made tools, and techniques and this begins in pre-history 100,000 years ago. To use this term so casually and inaccurately seems almost defiantly ignorant.
Well hot dog.
Look at who is ignorant here. Isn't digital technology encompassed in the overall technology? And if that is the case (which it is) then he is clearly contradicting himself. This person does not get it. Instead of trying to contribute to the discussion with helpful, meaningful questions he is attempting to hinder the progress of those trying to obtain knowledge.
On the other hand, the woman below him, Susan Victor, does indeed get it. She asks questions that are extremely relevant to what we have been reading and discussing, what is the greatest roadblock in regards to technology? The monetary gap or the lack of knowledge on the sides of the administrators, regarding the technology? The answer given by the staff writer, answers that as more teachers are becoming accustomed to using computer technology in the classroom, that more problems arise with regards to valid information (i.e. see my earlier post on Sinbad). These are the types of questions that will help people like myself understand the problems and concerns that teachers today are faced with on a daily basis.
Another lady who gets it is Ms. LaTonya S. Garner. She asked the question about the technology grants for her elementary students. I applaud the fact that she is concerned with having her students comfortable with new technology, for it only gets more complicated from here.
Monday, April 2, 2007
...But justice is blind
The student voice section starts out with testimony on technology by a high school student named Randy Herrera. At home he is a technophile. At school, he despises the computers for many useful sites are blocked. This is not a unique story. I can, as I am sure many of my colleagues can as well, relate to an experience such as this in high school, wanting to work on a project or waste time in Computer Applications, tried to visit a site and was denied. I think it's fabulous that schools are operating in a domain where most students are more comfortable but some of their ideas are counterproductive. It's similar to telling a dog to run free while you are holding onto the leash; the dog isn't stupid - he isn't going to try and run because he knows he isn't free. Students don't feel motivated to create content and become immersed with their work that could possibly become something enjoyable if they know they lack the freedom to really become engaged. Marc Pensky reflects my sentiments to a T:
“School represents the past. After-school is where they are training themselves for the future. The danger is that as school becomes less and less relevant, it becomes more and more of a prison.”
They also mention in the article teachers potentially using video games, MP3's, cell phones and other familiar technology to educate the students. Well, the presentation at the DATE conference showed the benefits of doing that. We've discussed this many times in class but it can't be said enough- teachers need to be able to relate to students, no matter what students are now into. If teachers can't adapt to the new climates being presented to them, then perhaps Steve Jobs was right and more teachers need to be canned that can't hack it.
But thankfully, all hope is not lost. The stories in the article of teachers embracing technology with open arms gives me hope that more school districts are getting the hint and starting to mold themselves into technological meccas.
“School represents the past. After-school is where they are training themselves for the future. The danger is that as school becomes less and less relevant, it becomes more and more of a prison.”
They also mention in the article teachers potentially using video games, MP3's, cell phones and other familiar technology to educate the students. Well, the presentation at the DATE conference showed the benefits of doing that. We've discussed this many times in class but it can't be said enough- teachers need to be able to relate to students, no matter what students are now into. If teachers can't adapt to the new climates being presented to them, then perhaps Steve Jobs was right and more teachers need to be canned that can't hack it.
But thankfully, all hope is not lost. The stories in the article of teachers embracing technology with open arms gives me hope that more school districts are getting the hint and starting to mold themselves into technological meccas.
...And justice for all
Reading the intro to a digital decade I see a lot of things that don't really surprise me that much. "Anecdotal evidence and research suggest that teachers’ integration of digital tools into instruction is sporadic. Many young people’s reliance on digital technology in their outside lives stands in sharp contrast to their limited use of it in schools". From what I've read and experienced in my own experience this is not shocking. When I was in high school the computers in each classroom were already ancient; I had a better one at home, so I would never use the computers when I was actually in school. Another point that strikes me is what they say as to the format for publishing their findings: "This year, for the second time, the state by state technology reports that once made up roughly half the print Technology Counts are being published exclusively online." Hmm. Go figure. The flattening of the world, not to mention research and a paperless classroom is happening sooner than anyone would think.
Alternatives
Last week the class went on a field trip to the Lehman Alternative School in Ithaca. When I walked into the front doors, I was taken aback. Partially from not having been in a primary school since 2004, but also because of the energy that was in the entire building. After being greeted by Chris Sperry's daughter, I caught the last minutes of the All School Meeting and it was here that I saw the future of education. I could not believe that the students ran the meetings. They proposed initiatives to the agenda. If this isn't the flat world, then I don't know what is.
We received a tour of the school from Sperry and in the gymnasium/cafeteria we were told about the vacations that students take. Every student is in some committee and the rewards are insane vacations that would NEVER have happened in my high school. One thing that was striking about the Alternative school, or at least this one, is that students are responsible for their education. I know when I was in high school, I could care less about half of my subjects that I was studying. But here, everyone wants to be a part of the action. And why shouldn't they. They operate on an entirely different plane of education and I wish I had the opportunity when I was younger to have been a part of it.
We received a tour of the school from Sperry and in the gymnasium/cafeteria we were told about the vacations that students take. Every student is in some committee and the rewards are insane vacations that would NEVER have happened in my high school. One thing that was striking about the Alternative school, or at least this one, is that students are responsible for their education. I know when I was in high school, I could care less about half of my subjects that I was studying. But here, everyone wants to be a part of the action. And why shouldn't they. They operate on an entirely different plane of education and I wish I had the opportunity when I was younger to have been a part of it.
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