Sunday, March 13, 2011
Reflective Blog #1
All throughout school I always heard of schools changing there approach of teaching. It was always questions that came up and teachers mention about passing state test and all the requirements and do they really reflect on the lives of students as of in the real world. I'm from Miami,Fl and we had a pretty harsh school system being below state requirement during my time in high school and etc. I really believe every state district teaches different. The same traditional teaching ways but different methods or ways of simplifying a problem depending on the subject. While I'm doing research and attending my service learning I'm observing certain things, comparing them to the way I learned and etc. I always thought it would be beneficial for schools to change there way of learning but now after seeing it at ANSER I have really change my mind, it's really the worse possible choice ever. As I began my first day at ANSWER the kids are really in a different type of comfort zone as anyother type of kids. I'm not sure if thats ANSWER's way of experiential learning but I thought they were in a sheltered world. The biggest surprise was the school stops at 8th grade and most of the things they aquired at ANSER over the next four years will go to waste. The kids my first week didnt really communicate with me, I pictured experiential learning as more hands on constructual things similiar to ANSWER but I felt that teachers babied the students a bit too much. Part of it I believe comes from the school being so small which influences a closer relationship between teacher and stduent. My model of what experiential learning is, is based around ANSER.As I observed many of the kids work so saw many errors. These are middle school kids and I'm not most definitely the smartest person but there were minor spelling, grammar, common sense issues that they should know. I think the idea of really focusing on experiential learning leaves holes in what learning is really about. A good foundation of learning and the basics. None of the kids seemed to have it. Discipline was the first issue, kids get up and leave the class as they pleased. When a issue came up and the teacher asked him to finish typing his paper he wouldnt so she stood next to a middle school student and typed his paper for him.Of course this is only of one school of many that teacheS this way and I'm sure every school like ANSER is different within the school but I'm going off observing ANSER. I felt as if there were so many negativities, and the worse was the teachers letting students have their way and not thinking how it hurts them in the future.
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Hi Jerrell:
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I'd be curious to hear about the good things you're seeing at ANSER as well? Or perhaps, since you're comparing it to your own personal experience, the negatives that you saw within your own life? The point is, to address both sides of your issue even as you build an argument in favor of one direction or the other. This shows people that you're reasonably minded.
Also, I'm becoming increasingly concerned about your sentence-level work and the mechanics of your writing. For example, you refer to ANSER-- several times-- as ANSWER. These sort of mistakes really should be caught through proof-reading, and when left unchecked they destroy your credibility. The point is: basic mechanics and proof-reading signify, for your reader, that you actually spent time with your writing. If you aren't communicating this very basic thing, it's much harder for anyone to take your ideas seriously.
I hate to sound harsh. But this stuff is important. And I think it's better to be honest about how instructors are reading your writing than to try and sugar-coat it. You're a good student-- your ideas are there-- but you badly need to be more careful. (Eg, without a basic consideration for mechanics and form, your credibility is damaged to the point that readers are turned-off to even considering your ideas).