There were definitely two issues/ trends that stood out for me. (1)The need to continue the trend to incorporated flexibility in education. (2) The need to somehow come to terms with the need to go big or go home.
(1) I spent three years in a inner-city (all be it not a very big city) federally funded program designed to increase the educational levels of 14-21 year old youth. My duties were separated into two main categories. One program was designed for high school age youth who for some reason had failed a subject in school. Our program allowed these students to recover credits through online classes. I was the instructor/facilitator/mentor for this program. Most of the students who came to me were not just failing a class but many classes. Sometimes they were failing all of their classes. I taught everything from Algebra to Zoology. My students were not just left at the computer but each had an individualized program and each received individual instruction and tutor on a daily basis. It was by no means a traditional setting. It was a computer lab with 20 computers and after the first six months was full of 20 students almost everyday after the regular school day and we had a waiting list. In those three years over 125 students not only passed there course work but also graduated with a High School diploma.
The second portion of my job description was to evaluate and teach basic math and reading skills to 16-21 year old youth. I dubbed this crowd my "too cool for school crowd". They earned this title because they were all high school drop-outs who had decided for whatever reason that they did not need to finish high school and would be fine without it. It didn't take them long to discover that even the job at Taco Bell required the ability to pass a basic math test. This was an ability they did not have. Who is cool now? I know it is not you.
This situation came to mind while reading about the Chugach School District in Anchorage, Alaska. With the statement that they had 214 students ages preschool to age 21 spread out over 22,000 square miles, I knew some measures other than traditional lecture based classroom instruction would have to occur if they truly planned on educating those 214 students. They also were facing a harsh environment like the inner city students both environmentally and socially. In order to truly educate everyone which is the goal of our country we will have to have a flexible, ever changing ,ever reevaluating systems.
(2) I really liked the whole concept of Ecological Systemic Change versus the piecemeal approach. What came to mind is that using the piece meal approach is like putting a bandaid on a mortal wound with hopes that it will stop the bleeding. Everyone who is watching knows that the bandaid will not help to save the persons life but still they stand by and smile, cheer and offer words of encouragement anyway. Way to go dude you can do it ! Just stand still so the bandaid doesn't fall off and everything will be just great! (or not)
So the Ecological systemic approach sounds like a much better approach. I agree that it is but (you knew that was coming) when I got to the end of the chapter it was emphasized how expensive the approach is. The need for long term financial commitment is a key to the long term success in the approach. This was a great let down because I thought I had a good thing going and now I learn that I must now learn how to convince a major contributor to fund a lifelong endeavour. If you want excellence you do have to go big or go home. Excellence never comes with a cheap price tag whether that is in time invested or money. I have found it has always been worth the investment.
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We all have the same amount of hours in a day. It's what we do with them that sets us apart.
4 comments:
The population I work with is over 90% free and reduced lunch. I teach elementary students so they haven't dropped out, but I see some of the same challenges. I really think that to help the students more deep change really does need to occur. I know the price tag is large, but something needs to come in and help. Often we are told we need to do better, but are not given the resources to help us.
"My students were not just left at the computer but each had an individualized program and each received individual instruction and tutor on a daily basis."
That sort of hybrid online/face-to-face course is the way secondary school online coursework should be designed, at least for new online learners. My state's online education does not currently have that option, though it is a relatively new online program, and I think that would greatly improve our pass rates.
I love to hear the stories of success' with technology based learning. They are a reminder that, when implemented correctly, that educators can do extraordinary things with technology.
I agree with you about the piece-meal approach to solving issues in the school system. And like you said, I think the piece-meal approach is often used because the other methods are just to costly for a school district to maintain. I think it will be up to those of us who now know about ecological to push for this change management methods.
I think that sometimes we PERCEIVE the long term marathon solution to be expensive, because we never started planning and looking at our goals and outcomes. Its like if we just ignore it, it will go away and we won't have to deal with it. Its like that nagging collection agency that claims we owe money we don't have. If we took time to plan out drastic changes well and made it detailed we would see that "yes there would be sacrifice", but it wouldn't be the kind we would suffer if we do nothing.. which i think is some peoples position.
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