Chapter 4 Quote: “A nation’s education system functions on behalf of society to decide what kinds of talents, knowledge, and skills are useful and what kinds are not. It is intended to cultivate the ones that are valuable and suppress the ones that are deemed undesirable. High-stakes testing is one of the most effective ways to convey what a society values and to pressure all involved in education-parents, teachers, and of course, students-to focus all their efforts on what is tested” (Zhao, “The Land of High-Stakes Testing,” para. 2). Question: Does our current iteration of high-stakes testing accurately reflect what we as a nation truly value? Connection: We have regime of standardized tests in the U.S. that seek to assess the whole student in more ways than the standardized testing regime in China. However, with continued emphasis on international competition we come closer to trying to emulate China and other Asian nations. Epiphany: As long as international competition is our primary motivator in school reform, then we will only continue to go down a path of rote memorization and other quantifiable assessments. If we want to stay innovative and create fertile ground for creativity then we must continue valuing the non-quantifiable attributes of individualism, freedom, and experimentation. These tendencies seem to be at odds with one another. Chapter 5 Quote: “As citizens of the globe, they need to be aware of the global nature of societal issues, to care about people in distant places, to understand the nature of global economic integration, to appreciate the interconnectedness and interdependence of peoples, to respect and protect cultural diversity, to fight for social justice for all, and to protect planet Earth-home for all human beings” (Zhao, “Challenges for Education,” para. 8). Question: How do arrive at a deeper sense of our interconnectedness without succumbing to the us versus them sense of competition? Connection: I am fond of the saying “think globally, act locally.” What happens in our small communities is a microcosm of what happens throughout the world. Epiphany: Cultural literacy is more important now than ever. We’re often taught to teach and respect diversity but often that is said in relation to local, or domestic diversity rather than in regards to viewing our world as flat and internationally interdependent. We’ve feared outsourcing for too long. Now success will be dependent on our ability to engage with those whom we’ve feared. Students must learn to be global citizens. Chapter 6 Quote: “It would be a mistake to think the virtual worlds is unreal or imaginary. It may not be tangible, but sure is real in terms of its psychological consequences, economic effect, political cost and gains, and social connections” (Zhao, “Challenges for Education II” para. 1). Question: While there are countless reasons to take online interactions seriously, does gaming have to be one of them? Wouldn’t this be somewhat akin to taking duck-duck-goose seriously? Connection: I have had to retract many of my prejudices against social media activities as a result of my learning in this class. However, I find myself doubting that that I will have to retract my reluctance to taking online gaming seriously. I have enjoyed playing video games in the past. Yet, I don’t quite imagine that I’ll get to a point where I can legitimize gaming, in the gamer sense, in my academic and professional discourse. Epiphany: Gaming, like professional sports, bring in lots of money not only for principal architects and superstar player but also for other industries that spring up around its periphery. Sports on the one hand provide participants the opportunity to become physically fit. I’m still uncertain as to what positive benefits a life dedicated to online gaming would bring. Resource Zhao, Y. (2009). Catching up or leading the way American education in the age of globalization. Alexandria, Va.: ASCD.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorIn this blog I will share my perspectives of the learning and materials from EDL 680, already a very inspiring course that I am taking for MA in Educational Leadership Archives
August 2015
Categories |