In education we have to stop pretending...
1. That presenting and giving always equals teaching and learning.
- Students only learn if they feel they BELONG to the the experience, not just if they are present for the teaching and content. Motivation is mostly through relationships, not traditional delivery.
2. That technology without guidance will improve achievement.
- Handing students computers and making them expensive pencils will not change them or learning for the better.
3. That open ended questions and tasks cannot measure learning and growth.
- Yes A, B, C, D questions are easier to grade and cheaper for testing companies but do not really assess the REAL skills we want students to achieve. Authentic assessment can be graded and should be MORE valued.
4. Educational leadership can come from non-educators.
- Pretty self explanatory to anyone in the profession. Are you listening politicians, businessmen and journalists?
5. "We've always done it this way....it worked for me growing up..." conversations make any sense.
- We must challenge those who think the world is not changing and instead help them to see that change is inevitable and growth is NOT an option in education.
Thoughts? Would love to hear them in the comments or tweet me @mcculloughmg !