Hello Camden Tech World
TTWWADI - That’s The Way We’ve Always Done It.
There are several examples of TTWWADI in education today. Think about structure - length of school day/year, the bell system (created by a Benedictine monk 800 years ago to manage the hours of prayer), the same “full frontal” lecture style used for the last 100 or so years, the methods of learning assessment; the list goes on.
Here’s a thought - think we could find some examples of TTWWADI in education? And how the integration of technology can change the way we've always done it.
Let's discuss it - Post your thoughts
Having completed an online degree, with emphasis in Technology Education, I learned a basic tenet of organizational management, or systems thinking. Recalling Jim Collins' work from "Good to Great" one thing we need to do is STOP DOING. Before we can do, we have to stop doing. We have to make TIME to begin the hard work of thinking. Of deciding on what it is we deem important and the method of delivery. see here: http://www.jimcollins.com/media_topics/culture.html#audio=37
ReplyDeleteChange comes when we THINK to solve a problem. This is the result of our current ednucation systems. However we have spent too much time discussing the problem and not thinking about a solution. So how can we make a difference in our building, our classrooms?
ReplyDeleteI go back to when I attended my bachelor in PE back in Brazil in 1980...I read a book by Carl Rogers (Fredoom to Learn) in which he was already at the time discussing that educators should be facilitators. Many of our classrooms follow the scheme: textbook, I lecture, you respond. How boring! The students don't take charge of their own learning, their interest is not raised. I praise the educators that are out there and are able to get all the "structured" state and school district curriculum and make it interesting and are able to change their roles from lecturers to facilitators, stimulators of learning.
ReplyDeleteLoTi levels (something newer than my old book) also states that in the highest level of proficiency, the educator is a facilitator.
If you keep doing the same thing over and over you will get the same results. Teachers must under stand the process of technological change and be willing to have an open mind regarding closing the achievement gap!
ReplyDeleteJoyous
Denise,
ReplyDeleteI agree - that is the key for teachers are to become facilators. Students need to be engaged and use high order thinking skills. Connecting with the digital kid (learner) is the key. We must connect and look and operate in the world through their lenses. As we make the connection between their digital world and the classroom - students will be engage because education will have a purpose and authentic.
Eddie, the hard thing is to give up power...most educators don't realize that they will not be giving away the power if they change their roles to facilitators. Also, in our schools, the amount of programs and new curriculum initiatives, state and district mandate schedules and tests, plus the number of staff that is not tech literate makes it harder to get things moving this direction.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention the amount of assessments...I truly believe that assessment guides instruction...however, I think that we test so much that we hardly have instructional time left.