Class+Info

=Class Information=

This page contains information about the class, assignments, and readings.

Second Facebook Assignment
Hi,

Well, the general response seems to be -- keep doing the Facebook thing! I'm not sure if it is because you get to write less or some other reason. Truthfully, I like it a little better too. Not sure why yet, but there is a difference between the "traditional" assignment and the Facebook one.

So, new readings -- they are all pretty quick and together they describe a trajectory in to new territory for the class. It is an area we touched on a little earlier in the class -- when we were talking about the aims of education -- and was somewhat hard to pin down. It was the idea that part of education is teaching a person "life skills." Or as we discussed in class "character education."

You don't have to, but I would recommend reading the articles starting with:

"Why go to School?" by Steven Wolk. This is an article Andrea found when doing research for her the aims of education assignment. It parallels some of our class discussions and toward the end has this paragraph:

"I am not naive about the political realities of actually teaching much of the content I advocate here. Many people — including some of my education students — say we can’t teach this content because it’s “too political” or because “schools can’t teach morals.” But our current school curricula are not somehow magically apolitical and morally neutral. How can a nationwide system of education that unquestioningly adopts economic purposes for schooling not be up to its neck in political and moral beliefs?" Next try out "What If the Secret to Success Is Failure?' by Paul Tough. A recent article from the New York Times it describes what is happening in a prestigious private school in New York City and a KIPP charter school focused on "underserved" students in the south Bronx. Both are focusing on what they see as the "critical missing piece... character."

Then finish up with two short articles about the "Circle of Courage." First an interview with Dr. Martin Brokenleg, followed by "The Circle of Courage and Positive Psychology." This is a character education program that has been used for a number of years with students and youth that are in serious trouble, students who have physical and cognitive learning differences, and other populations.

After reading the articles please use our Facebook group to respond to the following:

1) Think back over your time in high school (and maybe even elementary) school experience. Is there someone who was a consistent influence on your character development? Or was there a significant event(s) that made an impression on you and contributed to your self-development/character development? (Be sure and think broadly here -- role models, people who provided you with support and encouragement, that one time someone said something that made a huge difference. And it could be a teacher, an aide, a janitor, a coach, a bus driver, or....) To the extent you are comfortable, describe the event/person/relationship and the impact and importance of it. How did it help your "character development?" How important is this kind of learning contrasted with "academic learning?" How does it relate or contrast with the articles you read?

2) Somewhere, somehow (could be a separate post or a comment on your post) rate each of the four articles on importance and how well-written they are. (Use the usual 1 to 6 scale.)

3) Do what you do on Facebook -- comment on other people's stories -- ask questions, sympathize, add your own stories that person reminded you about. Comment/discuss what these experiences may signify about "character education," contribute resources, and new ideas. Do all that by next Wednesday. And in class we will take a fresh look at "character education."

Thanks!

First Facebook Assignment
Hi,

Thanks to Tino (with some help from TJ) the Facebook group for the class is up and running. So if you get a friend request from Tino, please accept it so you can be added to the group.

You can use this as a place to comment on the class, ask questions, and generally talk to each other. I will take a pretty hands-off approach -- may have picked that up this morning during our discussion -- so if you ask a question that you specifically want me to address, say so. Otherwise I may hang back and let others in the class respond before I do.

However, as we discussed in class, there is also an assignment for using this group place. By e-mail I distributed three articles this morning -- all about various learning theories. So...

By Friday, 6:00 PM, please read these articles and for all three articles:

1) Post what you think is the main idea or main point of the article (be sure to tell us which article you are talking about).

2) Post a question you have about the article, or something you liked/disliked about the article, or some thoughtful comment about the article.

3) Post your numerical ratings of the articles related to how important/useful is the material; and a second rating for how well-written is the article.

One last item -- make at least one comment on another person's status update about an article.

This sums up to each person making 9 status updates (3 for 3 article) and one comment related to another person's thoughts about an article. (More comments are fine -- from my perspective if a dialogue between people about the articles happens it would be brilliant.)

Any questions? Well, I guess you can use the group page :-) or e-mail or come see me.

Thanks!







Course Readings




First Article Review (Review "Montessori and Embodied Education")



Second Article Review Assignment (Pick two out of three)





First Facebook Assignment





Second Facebook Assignment