Ch 7 Quote – “As we enter a new era of human history, we cannot be certain of what specific talents, knowledge, and skills will be of value, and globalization has expanded the market; therefore, we must accept the idea that all talents, all individuals are worthwhile.” (p.159)
There is no way to predict what the best talents are for making money, so we should accept and nurture all talents. Question – Do we have time to nurture and develop talents if we are overly focused on testing? Connection – My grandfather, whom I only know through stories, was a business man. He would travel far away and buy the goods in the off season, then bring them back and sell them – mosquito nets in the summer and blankets during the rainy season. In this way, he was able to lift his farming family with 9 children to upper-middle class status. Epiphany – If you have a skill that is transferable, you can make a living. If you can see a need and fill it, you can make a living. (i.e. professional road guides in China, p. 133 – 134) Ch 8 Quote – “Cross-cultural competency is also a necessary ability for all global citizens in their professional life, as they will need to work together with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. “ (p. 173) Cross-cultural competency is a natural result of globalization. When we work with others from different cultures we must learn how to get along and hopefully even value cultural differences. Question – How does one develop/nurture a deep understanding and appreciation of different cultures? Connection – I spent 10 years growing up overseas. After Kindergarten, we moved to Philippines for 3 years; then Japan for 7 years. Now I teach ESL students from various countries. Epiphany – My upbringing instilled an appreciation for other cultures and helps me relate better to students who are not exactly like me. Although my students are from various countries with different religions, politics, music, food, etc., in the classroom, we are one community with an emphasis on mutual respect. Ch 9 Quote – “Instead of banning MySpace, blocking Skype, or forbidding the use of cell phones in schools, we should actively create technology-using experiences for students, under the supervision of teachers, for productive purposes.” (p. 196) Question – How do we define “productive purposes” for student technology use? Connection – YouTube was blocked in my district. I had to request credentials from IT in order to access it as a teacher. Epiphany – Our Student Expectations say “No cell phone or cell phone must be on silent during instruction time”. A better version would be: “No cell phone conversations or cell phone noises during class time” with the understanding that phones can be used for translation, to find definitions, or other educational purposes. Changing Directions
This YouTube video sums up the question of why. Not only is technology social and collaborative, but it also allows us learn at any time of the day. This is part of what drew me to this online Master's program.
Not surprisingly, my ideas about technology have broadened in the last couple of months. "Catching Up or Leading the Way" shattered the misinformed idea I had that Chinese students were superior to American students. From the text, I learned Chinese students do test well and many work hard to get a university education. However, there is a prevailing phenomenon called "high scores but low ability". According to multicultural corporations, Chinese engineers "lacked the required experience and ability despite their abundant book knowledge and high test scores." (Zhao, p. 85) In other words, their education did not prepare them for the workforce. Of course, U.S. students have areas to improve, too. Although our overall high school graduation rate passed 80% in 2012. (For the First Time, 2014) The graduation rate for college students drops to 58% for those trying to get their Bachelor's degree. (Graduation Rates, 2015) Besides stats and test scores, the text talks about our need to be globally minded and to teach students to be digitally competent. Times are a changing and we need to change, too. I highly recommend this book for any working in education or concerned about education. It caused me to revise some beliefs that I held. I hope to learn more about what being a digital citizen means for U.S. students and what I can do to make an impact where I am. In the classroom, I want to be the teacher that "cultivates creativity, celebrates diversity, and inspires curiosity' (Zhao, 198) As an administrator, I want to keep doing that. Resources Why is technology important in education? (n.d.). Retrieved August 9, 2015. Zhao, Y. (2009). Catching up or leading the way American education in the age of globalization. Alexandria, V A: ASCD. For the first time, the U.S. high school graduation rate tops 80 percent, report finds. (n.d.). Retrieved August 9, 2015. (n.d.). Retrieved August 9, 2015, from https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=40
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Ch 4 Quote – “As a result, Asian nations have been working on closing the creativity gap, while the United States has been troubled by the “achievement gap” revealed by international comparison tests, such as TIMSS and PISA.” (p. 91)
Each country thinks the other is doing “better” and is trying to catch up. Question – If the true purpose of education is to prepare young people to be successful in the real world, isn’t the US doing a better job than China? Connection – This reminds me of something from my middle/high school years. My best friend, Johanna, was a friendly, athletic, pretty, life-of-the-party girl. I did some athletics but I excelled in academics. When we grew up, I told Johanna how my mom used to compare me to her and say, “Why can you be more like Johanna and be more athletic?” She laughed and said that her mom said, “Why can’t you do better in school, like Sheila?” Epiphany – It is a good thing to want to improve our education system, but we should celebrate the things we do well much more than we do. Ch 5 Quote – “People move from one locality to another for all sorts of reasons, from escaping from poor living conditions, political turmoil, mistreatment, or lack of opportunities to seeking better jobs, better education, more opportunities, and better living conditions.” (p. 106) The reasons people move from country to country are varied. Question – How valid are American’s concerns about immigrants being a burden to public services like healthcare and education? Connection – My Filipina cousin has a husband she only communicates with via Facebook and phone calls. She takes care of their 3 children back home, while he works in Saudi Arabia as a driver and send money home. His family lives in a middle-class neighborhood and the children go to private schools. Epiphany – Even if there is a burden on public services by immigrants, the economic benefits to the U.S. with the added workforce outweigh the costs. Ch 6 Quote – “The challenge our schools must face is to begin teaching the skills and knowledge needed for the virtual economy.” (p.131) Making money online is very real and can be lucrative. To be successful students need to learn particular skills in relation to this virtual world. Question – What percentage of Americans will work in the “real” world in the next 10 years versus the virtual world? Connection – My dad told us that several of his merchant marine buddies were wasting money buying imaginary property for an imaginary world. He told us how ridiculous it was. Epiphany – If Ailin Graef can make $1 million by selling virtual real estate, then American kids with computer knowledge should also be able to earn money online. Ch 1 Quote – “Teacher shortages and lack of parental involvement, extracurricular activities, technology resources, and funds for libraries are persistent problems facing these schools.” (p. 14)
From a governmental quick fix stance: set standards, test the standards, and report the results. But, if we look more closely at the problem, we see that its roots go to deeper, more complex issues that do not have quick fixes. Questions – If poverty is the common thread among students who don’t do well in school, how can this be addressed? If the government is so involved in education, shouldn’t the government be focused on how poverty negatively affects education? Connection – My 18 year old son, who just graduated high school, said that two of his friends were evicted from their homes during their Senior year. They had not been doing well in school, but were determined to graduate. In addition to their regular classes, they took online courses, and both managed to graduate on time. Epiphany – A level playing field is needed. If we compare apples (schools in impoverished areas) with oranges (schools in middle/upper-class areas), we shouldn’t be surprised if things don’t match up. Ch 2 Quote –“Despite the obvious flaws and limitations of using student test scores and grades to measure the quality of education, the American public, short of other easy-to-understand measures, seems to have accepted the notion that test scores are accurate measures of the quality of their schools.”(p.32-33) Tests can be biased. A student might not test well, but performs well in class or the opposite – test well, but not perform well in class. Question – What alternatives exist, besides student test scores, to measure the quality of education? Connection – My mom paid me for each “A” I brought home on my report card. So, I had a financial incentive to do well. Epiphany – Dictionary.com defines quality (adj.) as "producing or providing products or services of high quality or merit" Quality is sometimes hard to quantify. In education, we all have different ideas about what is important to teach as an educator. The state, the administration, teachers, students, parents all have different ideas. Ch 3 Quote - "We thus face a choice of what we want: a diversity of talents, of individuals who are passionate, curious, self-confident, and risk taking; or a nation of excellent test takers, outstanding performers on math and reading tests. (p. 59) Just as we want a college applicant to be well-rounded and show their extra-curricular activities, we should also be fostering the arts, athletics, volunteerism, and interests in K-12 students. Question: Does heavy focus on getting high tests scores in English, Math, and Science harm a child's education? Connection: My elementary-aged children participate in after-school clubs. My son joined band and learned to play the saxophone. I learned that music, p.e., and the arts have slowly been losing funding because their not deemed as important. Although students have shown that music facilitates learning. http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/the-benefits-of-music-education/ Epiphany - I believed that our schools are behind compared to other countries. This book is making me re-evaluate what I thought was true. Resources Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words ... (n.d.). Retrieved August 3, 2015. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). Retrieved August 3, 2015. Being half-Asian and having grown up in Philippines and Japan, I am curious about Prof. Yong Zhao's perspective on the American educational system. In both of these countries, and I'm sure many more, what happens in the U.S. has a profound affect on the culture. On a recent trip to Philippines, My cousin and I discussed their extensive private school systems. As we drove by an expensive international school in Manila, she told me that they pattern what they do in their schools on the U.S. school systems.
As an educator and aspiring administrator, I believe the U.S. has a responsibility to lead the way in education. Whatever areas we are lacking, it is up to us to close the gap. Because of the exponentially multiplying technologies around us, digital competence is a must. Through proper training, collaboration among professionals, open minds, and a willingness to change, I'm confident that we will catch up (where we need to) and secure our place as educational leaders. |
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Sheila L. DavisPassionate Adult ESL Instructor at Grossmont Adult School, PLC Lead (mulit-level)& TOSA. Former Adjunct at San Diego Continuing Ed. Seeking the best ways to utilize technology in the classroom and in professional life. ArchivesCategories |