Today we had a wonderful chat with Professor Paul Prior regarding remediation. It was fascinating to discuss the subject with someone who works so extensively with remediation in the educational world.
One of the more interesting topics was how remediation creates a learning spaced based on play. Many of us felt that school should be a more play-based space where practice is valued more than high-stakes consequences to learning. Children enjoy and excel at video games because if they mess up, they can try again--and they do!
However, in our classrooms mistakes lead to fewer points, with lead to lower grades, which can lead to punishments at school or at home, impact the chance of college acceptance, etc. This kind of atmosphere is not ideal for learning.
We also discussed the way we often approach writing, as well as other subjects we teach, as small pieces that must be learned to understand the whole---when really children are playing with and exploring "the whole" the entire time.
I found this whole talk very stimulating and interesting, but it did make me sad. The education system today is very harsh and inflexible for children and teachers alike. It can make someone feel very helpless to on the one hand criticize the system and all of its imperfections, while the system is also writing their paycheck...
We are exploring remediation...new, better approaches to writing...but how can we really change a culture that is so much bigger than we are?
I don't know what the answer is. But I loved this conversation and all of the conversations we've had at the summer institute. I know that I have a community of educators who are working to make education better for students and to provide a space for remediation in the classroom.
One day at a time.
One of the more interesting topics was how remediation creates a learning spaced based on play. Many of us felt that school should be a more play-based space where practice is valued more than high-stakes consequences to learning. Children enjoy and excel at video games because if they mess up, they can try again--and they do!
However, in our classrooms mistakes lead to fewer points, with lead to lower grades, which can lead to punishments at school or at home, impact the chance of college acceptance, etc. This kind of atmosphere is not ideal for learning.
We also discussed the way we often approach writing, as well as other subjects we teach, as small pieces that must be learned to understand the whole---when really children are playing with and exploring "the whole" the entire time.
I found this whole talk very stimulating and interesting, but it did make me sad. The education system today is very harsh and inflexible for children and teachers alike. It can make someone feel very helpless to on the one hand criticize the system and all of its imperfections, while the system is also writing their paycheck...
We are exploring remediation...new, better approaches to writing...but how can we really change a culture that is so much bigger than we are?
I don't know what the answer is. But I loved this conversation and all of the conversations we've had at the summer institute. I know that I have a community of educators who are working to make education better for students and to provide a space for remediation in the classroom.
One day at a time.