An interesting parallel from my classroom experience is that most high school science teachers don’t seem to know what teaching the Next Generation Science Standards is supposed to look like in practice either. Pre-NGSS, in California at least, there were well-defined subject tests that covered the exact scope and sequence that teachers were expected to teach in order for their students to “succeed.” The day-to-day curriculum was more or less prescribed. Now with NGSS, the standards are vague and more skill-oriented. There is no feedback mechanism in the form of a standardized test at the end of the year to tell the teachers whether or not the students achieved the goals. There is also very little guidance on how to actually help the students acquire the targeted skills. Which is better? I don’t know. I think it really depends on the teacher. In my experience, teachers seem to fall into two broad categories: “just tell me what to do” and “don’t tell me what to do.” I wonder if one type would have more success in an Egan classroom than the other. Personally, I suspect it’s the second type that wants the control and freedom that would have more luck bringing his vision to life. It does seem like a pattern language would help both types though. “Don’t tell me what to to do” could look at the high-altitude, yearlong guidance while “Just tell me what to do” could use the ground-floor, minute-by-minute outlines. Homeschoolers will just continue to do whatever the heck we want, like always. 😂
Yes! What I'm taking from this: teachers fall along at least one important spectrum ("please direct me" vs. "no no NO"), and maybe more. A new approach to education should be explicit as to what sort of teachers they're looking for.
VERY helpful. If anyone who's worked in a school has insight as to what other spectrums might be particularly relevant, share 'em!
My grandma worked at a k-12 school for 30+ years, as a teacher, administrator and as Principle for the Elementary, Middle and High Schools at separate points.
She mentioned that one big axis for teachers is strictness in the classroom. How much of a system do they have for how and when you're allowed to sharpen your pencils? Do they want their classroom to be completely quiet during work times or do they like having a coffee shop style buzz?
Kinda related: Do they want the students all to be working on the same thing at the same time or do they like having groups doing different activities?
She also mentioned the difference in how they decorate their classroom and whether or not they utilize their wall space to teach as much as possible. Which can be great or it can cause visual sensory overload to some students.
Those 4 pages of "A Pattern Language"? I fell in love with the whole idea of the book. It also helps the fact that, as a Civil Engineer, I especialized on transportation and urbanism, I have been a Wikipedist since 2006 and I am currently working on IT, which relies heavily on Agile methodology. Funny how one tends to be attracted to diverse, yet connected things...
(I am quite late with my readings, having moved 800 miles from my hometown, but I will catch up as soon as possible; sorry for the late comment)
An interesting parallel from my classroom experience is that most high school science teachers don’t seem to know what teaching the Next Generation Science Standards is supposed to look like in practice either. Pre-NGSS, in California at least, there were well-defined subject tests that covered the exact scope and sequence that teachers were expected to teach in order for their students to “succeed.” The day-to-day curriculum was more or less prescribed. Now with NGSS, the standards are vague and more skill-oriented. There is no feedback mechanism in the form of a standardized test at the end of the year to tell the teachers whether or not the students achieved the goals. There is also very little guidance on how to actually help the students acquire the targeted skills. Which is better? I don’t know. I think it really depends on the teacher. In my experience, teachers seem to fall into two broad categories: “just tell me what to do” and “don’t tell me what to do.” I wonder if one type would have more success in an Egan classroom than the other. Personally, I suspect it’s the second type that wants the control and freedom that would have more luck bringing his vision to life. It does seem like a pattern language would help both types though. “Don’t tell me what to to do” could look at the high-altitude, yearlong guidance while “Just tell me what to do” could use the ground-floor, minute-by-minute outlines. Homeschoolers will just continue to do whatever the heck we want, like always. 😂
Yes! What I'm taking from this: teachers fall along at least one important spectrum ("please direct me" vs. "no no NO"), and maybe more. A new approach to education should be explicit as to what sort of teachers they're looking for.
VERY helpful. If anyone who's worked in a school has insight as to what other spectrums might be particularly relevant, share 'em!
My grandma worked at a k-12 school for 30+ years, as a teacher, administrator and as Principle for the Elementary, Middle and High Schools at separate points.
She mentioned that one big axis for teachers is strictness in the classroom. How much of a system do they have for how and when you're allowed to sharpen your pencils? Do they want their classroom to be completely quiet during work times or do they like having a coffee shop style buzz?
Kinda related: Do they want the students all to be working on the same thing at the same time or do they like having groups doing different activities?
She also mentioned the difference in how they decorate their classroom and whether or not they utilize their wall space to teach as much as possible. Which can be great or it can cause visual sensory overload to some students.
I don't know if I'm the first but you got my 5 bucks. Well played, sir.
Grr. The iOS app doesn’t allow paid subscriptions, as far as I can tell. Where’s my darn laptop...
Those 4 pages of "A Pattern Language"? I fell in love with the whole idea of the book. It also helps the fact that, as a Civil Engineer, I especialized on transportation and urbanism, I have been a Wikipedist since 2006 and I am currently working on IT, which relies heavily on Agile methodology. Funny how one tends to be attracted to diverse, yet connected things...
(I am quite late with my readings, having moved 800 miles from my hometown, but I will catch up as soon as possible; sorry for the late comment)