In this unit, our statement of inquiry is:
[Write the part in blue in your notebook if you haven't already done so.]
Students will understand that systems create and reflect culture through an inquiry into education models.
Over the course of this unit, we will explore teaching and learning in order to determine the impact that different education systems have on culture. Our goal is to design new, innovative models for the future.
Our unit will be guided by lines of inquiry (big questions), similar to the ones posted on the board last semester. Please write the following lines of inquiry in your notebook [each question needs its own notebook page, so you can treat it like a page heading]:
How do different cultures approach teaching and learning?
• Cross-cultural Comparisons
How has learning and teaching changed over time?
• Historical Context
Are there better ways to "do school"?
• Innovative Options
Who is responsible for culture?
• Rights and Responsibilities
How do different models of education create culture?
• Exploring Systems
What is the purpose of school? What is the impact of school? What is/isn't working?
I found this breakdown of the history of the SAT: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/sats/where/timeline.html
What concerns me is that in 1948 it became a business. That means that they make money from the test, which means that it may or may not be actually valuable to education. Perhaps it is just valuable to the Educational Testing Service. This led me to a new question, are there places where they don't require standardized tests? If not, how do they handle college admissions? What if every college had its own test? Would that just be way too much for students to handle?
I am going to research this further.
• Exploring Systems
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Under each line of inquiry in your notebook, write your own specific question to add to the learning process (you can write more than one).
Take a look at the example below. You can use some of the questions I wrote if you want to; just make sure you also come up with some of your own questions. We will continue adding to these LOI's (lines of inquiry) over the course of the unit, so you don't need to come up with every question today.
Example
How do different cultures approach teaching and learning?
• Cross-cultural Comparisons
What is school like in China?
Which country has the best education system in the world? How do we know (what's the measure)?
How has learning and teaching changed over time?
• Historical Context
What was school like in the 1930s in America? Did they have the same classes?
When did they invent Middle School? Why?
Are there better ways to "do school"?
Who is responsible for culture?
• Innovative Options
Are there schools where most of the learning is outside?
Is there any evidence that more physical activity would improve our learning?
Who is responsible for culture?
• Rights and Responsibilities
Who changes schools? Who is in charge?
Why doesn't everyone have an excellent education? Who should fix the system?
How do different models of education create culture?
• Exploring Systems
Why do some schools seem more inclusive? Are there schools where kids can't wait to get to school everyday?
What is the purpose of school? What is the impact of school? What is/isn't working?
What is the purpose of school? What is the impact of school? What is/isn't working?
• Exploring Systems
What happens when people don't go to school?
What is the big goal of school? Is it just to get a job?
Why do we have to take SAT's?
What is the big goal of school? Is it just to get a job?
Why do we have to take SAT's?
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Once you have your own questions written, start answering them. Find articles, videos, interviews, statistics. You can look online or you can use the resources on the tables. You can spend the entire period learning about one question, or you might find answers to multiple questions. Either way is fine!
When there are 15 minutes left in class, post your findings on your blog with your own brief explanation about your thoughts.
When there are 15 minutes left in class, post your findings on your blog with your own brief explanation about your thoughts.
Here is an example blog post:
LOI (line of inquiry): What is/isn't working? Why?
I was wondering about SAT's. They don't seem like a good measure of our ability to do well in college. I found this really powerful piece about how students feel about standardized tests. It got me thinking--what would happen if I just refused to take the SAT? What if I wrote a letter to the college I want to go to and told them why I was opposed? Would they read it?
I found this breakdown of the history of the SAT: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/sats/where/timeline.html
What concerns me is that in 1948 it became a business. That means that they make money from the test, which means that it may or may not be actually valuable to education. Perhaps it is just valuable to the Educational Testing Service. This led me to a new question, are there places where they don't require standardized tests? If not, how do they handle college admissions? What if every college had its own test? Would that just be way too much for students to handle?
I am going to research this further.
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