At first this book seemed to be about why is there a lack of technology in the schools. Then it moved onto what I call “inquiry based learning.” Overall this was a highly depressing article, and I am extremely grateful that I do not teach in the USA. I am also hoping that Canada is not as bad as the USA as I have been overseas for 10 years now.
I have also been fortunate enough to become an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP) teacher. http://www.ibo.org/ The ENTIRE program is inquiry based learning from the “Units of Inquiry” in the Primary Years Program (PYP), the “Significant Concepts & Guiding Questions” of the MYP and Diploma Program (DP). At the end of PYP (Grade 5 or 6 in Canada) there is the “Exhibition” which is the cumulating of one inquiry based interdisciplinary unit. At the end of the MYP (Grade 10 in Canada) there is the “Personal Project” which is self-chosen task and reflective essay. Even though the IB is geared towards the standardized exam at the end of all DP things (to ensure a standardized report card for students world wide), the questions remain open ended and analytical, emphasizing critical thinking and reflective writing skills. Plus the students who do finish the DP have had to finish a plethora of reflective thinking papers (essays or assignments) from across the subject stream; and on top of that, they also need to complete an Extended Essay (EE), which is a 5,000 word reflective essay on the topic of their choice.
Yes indeed this does require teachers to be busy, however the students are more engaged and the end results are a more authentic understanding and demonstration of the students learning (or lack there of). I consider MYP to be like a marathon: all students have the same stretches and warm ups, drills, and training exercises. Then once ready you line them up and say “on your mark, get set, ready, go, show me all you learned over the last 4-6 weeks!” Therefore there is a time limit (due dates & deadlines) but the students do not really need to beat anyone, except due their personal best.
I am glad that there was a parent who complained about standardized exam based education. I wish more would. They are culturally biased tests, and do not support students from a lower socio-economic background or reflect the imbalance of the American society (monetary, culturally, or linguistically). Not to mention the horrid slashing of the Arts programs in schools, the lack of technical-vocation high schools, and closing of libraries – resources nation wide!
I actually recommend Canadian universities to my students when overseas, as they would not have to do an S.A.T exam, plus our education is just as old and good, and cheaper than the USA! Not to mention the fact that we do not go around shooting each other. My students who come form a non-English speaking country might have to do a TOFEL exam, but they often can circumvent that with their Language A English DP score. In some cases DP graduates can get first year credit from their DP courses! (A moment to gloat for my female Indian student – whose parents do not speak English – who received a 6/7 in her IB DP Language A English class – I am a proud teacher!) Therefore UBC you better get ready for my stellar IB students!
On a personal aside; I would never have passed in the American system, as I do not test well (I am inclined to panic attacks and vomitting). Yet I have managed two bachelors’ degrees (Arts & Education) and am up to my ninth language or so, while living overseas and accumulating knowledge first hand about new countries and cultures. Not to mention improving my own personal professional development through the IBO courses, in house training, UBC, various Singaporean Performing Arts schools, and the Royal Shakespeare Company! I never cease to amaze myself and my mother these days, and she or I will gladly tell you all the horror stories I had earned during my school years in Winnipeg. Being a free spirit with a stubborn streak and a tendency to sleep during boring lectures, it is nothing short of a miracle that I was able to pass through the system of “teach to the test.” Good thing my university choices were essay based and I could chose the topics!
In conclusion I found this article as a depressing display of the current state of American education. I hope that Canada is not in the same boat, as I already enjoy the inquiry-based model of education while working in IB schools overseas. I also hope that this novella inspires other Americans to take charge of other education system and make the correct changes that need to happen!
Canada is behind the USA – both in terms of preparing teachers to use ICT, and in implementing draconian high-stakes testing modalities. I am starting to get this idea of replacing testing with conducting qualitative surveys to assess student learning. Students are not punished with low grades, but instead are provided feedback on their learning progress and provided with options to improve their outcomes. It is fair to say that every student (and teacher) does need to acquire a base line of skill, experience, and confidence in certain topic areas and forms of literacy (including digital literacy). Then, what they do from the baseline is up to them, but at least they are provisioned appropriately by the system that is requiring their participation. Although there is movement to implement inquiry-based learning, there is not a commensurate movement to understand how learning relationships in schools need to change. Nor how curriculum needs to change to accommodate diverse learners.
From reading your blogs I see that you are very experienced with ICT in the classroom overseas. It was great to hear about the IB program that you have been working on for the last 2 years. It was refeshing to know that they incorporate inquiry based teaching alongside one to one ICT. To bring your international experience to the collaborative discussions has definitely added more depth to the group’s understanding.
Thanks for this Petra!
I fell into international teaching quite by accident, and now I just don’t want to come home! ;D
As for IB, it is great and rigorous system of education! All 3 programs are inquiry based. Even when the high schoolers are in training for their standardized exams, the questions are open ended, and they have other in class assignments that are inquiry based as well (i.e. Extended Essay).
While overseas one can end up in a bilingual school, IB, or the USA – AP system. It is really up to the teacher where they want to go and what they want from being overseas. I knew that a bilingual school was not for me, as I am not an ESL teacher, and I really wanted some legitimate full time class work (just as if I were at home) in case I ever had to return to Manitoba and apply to have my years of experience accepted by MB Dept of Ed.
Thank you for your support, as I often feel like a rainbow salt water fish in a Canadian salmon stream ;D