Comments on: Bankrupcy of our imaginations..Dr. Gary Stager http://www.shekky.org/blog/2010/01/bankrupcy-of-our-imaginations-dr-gary-stager/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:21:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Claus http://www.shekky.org/blog/2010/01/bankrupcy-of-our-imaginations-dr-gary-stager/comment-page-1/#comment-1496 Claus Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:58:03 +0000 http://www.shekky.org/blog/?p=126#comment-1496 This just in, (Reuters inc.): Good News for Americans! We are not doomed just yet! Although it is true that literacy rates have dropped substantially among Americans since the American Colonies were first established and Americans have become exponentially dumber than their colonial counter parts Congress has developed a plan to ensure Excellence in Education for their immediate families. This plan will also ensure that all Congressional Families will have the best housing, dental, and medical health plans. Congress has banded together with all members of the Senate to ensure the likelihood of their survival in the face of any potential National Catastrophe. Congress along with the Senate has dutifully placed themselves above all other humble Americans to make sure that their Royal Positions will be fully funded. It is completely understood that all Congressional members must given free reign to operate outside and above the law to ensure that the illusion of Democracy continues to be in the hearts and minds of the uneducated masses. Of course Congress has determined to include loyal supporters of their noble causes and has recruited all wealthy Americans that are functioning in the top 5% of annual income and assets. This brilliant strategy will insure adequate representation for all Royal Members of the American Elite when China officially takes control of all United States Lands and Territories that it has purchased beginning on January 1, 2053. This just in, (Reuters inc.): Good News for Americans! We are not doomed just yet!
Although it is true that literacy rates have dropped substantially among Americans since the American Colonies were first established and Americans have become exponentially dumber than their colonial counter parts Congress has developed a plan to ensure Excellence in Education for their immediate families. This plan will also ensure that all Congressional Families will have the best housing, dental, and medical health plans. Congress has banded together with all members of the Senate to ensure the likelihood of their survival in the face of any potential National Catastrophe. Congress along with the Senate has dutifully placed themselves above all other humble Americans to make sure that their Royal Positions will be fully funded.
It is completely understood that all Congressional members must given free reign to operate outside and above the law to ensure that the illusion of Democracy continues to be in the hearts and minds of the uneducated masses. Of course Congress has determined to include loyal supporters of their noble causes and has recruited all wealthy Americans that are functioning in the top 5% of annual income and assets. This brilliant strategy will insure adequate representation for all Royal Members of the American Elite when China officially takes control of all United States Lands and Territories that it has purchased beginning on January 1, 2053.

]]> By: Shelley http://www.shekky.org/blog/2010/01/bankrupcy-of-our-imaginations-dr-gary-stager/comment-page-1/#comment-1495 Shelley Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:45:12 +0000 http://www.shekky.org/blog/?p=126#comment-1495 I guess the only avenue of success is for the school to become the students family so there is a safe place to be. How do we capture them before this happens? I agree and not sure kids can really know what is the best path for them at such a young age. They can't determine whether the easy way out is the right or wrong way out. It sounds like we are doomed Claus. I guess the only avenue of success is for the school to become the students family so there is a safe place to be. How do we capture them before this happens? I agree and not sure kids can really know what is the best path for them at such a young age. They can’t determine whether the easy way out is the right or wrong way out. It sounds like we are doomed Claus.

]]> By: Claus http://www.shekky.org/blog/2010/01/bankrupcy-of-our-imaginations-dr-gary-stager/comment-page-1/#comment-1494 Claus Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:32:14 +0000 http://www.shekky.org/blog/?p=126#comment-1494 I believe that our students are the products of their educational environments. Educational environments are any setting where an individual learns something. Given that any location can be an educational environment at any time there are simply too many to list but I will mention a few. When one of today’s upper middle class wunderkind complete with helicopter parents has some time off from their fully scheduled day and gets to spend some time with a classmate at a lower socioeconomic house hold, i.e. not very structured environment, they can become very interested in the amount of freedom their friend has. The complete lack of structure can be very appealing compared to the constant structure of the wunderkind’s typical day. It would not take very long for the wunderkind to learn how to withdraw from all their forced structure and begin to learn how to sabotage their helicopter parents’ constant planning. It’s simple and easy to become a screw up and it’s even easier to stop trying so hard to please those parents who actually believe they are raising another Einstein. Going to therapy and taking proscribed drugs creates an entirely new game plan for the wunderkind. The wunderkind is now free to create a way to control their life and at the same time created a whole new world filled with deliberate failures and excuses. Helicopter Mom and Dad will fall all over themselves trying to play along. Another influential learning environment could be the neighborhood park where Billy chooses to hang out every day after school. He quickly learns the language of the park dwellers, which is so necessary to assimilate into the group. He also quickly learns how much more fun it is to hang out and get high than it is to sit alone and study. Billy’s learning takes a sharp turn when he begins to see how easy it is to become a problem student. Billy is taught how to gain immediate release from class and then is rewarded with a few days of suspension. His friends from the park are not only Billy’s favorite teachers but they soon become his family. School becomes the place for Billy and his gang to socialize. Billy’s Mom is at home waiting for the dealer to stop by to trade drugs for sex and food stamps and Billy’s Dad has been dead for most of Billy’s life, murdered by a rival gang when he was sixteen. Then there is the learning environment that I try to create in my classroom. It’s a small overcrowded room where I try to create the desire to ask questions and feel comfortable doing so. It’s a place that changes its mood and personality depending on those persons occupying it for that class period of the day. It is a place where I try very hard to challenge the notions of freedom, respect and personal pride in trying your best. It is a place where everyone who comes in to learn learns that the words ‘I can’t’ do not exist. Those words only mean ‘I do not want to.’ It is a learning environment that I try to bring to life every day. If technology can help me with this I am trying to learn how. I believe that our students are the products of their educational environments. Educational environments are any setting where an individual learns something. Given that any location can be an educational environment at any time there are simply too many to list but I will mention a few.
When one of today’s upper middle class wunderkind complete with helicopter parents has some time off from their fully scheduled day and gets to spend some time with a classmate at a lower socioeconomic house hold, i.e. not very structured environment, they can become very interested in the amount of freedom their friend has. The complete lack of structure can be very appealing compared to the constant structure of the wunderkind’s typical day. It would not take very long for the wunderkind to learn how to withdraw from all their forced structure and begin to learn how to sabotage their helicopter parents’ constant planning. It’s simple and easy to become a screw up and it’s even easier to stop trying so hard to please those parents who actually believe they are raising another Einstein. Going to therapy and taking proscribed drugs creates an entirely new game plan for the wunderkind. The wunderkind is now free to create a way to control their life and at the same time created a whole new world filled with deliberate failures and excuses. Helicopter Mom and Dad will fall all over themselves trying to play along.
Another influential learning environment could be the neighborhood park where Billy chooses to hang out every day after school. He quickly learns the language of the park dwellers, which is so necessary to assimilate into the group. He also quickly learns how much more fun it is to hang out and get high than it is to sit alone and study. Billy’s learning takes a sharp turn when he begins to see how easy it is to become a problem student. Billy is taught how to gain immediate release from class and then is rewarded with a few days of suspension. His friends from the park are not only Billy’s favorite teachers but they soon become his family. School becomes the place for Billy and his gang to socialize. Billy’s Mom is at home waiting for the dealer to stop by to trade drugs for sex and food stamps and Billy’s Dad has been dead for most of Billy’s life, murdered by a rival gang when he was sixteen.
Then there is the learning environment that I try to create in my classroom. It’s a small overcrowded room where I try to create the desire to ask questions and feel comfortable doing so. It’s a place that changes its mood and personality depending on those persons occupying it for that class period of the day. It is a place where I try very hard to challenge the notions of freedom, respect and personal pride in trying your best. It is a place where everyone who comes in to learn learns that the words ‘I can’t’ do not exist. Those words only mean ‘I do not want to.’ It is a learning environment that I try to bring to life every day. If technology can help me with this I am trying to learn how.

]]> By: Sarahbeth http://www.shekky.org/blog/2010/01/bankrupcy-of-our-imaginations-dr-gary-stager/comment-page-1/#comment-1493 Sarahbeth Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:56:54 +0000 http://www.shekky.org/blog/?p=126#comment-1493 Mike, I totally hear what you are saying! I agree that the idea of constructivist teaching is great, especially for those students that are self motivated to learn. I also believe that if we are going to embrace such an idea, we have to do so fully. By embracing the idea fully, we must start at the ground level. This would mean an entire change in the way we do teach, starting when a student first enters a learning/classroom environment. I also agree with you that students take advantage of the ability to use technology, and can then are able to come up with excuses when it involves working for the purpose of education. Mike, I totally hear what you are saying!
I agree that the idea of constructivist teaching is great, especially for those students that are self motivated to learn. I also believe that if we are going to embrace such an idea, we have to do so fully. By embracing the idea fully, we must start at the ground level. This would mean an entire change in the way we do teach, starting when a student first enters a learning/classroom environment.
I also agree with you that students take advantage of the ability to use technology, and can then are able to come up with excuses when it involves working for the purpose of education.

]]> By: Mike Nealon http://www.shekky.org/blog/2010/01/bankrupcy-of-our-imaginations-dr-gary-stager/comment-page-1/#comment-1480 Mike Nealon Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:41:18 +0000 http://www.shekky.org/blog/?p=126#comment-1480 Much of what is being proposal here falls under the constructivism approach or sometimes called "discovery learning". I do believe it is more complicated then were willing to admit. While I support this approach the obstacles are many and of course this comes off as looking like a “naysayer”. 1) Students who are condition to learn through teacher-centered learning. If you want to challenge students, stop asking questions and waiting 5 seconds only to give the students the answer. I often tell my students, “you have my permission to think, its okay”. If we truly want our students to think they must be exposed to this way of learning throughout their academic career. You can’t expect a student who only knows one way of learning (teacher-centered) and out-of-the-blue walks into a class where the teacher challenges them to think on their own. 2) What happens to the students who are frequently behind in their subject area? I know in math if your foundation is not strong the problems with the current material will only worsen. Can we expect them to be “active learners”? 3) Let’s teach to the digital learner? I’m all for that, somehow the message did not get through to the students. When students ask to use their iPhones for the purpose of using a calculator I often catch them texting rather than doing their work. It is my belief that students embrace technology for the purpose of leisurely activities when it comes time to utilize the technology for educational purposes they become ignorant in their knowledge. This is true with our global village account. When students are absent I tell them they can access any missing work through the global village class site. Often students will give me the excuse of, “I don’t have internet access at home” to “the site freezes up on my computer” the worst part of this is that I cannot verify whether or not the student’s excuse is valid or not. Much of what is being proposal here falls under the constructivism approach or sometimes called “discovery learning”. I do believe it is more complicated then were willing to admit. While I support this approach the obstacles are many and of course this comes off as looking like a “naysayer”.

1) Students who are condition to learn through teacher-centered learning. If you want to challenge students, stop asking questions and waiting 5 seconds only to give the students the answer. I often tell my students, “you have my permission to think, its okay”. If we truly want our students to think they must be exposed to this way of learning throughout their academic career. You can’t expect a student who only knows one way of learning (teacher-centered) and out-of-the-blue walks into a class where the teacher challenges them to think on their own.

2) What happens to the students who are frequently behind in their subject area? I know in math if your foundation is not strong the problems with the current material will only worsen. Can we expect them to be “active learners”?

3) Let’s teach to the digital learner? I’m all for that, somehow the message did not get through to the students. When students ask to use their iPhones for the purpose of using a calculator I often catch them texting rather than doing their work.
It is my belief that students embrace technology for the purpose of leisurely activities when it comes time to utilize the technology for educational purposes they become ignorant in their knowledge. This is true with our global village account. When students are absent I tell them they can access any missing work through the global village class site. Often students will give me the excuse of, “I don’t have internet access at home” to “the site freezes up on my computer” the worst part of this is that I cannot verify whether or not the student’s excuse is valid or not.

]]> By: Shelley http://www.shekky.org/blog/2010/01/bankrupcy-of-our-imaginations-dr-gary-stager/comment-page-1/#comment-1473 Shelley Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:43:52 +0000 http://www.shekky.org/blog/?p=126#comment-1473 You couldn't be more on You couldn’t be more on

]]> By: Timothy Buckley http://www.shekky.org/blog/2010/01/bankrupcy-of-our-imaginations-dr-gary-stager/comment-page-1/#comment-1472 Timothy Buckley Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:25:31 +0000 http://www.shekky.org/blog/?p=126#comment-1472 I really liked what this video has to say since it is so true. I feel we teach to get students to meet a universal goal (regents) knowing this knowledge does not get carried on. We teach information to be retained for 6 months then complain when the students pass the test, and enter into a new school year as if they returned to a blank state. As the video suggests technology is sometimes the blame, but only because of the way it is used. Technology is not the end all solution, but rather a tool to allow the students to translate and review things at their own pace, but even then the video gives the problems school have. We teach students how to use technology in what we seem is "most productive" and beneficial, rather than surrendering control and allowing the students to manipulate the tools themselves to realize their own answers. Just because students are using technology does not mean good learning is occurring. Should technology be used in and out of school? Certainly, since it is our job to prepare them for the future. How much they should rely on it or even how it should be used is still in question. My personal feelings on the issue is that technology is not the solution or the problem, but rather then mentality of the teachers and students towards the devices. What does perfect integration and use of technology look like? To me it's a 1 to 1 program where students take the technology home and are presented problems in class that they have to solve on their own. We don't need to teach technology since they are light years ahead of us. By doing this we stunt them. Teach them the basics and allow them to explore on their own, then when they are presented with a problem they will be able to devise their own solutions and make a deeper connection to the content. I really liked what this video has to say since it is so true. I feel we teach to get students to meet a universal goal (regents) knowing this knowledge does not get carried on. We teach information to be retained for 6 months then complain when the students pass the test, and enter into a new school year as if they returned to a blank state. As the video suggests technology is sometimes the blame, but only because of the way it is used. Technology is not the end all solution, but rather a tool to allow the students to translate and review things at their own pace, but even then the video gives the problems school have. We teach students how to use technology in what we seem is “most productive” and beneficial, rather than surrendering control and allowing the students to manipulate the tools themselves to realize their own answers. Just because students are using technology does not mean good learning is occurring. Should technology be used in and out of school? Certainly, since it is our job to prepare them for the future. How much they should rely on it or even how it should be used is still in question. My personal feelings on the issue is that technology is not the solution or the problem, but rather then mentality of the teachers and students towards the devices.

What does perfect integration and use of technology look like? To me it’s a 1 to 1 program where students take the technology home and are presented problems in class that they have to solve on their own. We don’t need to teach technology since they are light years ahead of us. By doing this we stunt them. Teach them the basics and allow them to explore on their own, then when they are presented with a problem they will be able to devise their own solutions and make a deeper connection to the content.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.shekky.org/blog/2010/01/bankrupcy-of-our-imaginations-dr-gary-stager/comment-page-1/#comment-1467 Stephen Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:02:21 +0000 http://www.shekky.org/blog/?p=126#comment-1467 I to fear that one day robots will become self aware and consider humans subclass and try to eliminate us. Not really, but those types of movies do make us think. A calculator may help us add 2 + 2, but if we don't have the calculator, would be still be able to do the work? I survive perfectly fine in my classroom without a smartboard because I realize that what I do does not need one. I teach science, and it feels like the more 'technology' we throw at our kids, the less these kids get to explore the world around them. I teach Life Science this year and when the weather cooperates, I take them out. I can use all the worlds fanciest technology to teach ecosystems, but why bother when I can take them outside to explore the local ecosystem. By the way, I have to say the Terminator franchise is way better than the Matrix franchise. Though I don't think machines will become self aware anytime soon, I do think megavirus could hit our computers. That would probably be just as devastating. I to fear that one day robots will become self aware and consider humans subclass and try to eliminate us. Not really, but those types of movies do make us think. A calculator may help us add 2 + 2, but if we don’t have the calculator, would be still be able to do the work? I survive perfectly fine in my classroom without a smartboard because I realize that what I do does not need one. I teach science, and it feels like the more ‘technology’ we throw at our kids, the less these kids get to explore the world around them. I teach Life Science this year and when the weather cooperates, I take them out. I can use all the worlds fanciest technology to teach ecosystems, but why bother when I can take them outside to explore the local ecosystem. By the way, I have to say the Terminator franchise is way better than the Matrix franchise. Though I don’t think machines will become self aware anytime soon, I do think megavirus could hit our computers. That would probably be just as devastating.

]]> By: Sarahbeth http://www.shekky.org/blog/2010/01/bankrupcy-of-our-imaginations-dr-gary-stager/comment-page-1/#comment-1464 Sarahbeth Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:09:43 +0000 http://www.shekky.org/blog/?p=126#comment-1464 Education needs to be more about the contact time and the actual learning process than the technology we use. We should use the technology to help the students enhance and gain a deeper understanding of the curriculum. We should focus on helping the students to grow and gain a full, well rounded education. If we can help them accomplish this by using different forms of technology, then that is what we should do. However, if we are just using technology to mask poor teaching, then we should rethink our motives for incorporating technology into the classroom. Like it was said, anyone can use technology; but it takes someone with skill to use technology as an enhancer instead of 'something else' that needs to be used in the classroom. Technology is great in the classroom, when it is used properly! Education needs to be more about the contact time and the actual learning process than the technology we use. We should use the technology to help the students enhance and gain a deeper understanding of the curriculum. We should focus on helping the students to grow and gain a full, well rounded education. If we can help them accomplish this by using different forms of technology, then that is what we should do. However, if we are just using technology to mask poor teaching, then we should rethink our motives for incorporating technology into the classroom. Like it was said, anyone can use technology; but it takes someone with skill to use technology as an enhancer instead of ’something else’ that needs to be used in the classroom. Technology is great in the classroom, when it is used properly!

]]> By: Claus http://www.shekky.org/blog/2010/01/bankrupcy-of-our-imaginations-dr-gary-stager/comment-page-1/#comment-1463 Claus Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:08:08 +0000 http://www.shekky.org/blog/?p=126#comment-1463 Sometimes I wonder where virtual reality will take us. Will all this technology lead us into a future filled with problem solving wonders or will it plunge us into fear and darkness? I think about some of the movies that I have seen and many of them paint a very disturbing image of the future. The machines have gone way beyond human control. The people have become slaves to the authority and control of the absolute power of machines. Could are future become as terrifying as the one portrayed in the Terminator movies? Will mankind create a mechanical god and in so doing create a hell on earth? Or could our future possibly be a bit more subdued such as the one portrayed in the movie Wally? Could mankind pollute the entire planet in search of the cozy comforts of a lazy existence that has given every possible task and chore over to a technology designed to do all the work? Is it possible for technology to gain enough momentum to ultimately declare it self a supreme power by virtue of its own creations? I remember having a discussion in Foundations 1 where the question was,” Would you take the time and expend the effort to learn if it were possible to gain all the knowledge you could possibly wish for through a simple brain implant? Where could this kind of technology lead us? I would rather smell the roses while pricking my fingers on its thorns before I would subject myself to the same experience virtually. Sometimes I wonder where virtual reality will take us. Will all this technology lead us into a future filled with problem solving wonders or will it plunge us into fear and darkness? I think about some of the movies that I have seen and many of them paint a very disturbing image of the future. The machines have gone way beyond human control. The people have become slaves to the authority and control of the absolute power of machines. Could are future become as terrifying as the one portrayed in the Terminator movies? Will mankind create a mechanical god and in so doing create a hell on earth? Or could our future possibly be a bit more subdued such as the one portrayed in the movie Wally? Could mankind pollute the entire planet in search of the cozy comforts of a lazy existence that has given every possible task and chore over to a technology designed to do all the work? Is it possible for technology to gain enough momentum to ultimately declare it self a supreme power by virtue of its own creations?
I remember having a discussion in Foundations 1 where the question was,” Would you take the time and expend the effort to learn if it were possible to gain all the knowledge you could possibly wish for through a simple brain implant? Where could this kind of technology lead us? I would rather smell the roses while pricking my fingers on its thorns before I would subject myself to the same experience virtually.

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