EDF4033 - Assignment 1 by Bianca Allardyce

If the world becomes what we teach, what should we be teaching?

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What do you believe should be the purposes of education?

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When considering what is best for the child, schools and teachers should be providing students the ability to better themselves as individuals. Given that childhood and adolescence is a critical period in an individuals life where they are working to determine their core values and understanding of the world around them. Kohn (1993) suggest that through encouraging students to make decisions about their learning, the results are positive effects on student achievement, their "behaviour, values, general wellbeing and intrinsic motivation” (as cited by Walker, 2017, p. 455).

Therefore, acknowledging these different perceptions of what educations purpose is. Their combined aim in a modern society should still be to produce individuals who are critical thinkers, effective communicators, with human creativity skills (Most Likely to Succeed, 2015) as this will support them with job prospects and essentially the means to 'live a happy life.'

How are educators best supporting their students?

What educational practices might help you achieve these purposes in your own classroom? (What practices could you keep, reject, adopt, adapt and/or create?)

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"Educators are expected to be innovative, highly capable, knowledgeable and able to teach a diverse range of students" (Walker, 2017, p.448). Therefore educators must consider how the practices in their classroom aim to nurture their students development as future active citizens.

The environment in which children learn and interact with you as their teacher should "reflect the image you have about the child” (Malaguzzi, n.d).

If the aim is to promote children's:
- agency,
- creativity,
- their ability to be critical thinkers

The classroom and teachers pedagogy should reflect this.

What are students learning for?

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Additional information

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Learning through play

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According to Sliogeris and Almeida (2019), having a "play-based approach to students learning allows them to create meaningfully connections between their education and their everyday experiences and activities.

‘Both Piaget and Vygotsky believed that play promotes mental representation and symbolic functions which are fundamental to abstract thinking.’ (Woolfolk & Margetts, 2016). Therefore, implementing play in children's learning allows them to develop their skills as critical thinkers.

Are we providing the best support for developing resilient and constructive global citizens?

biancaallardyce — 2021-07-30 00:54:05 UTC

This video highlights the inadequacies individuals, particularly secondary students, feel regarding the current education system. Individuals typically go through the life:

Going to school -> University -> get a job (which they may not enjoy).

... Eventually they send their kids to school and the cycle repeats itself. Without giving much thought as to what they themselves learnt in school, they just accept it as 'that is what school is'.

The video talks about learning how to do taxes and understanding how to vote. But is that all that is required as an active and positive member of society? No. We need to foster students independence, creativity and other soft skills.

EDUCATION STANDARDS (Alice Springs declaration)

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Based on placement experiences there has been little inclusion or active learning experience in terms of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, other than Acknowledgements of Country being done during assemblies. Compared to Early Years where it is more imbedded in the curriculum.

This is an element I would like to change or improve in my future practice.

Enquiry

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Through enquiry educators can work to facilitate and foster students' creativity (Patston, et al, 2021) and interest in their learning.

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Therefore working to promote students intrinsic motivation.

Identifying the Big Five

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extraversion (outgoing/energetic vs. solitary/reserved)
agreeableness (friendly/compassionate vs. critical/rational)
openness to experience (inventive/curious vs. consistent/cautious)
conscientiousness (efficient/organized vs. extravagant/careless)
neuroticism (sensitive/nervous vs. resilient/confident)

Through acknowledging the Big Five, educators can prepare or determine how they engage with each child individually. For instance behaviour management, a study conducted by Ehrler and Evans (1999) found that students with the personality variables Agreeableness, Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness were highly associated with poor social behaviour and externalising behaviours.

Therefore, understanding these personality traits not only gives the educator the ability to take appropriate action, but intentionally mould and influence the child's behaviour positively.

Ways to enact this purpose

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Reference list

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ODNXHZbrhVAfgOkmkI8xBapBuzhG8gE6K0P80ABOFcs/edit?usp=sharing

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-04 08:30:58 UTC

Webster and Ryan (2019) state that the "Australian Curriculum is specifically designed for teachers - not students". Therefore, it is the responsibility of teacher to implement this curriculum and support their students in the education process (Webster & Ryan, 2019). Teachers' have a commitment to their students to provide their best teaching. Educational theories and ideologies are a complex matter, teachers provide the humanistic creativity and traits we as society now strive to instill in future generations. Furthermore, teachers are still learners themselves, cultivating their own knowledge alongside their students.

Bybee's 5 E's

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The application of enquiry in the classroom allow students to develop their own understanding of concepts explored (Bybee, 1997).

Rote learning: in the interest of high acedemic achievement

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The idea that "people don't go to school to learn. They go to get good grades, which bring them to college, which bring them the high-paying job, which brings them happiness..."

This is strongly REJECTED and something which should be disputed in the classroom and discussed with parents, in an appropriate manner.

Yes, teachers should still want their students to achieve and thrive in their classroom. However, grades and assessments should not be the focus. If there is intrigue and purpose then the results will speak for themselves. High Tech High for instance, their teachers openly say they probably teach 40-60 % of the curriculum. Yet, they have a 98% college acceptance rate.

Childcare: daily diary activities

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-05 05:23:01 UTC

The need to engage children in activities for the sole purpose of documenting the interaction. This shifts the intension away from education children, or creating meaningful relationships (DEEWR, 2019) and is of no benefit to the child.

These activities should still be completed but intentionally.

Involvement and interaction with children's parents and carers

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It is imperative to have a holistic approach to a child's education as through recognising the child’s stakeholders and the culture which shapes their cognitive development, educators have a greater understanding of what and how their students will learn about their world (Woolfolk & Margetts, 2016).

Educators and families share the common task of educating young people (Adams & Christenson, 2000; as cited by Woolfolk, & Margetts, 2016) and so, through acknowledging the child's various microsystems and mesosystem (Bronfenbrenner, 1979) teachers can tailor their teaching towards their students strengths and interests.

Teach Less, Learn More

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-05 07:43:16 UTC

Through streamlining the syllabus, not only was teachers' time freed up to reflect on and improve their practice, but the students were then provided the opportunity to participate in non-academic enrichment such as character-building programmes. Like High Tech High, this provides them the ability to develop soft skills.

Student-centred Teaching

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More information on the purpose of education branch.

Creativity in the Classroom

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If the aim of education in 2021 is to produce critical thinking individuals, with human creativity skills, then the implementation of simple activities like those explored by Catherine Thimmesh (2014) are key.

Key in adapting and elevate, our curriculum and current classrooms from the ~~mundane~~ standardised education to an education 21st century learners deserve.

Like Thimmesh suggests, how can we expect students to think outside the box if we're not providing them the opportunity to do so?

A Focus on Standardised testing

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The idea that teachers who wish to bolster their students' development as critical thinkers and visionaries, cannot do so in the confines of standardised testing and the current school system is simply untrue.

These changes can be:

As simple as lesson planning, which allows student focused learning to be implemented while enacting the intended curriculum (Walker, 2017, p. 457).

Soft Skills

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-06 00:20:59 UTC

“When students are encouraged to make decisions about their learning, positive effects have been recorded on student achievement, behaviour, values, general wellbeing and intrinsic motivation” (Kohn, 1993; as cited by Walker, 2017, p. 455). Therefore, why are we not promoting opportunities for more collaboration and interaction between students and their peers? Through allowing students to be involved in the decision making process educators promote the development of these soft skills.

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TikTok

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TikTok like all social media can be controversial regarding its application/effect on education. However, it can be a fantastic tool for delivering and creating content students can relate to.

Mr. Luke is a Sydney based primary teacher who posts content about interactions with students, tools used in the class, trends and his love for plants.

This TikTok shows the importance of the relationship between parents and teachers and the influence it can have on students learning and wellbeing.

Why teach?

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-06 01:23:34 UTC

Mr. Luke's TikTok on why he teaches is one which many educators can relate to.

What resonates with me:

We strive to provide an education which informs and equips students with the tools and knowledge needed.

But...

We must remember that they are still simply kids, and they have an innate innocence and naive understanding of their world.

Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge them both as learners but also as children. This can be done through providing them with the opportunity to explore and enquire about their world as we support them in creating their own meaning and narrative (Walker, 2017).

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-06 03:54:16 UTC

Current way of using technology during COVID-19. Connecting with students through using their names, showing that they are heard and valued in their school community.

Crossroads

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-06 04:03:53 UTC

All teachers are a product of their learning and experiences, and I am no different. I attended Crossroads Remedial School for 3 years, during my primary education. Therefore, their approach to education is one which I VALUE.

I believe that viewing the child through a holistic lens provides the best support towards them reaching their full potential.

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-06 05:29:39 UTC

Can we just quit standardised tests? Is it all or nothing?

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-06 05:50:31 UTC

No, there is NOT a one size fits all. Acknowledging that standardised tests do not work for all students is important. However, it is imperative to note that there is a place for them in society.

Homework

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-07 00:15:33 UTC

For the sole purpose of giving homework... no.

Intentional work which will contribute to a project which they cannot collect on campus... yes.

Critical Thinkers

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-07 00:35:39 UTC

Corrigan and Lancaster (2018) highlighted the importance of creativity in constructing a contemporary society and questioned where this creativity is "actually developed and nurtured." In a world which values creative and critical thinkers, it is hard to comprehend why learning is placed into subject specific narrow boxes. I believe that through providing students with experiences of interdisciplinary learning, educators can further support and develop students as critical thinkers (Reid, 2019). Furthermore, "if learning is central to living in the 21st century, and to preserving our humanity in an age of AI, then understanding the many aspects of learning is crucial" (Reid, 2019, p.235).

Creative education - rules

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-07 00:51:03 UTC

I LOVE this!

The idea that creativity can thrive with boundaries and rules. Related to the discussion had in EDF4033 tutorial for week 3.

Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory

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START HERE

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Differenciated instruction

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Differentiated instruction can be used to support students development of Soft Skills, like their ability to collaborate and time management.

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Zoe Weil - The World Becomes What You Teach

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-09 22:44:46 UTC

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-10 06:39:23 UTC

Furthermore, why give students added work that doesn't receive formative feedback?

Passion = Purpose!

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-10 06:43:02 UTC

Like Paige shows in her TikTok, what is the educators reason for teaching? If teachers are not motivated the likelihood of them conducting activities and providing an environment which fosters students' creativity, is NOT probable.

Strength-based approach

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Student-centred learning

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Intentional Opportunities

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It is IMPERATIVE that students are provided:

- guided enquiry opportunities,
- clear expectations and understanding,
- compassionate and patient teachers,
- lots of exposure to this approach.

--> Students cannot just be expected to know how to do their own enquiry if they've never learnt this way before.

In conclusion... if only it was that simple!

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Importance of flexibility!

biancaallardyce — 2021-08-12 12:46:55 UTC

PANDEMIC =
Change is being contemplated for education models after homeschooling

However, currently this model of online learning is preventing various learning opportunities or approaches from thriving.

This is a point to contemplate and not necessarily ADOPT but be AWARE of moving forward.

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