What are we to do in education?

by Walter Smith

Innovation needed in the classroom

British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta are the top performers among all the provinces, earning “B” grades on the education and skills report card.

The largest provincial differences occur on student reading, science and math skills — with provinces earning anywhere from an “A plus” to a “D minus” grade. The Programme for International Student Assessment scores produced by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development rates Canada as No. 2 in achievement among the 15 countries tested, second only to Finland.

We are graduating almost everybody, but many are not learning. In fact, if we go back 30 years, CBC reports were similar. The only difference then was that there were a lot fewer high school graduates.

Blaming the students

There are many who believe that the problem lies with student behaviour. Students who do not conform to the system fail because they are not behaving appropriately. They link a lack of progress in school to the behaviour of the student. But is this a legitimate rationalization?

Behaviour problems are actually a symptom of the real problem in education. The only factor that legitimately contributes to a lack of progress in learning is the quality of the learning experience.  

Poor-quality learning is caused by poor-quality learning experiences.

Schools, colleges and universities are mills that are largely run on the fuel of psychology.

Granted, teachers are well qualified in their specialties, but they are not well qualified in learning. Psychology is used to rationalize the incompetence of the mill. It is a force to rationalize negativity.

Traditional education is forced, it’s mundane, it’s constantly tested and it’s boring.

click here to read the rest of this article:

  Innovation needed in the classroom

https://affectivelearningwiki.atlassian.net/wiki/x/V4Aw

You can reach Walter Smith directly at walter.smith@nf.sympatico.ca