The Element stereotypes that all schools are a 'fit-one-size' and tend to stifle the creativity of students with a non-adjusting curriculum. This is the public school prescription and some parochial and private schools follow. Directions like these strongly allow cracks to open up and swallow many students. The Element is a call for Education Reform. Everyone of us as individuals and teachers should embrace our creative side, with students as well. Open up and allow our students to become creative within the class you teach and the curriculum you follow. Every single class has potential to do just this. A good teacher should take the proper steps to change and develop his/her subject area to fit a kid's creative needs. An extended time period will allow and encourage this practice...
Note: Way too many personal stories in the book. Get to the point...don't try to fog and shadow us with stories that sometimes don't support the thread of the book.
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Teachers all should be open to the students interests and ideas. Students should feel safe about opening up and discussing their ideas or thoughts. There should be not one correct answer in discussions. Student should be given the chance to share their feelings. In 60 minute class, teachers will more time to be creative, and include both subjective and objective assignments. Education for each student should be personalized.
ReplyDeleteComparing Creativity with Novelty
ReplyDeleteB. Logan, P. Brown, & T. Irwin
Comparision
Novelty
Makes new connection that we haven’t noticed before, but there is no relevance in the connection--Gamesmanship
Nothing to do with box
An end in itself
Exclusive and segregating
Individual expression
Doesn’t connect
Distracts from the Learning Outcome
Creativity
Makes new connection that we haven’t noticed before, and these connections are relevant to what we are learning.
Think out of the box
Means to an end
Inclusive and integrating
Collaboration of teachers and students
Makes connection
Focused on the Learning Outcome
Conclusion
Assignment must be designed to avoid the novel and focus on the creative. The rubric should strive to energize the “element” in each and every student.
To me, the important issue is to find BALANCE.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I thought the author was trying to say we should completly eliminate tests. I understand the desire and the need to move away from the traditional Carnegie model of the Industrial Revolution, but I don't think eliminating tests is the answer. Our students need to possess the skills to acheive on the ACT and also on the tests they will be given in college. We cannot afford to lose sight of the importance of balance.
So, our job in high school is to allow our students to find out what they are good at through "experimentation" --trying a variety of new things/ new areas of studies to find out where their natural affinities and aptitudes lie. This "experimentation" does not discount the necessity for our students to acquire a basis of knowledge that will allow them to function in a society that expects them to have the same basis of knowledge that everyone else has. It may take years for our students to find out what their "element" is or is not. They may be searching for their element for the rest of their lives. However, we do them a disservice if we don't allow them to experiment.
ReplyDeleteKathy Svoboda, Kevin Burk, Mickey Schallau
From the book we took that as teachers we need to be creative to help students find their element. Ken uses math cards the kids create with their own artwork to help them study. He has found theey are much more likely to take the cards home to study then their book. In PE we try many different activities, in hopes that he/she will find one that will inspire them to be active for a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteI think being successful is a state of mind wanting to do your best in all areas of your life. Many people are successful in their "element" and not in other areas. The thinking that only students need to be successful in their element (or what they like) lends itself to failure in other areas of their life.