Ed Weekly, Blog #12, 3-17-11

The following is a response to the Ed Weekly article titled, "Navigating the Path to Personalized Education", Volume 30, article #25, 3-17-11.

This article is about personalizing each students educaiton by way of increased use of digital tools and different teaching approaches. In the example classroom, there are 4 computerized white boards that students can use to solve problems as they work at their own pace to complete the current project. Basically, the students are learning the same content delivered in a similar way to each of them. Once the project or assingment is given, the students are free to use any of the technology available (such as laptops)to work at their own pace to complete their work. The teacher in the classroom, walks around and provides individual help for those students who need it. Students will work together and help each other access the technology that will assist them in their work.
I love the idea of personalized education. In a perfect world, each student would have an IEP. This plan would focus on the criterion that each individual student needs to progress. Ideally, we would only have to learn what we don't know in school. But because education is not individualized, often times we are taught things we already know, because the teacher is trying to get the class on the same page. Individualized education would eliminate the need for so much repetition. Education would be much better if students could work on individualized criterion, at their pace and have access to the technology they need.

Ed Weekly, Blog #11, 3-16-11

The following is a response to the article titled, "Cyber Students Facing Barriers to Enlistment In Military Services", Volume 30, article #24.

This article discussed the struggle students who have graduated from Cyber School have when trying to enlist in the Military. It seems that the U.S. Military looks at Cyber Charter schools as an alternative schooling and looks at it similarly to getting a GED. It seems that if you come into the armed forces with this type of diploma you a classified as a Tier 2. A traditional diploma is classified as a Tier 1. The military only accepts a limited number of Tier 2 candidates. So, essentially a candidate may not get in because of the labeling of Tier 2. The military has completed studies in the past that shows that those people with a GED or Tier 2 status are more likely to drop out of the military. Unfortunately the military has not revised their study to include the success/ failure of those who atttended cyber charter school previous to enrollment in the military. The military also claims that those who are going to cyber charter schools are often there because they have dropped out of traditional high schools.
I dont believe this is always the case. With the huge influx of cyber charter schools, it is only reasonable that people are there for many reasons beside dropping out. Hopefully, the military will get up to speed and begin to consider those with a cyber degree as equal candidates to serve their country.

Ed Weekly, Blog #10, 3-9-11

The following is a review of the Ed Weekly article titled, "Leaders Urge Shared Curriculum Guidlines Across States", Volume 30, #23.

This article talks about having a curriculum that is similar in content across each of the states in the U.S. The plan would provide guildlines for each state to follow in the major subject areas such as English and Math. I could sense the panic amongst some in this article feeling that this curriculum reform would stiffle their unique teaching style. The other side of the issue states that individual lessons and teaching style are still open for each teacher to use at their discretion. The new state to state curriculum would simply state a list of things that need to be mastered at each grade level. For instance, in the shared curriculum each 5rd grader will know how to do long division before moving on to the next grade. Or every kindergartner will be able to identify 10 geometric shapes before meeting the curriculum guildlines.
I think this proposition is brilliant. I don't believe any teacher should be able to have free reign of subject, criterian, testing, deliviery method and content. Teachers are very unique, individual people who mostly believe that the what and how of their teaching is decided by them. This is wonderful for the teacher, but not so wonderful for some of the students. The population that suffers the most from individual teaching style and diverse content is those students who move often. For these students, having a curriculum that is organized by grade level and is consistent from state to state is a must. I was "the new kid" many times throughout my childhood and I experienced moving from state to state quite a bit. I found myself always trying to catch up or killing time because I was ahead of the class. As an adult, I look back and realize that I have many gaps in my knowledge base due to moving. It was common for my family to move half way through a school year. I often missed critical info from the class I moved to and the one I moved from simply because of timing. I would love to see a uniformed curriculum used across the states. I think that it would clarify what is expected of then school, students and teachers according to the established across the board curriculum.