Sir Ken Robinson, in his TED talk “Changing Education Paradigms”,
lays out the link between 3 troubling trends: rising drop-out rates, schools' dwindling stake in the arts, and ADHD.
Quote one statement from the video that you agree with, another that you disagree with, and explain why you agree and disagree.
This video really makes you think and examine your views as an educator.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sir Ken Robinson statement of "waking them [students] up to what is inside of themselves." We as educators need to help students find their potential. We need to give opportunities to students to discover what they are passionate about.
It was interesting to hear that the divergent thinking of students decreased over time. I don't know if I fully agree with that, but there is probably some truth to that. A child's ability to think outside of the box probably does decrease as they age, depending on the student. I do disagree that this is due to the education system. As a math teacher, I really focus on students being flexible problem solvers. This is different from when I was in school. We learned one method to solve a problem. Now students discover different strategies that can be applied and learn from each other's process/thinking.
I agree: kids are overstimulated by games, social media, and other online activities. There is little balance and attention spans are getting shorter and shorter. I'm wondering how much media kids are allowed to watch at home or in the summer. What we/kids need is appropriate balance between these things so that we can use technology for our benefit.
ReplyDeleteI disagree: To be completely honest, I felt incredibly OFFENDED when he was talking about kids with ADHD- like I was some sort of monster for giving my child ADHD medication. He is NOT on the medications discussed in this video but it was still quite offensive. If you don't have a child with ADHD, do not pass judgement of those of us that DO have children with this condition. Turned if off after those comments.
Quote one statement from the video that you agree with, another that you disagree with, and explain why you agree and disagree.
ReplyDeleteAgree: I agree when he says that kids are living in the most stimulating time. Students are exposed to many over stimulating things such as getting access to ipads, computers, TV’s etc.
Disagree: I have had many students in the past that have been diagnosed with ADHD. Medications do really help those students in the classroom. When he was talking about students with ADHD, it made me upset.
One statement that I disagree with is that "ADHD is a myth."
ReplyDeleteWe may disagree on what the cause it of ADHD, but there are some kids that cannot focus. They meet the definition of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. We can also disagree if it is a problem or not, but there are many children who meet the definition. I feel we can educate them in a more engaging way and then the conditions may not present themselves very often.
One statement that I agree with is that 'Divergent thinking is crucial for creativity, allowing individuals to explore multiple solutions to a problem.' I believe that we should allow more opportunities for students to explore problems and come up with their own unadulterated solutions. We can then pose questions to help the students evaluate their solutions and analyze it for improvements and then adjust. We are too often looking for the same answers again and again. Don't get me wrong, we need facts. We need to know and understand what has happened before. We needs the building blocks. But do we want to getting doing the same things again and again?
I had mixed feelings about some of his comments on ADHD. I do think it may be over diagnosed in our society. But I also know first hand, it can be challenging in a classroom, and for parents at home and medication can be really helpful for some students. But I also don't know if it is the right solution for every case. Raising a little boy myself I see why they are more often diagnosed than young girls- young children (especially boys) need to move. They learn so much by doing, by playing. So much of our stimulation is informational - tv, phones, ads, radio, all of it, and we no longer have as much physical stimulation to match it, and give our brains a proper chance to process it all.
ReplyDeleteI loved his question - "Why is the date of manufacture the most important?" I think that this is a great observation that some of the education system is starting to pick up on. School districts in our area have begun to implement more and more times in the school day when students get sorted into other classrooms based on factors other than age. I think this is a step in the right direction.
Agree: “Kids are overstimulated by games, social media, and other online activities.” I agree with this because children today are constantly exposed to screens, notifications, and fast-paced entertainment, which can make it harder for them to focus and sustain attention in traditional classroom settings. There is little balance, and attention spans seem to be getting shorter and shorter.
ReplyDeleteDisagree: “ADHD is a myth.” I disagree with this statement because ADHD is a well-documented neurodevelopmental disorder with real impacts on attention, impulse control, and executive functioning. While environmental factors may influence behavior, dismissing ADHD undermines the experiences of students who require support and accommodations to thrive academically and socially.
I agree with the comment about ADHD. I agree that all the devices that kids have access to make school seems boring. There is not enough lights and sounds on the teacher to keep their attention. I also feel that at home many parents are trying to get everything done and so they keep their child busy by giving them technology to keep keep them out of the way.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that teachers don't give students a chance to be creative. I feel that many teachers provide different ways to present a project to demonstrate their knowledge. There are times when good ol' pencil and paper is what is needed to demonstrate their knowledge.
In his TED talk "Changing Education Paradigms," Robinson argues that today’s education systems are outdated and can actually harm student creativity. I agree with his point that schools often limit creativity by focusing too much on standardized testing, therefore leaving little room for artistic expression or creative thinking. On the other hand, I don’t fully agree with his suggestion that ADHD is mostly misdiagnosed because of overstimulation, school environments, or the use of things like cell phones and technology. While environment matters, ADHD is a real medical condition, and downplaying that could mean some students don’t get the support they truly need.
ReplyDeleteAgree: Many brilliant people think they are not because of the model they are being rated with. I agree with this in the fact that we give grades, or rate kids knowledge of concepts at a particular time. I have seen kids that work very hard for their B letter grade and then I have seen kids that put in no effort for the A+. Most successful business entrepreneurs I know did not fit into the mold of a perfect student which can make them see their self worth differently.
ReplyDeleteDisagree: ADHD is not real is something I do not agree with. I have had students that have said they like the way their brain feels on medication because it slows down and they can focus. Also, I do think ADHD has been misdiagnosed and I do not feel all children need medication. So there are two sides to that debate!
One statement I strongly agree with is his claim that “the problem is, they’re trying to meet the future by doing what they did in the past”, meaning our education systems were designed for an industrial age and haven’t kept pace with the needs of today’s learners. There is so much changing around us all the time now with technology that it is hard sometimes for education to keep up with the trends. I also feel like then we try to overcompensate with trying to incorporate everything at once without knowing exactly how to teach with it. Example being AI, it seems like there are thousands of ways to do it so its hard to focus in on making sure you're doing your lesson right.
ReplyDeleteA point I disagree with is when Robinson suggests that standardized testing is entirely harmful and stifles all creativity. While I agree that overemphasis on testing can limit creative teaching and pressure students unnecessarily, I think standardized tests can still provide valuable data about where students are struggling and help guide instruction if used thoughtfully. Going back to my earlier comment about doing too much at once is that we over correct to the newest trend. For awhile all we focus on is standardized tests, which i think is wrong. However, now it seems like the current trend is to move away from standardized tests such as shrinking down the ACT. Not all testing is inherently destructive, it’s how we use the results that matter thus I think there should be more of a middle ground.
Sir Ken Robinson, in his TED talk “Changing Education Paradigms”,
ReplyDeletelays out the link between 3 troubling trends: rising drop-out rates, schools' dwindling stake in the arts, and ADHD.
Quote one statement from the video that you agree with, another that you disagree with, and explain why you agree and disagree.
A statement made in the TED talk that I agree with is that schools often educate students in batches based on their date of manufacture rather than their abilities or interests. I agree with this as our current system assumes that students are to develop at the same rate and progress through the educational system at the same rate...one grade at a time. Students at lower and higher levels progress through the system the same way even though they need more than other students. Don't get me wrong, schools attempt to meet their needs, but the factory system moves along in a systematic way. Students are likely to benefit from a schools that personalizes education to each students educational needs.
A statement from the TED talk that I disagree with is the idea that the education system was designed mainly to meet the needs of industrialization. While I agree that thing such as standardized schedules and subjects were developed during the industrial revolution, schools evolved over time to meet current societal needs. For example, schools are focusing more on things like creativity and collaboration which are preparing students for the current work environment. For example, in my district, collaborative projects are a focus where students are provided opportunities to critically think. I have noticed a increase in student engagement with these opportunities. Therefore, I believe the educational system was designed with the flexibility to evolve to meet the demands of the ever changing workforce not specifically need the needs of industrialization.
AGREE: About the 3:10 mark, Sir Ken talks about students who aren’t academic, and consequently don’t feel smart, yet are very intelligent and capable. Different types of skill, but academia has given them a bad message.
ReplyDeleteI have adult friends who are in the trades; they are raising families and doing value-added work in the community every day. I have friends who are working with an advanced degree; also raising families and doing value-added work in the community. Once we reach adulthood, many of the labels of direction do away. HOWEVER, I am acutely aware of the pro-college message that confronts our high school students. One of my personal methods to support all of this is when asking a junior or senior about post-grad plans, I ask “what are you doing after graduation?” rather than “where are you going to college?” While many of our students DO go on to college, there is a growing population who are doing trade school programs, gap years, apprenticeships, etc. all things that will help them reach their full potential.
DISAGREE I struggled to find something with which I disagreed:
There are a lot of Middle schoolers who struggle to sit and pay attention to material that is not interesting (at least at this time)
There must be a better way of grouping students than by age, and in a large school like mine, then they are sorted (randomly?) into 12 sections. Some attention is paid to academic levels and prior behavior challenges, but for many, it is quite random.
I also agree that group learning is a wonderful way for students to teach and learn from each other, but at 12, their behavior choices and brain capacity do not equip them with the skills to take responsibility for their own learning.
I actually found it difficult to find a specific quote, or idea for that matter, I disagreed with. However, speaking about ADHD, Sir Ken said "It is a fictitious epidemic." Though I see where he coming from, I disagree with this statement in the fact that something is causing ADHD symptoms in people more than ever, so clearly something is going on. I could see where someone who has ADHD or has a child with it could be offended by his opinion about it, as the attributes of ADHD are very much present.
ReplyDeleteTo add to that, I do think our education system as a whole needs a complete paradigm shift as we are clearly no longer best meeting the needs of our students in this ever changing world. Maybe that shift could really help many of the ADHD symptoms we see in schools.
I agree 100% with Sir Ken when he said "Collaboration is the stuff of growth." He preceded that statement by saying "Most great learning happens in groups." Humans are social creatures by nature and bringing together ideas only helps others thoughts, ideas and actions to grow and prosper as well. When ideas come together, an energy is created which helps fuel the fire to produce something of value. With guidance, our students can learn to collaborate which in turn can help foster relationships and confidence within themselves! To know you are not alone is so freeing!!