Meaningful Tasks

The two attributes I chose are 'Authenic (Complex/Contextual) and Cooperative (Collaborative/Conversational).  This is a thought-provoking book.  I read every word of chapter one, and reflected on my own teaching methods and how I can improve them so that my students better understand the concepts and make them part of their continued learning.

Authentic

When the authors say that teachers 'remove those ideas from their natural contexts in order to be able to cover the curriculum more efficiently', standardized testing comes to mind.  As much as teachers desire a genuine interest to learn from students, test scores are what counts at the end of each school year. Each year, more is demanded from teachers so that test scores improve, and at the same time, we are given more objectives to cover. Not to mention all the practice tests students must take in preparation for the actual test. Students need to 'discover' the benefits and excitement of learning in their own lives.  This is why I don't lecture, but endeavor to get my students to be actively engaged in the lessons; the 'real-world' knowledge we are studying.  I believe that when they realize the realities we study is history and current events, they are on the path to become life-long learners. 

Cooperative

This attribute is so true!  Learning is enhanced when students (people) work together and help each other.  This is how civilization managed to continue and grow.  Yet, the 'old school' holds student learning back due to the belief that each student is accountable for his/her own work.  It is true that students should be accountable for their own learning, but learning as a community helps them achieve more; learn more.  The reason for independent work is that there are those students who rely too much on others when doing group work.  Many times, in a group of, let's say, four students, one or two of the students end up doing most of the work.  Of course, this is where monitoring by the teacher comes in; but in a class of 35-40 students, it's difficult for one teacher to monitor each and every student.  I hope that as we acquire more technology in our classrooms, we are able to see the reality of this attribute come to fruition. 

Having read only the first chapter, I am amazed at the amount of information and insight it gives on education, particularly concerning technology.  The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), the National Education Technology Standards (NETS), and Elements of the 21st Century Skills Framework.  I am impressed and a bit overwhelmend at the challenges we face as educators concerning technology.  I also find this very exciting.  We need change in our education system.  As new, young teachers enter the field, I am confident that we will meet these goals, since the younger generation has grown up with technology.