Happy Planet Index for the US

On Clay Burrell's blog, Bill Farren writes about education and the state of the planet.

The Happy Planet Index determines how ecologically efficient the country is at delivering well-being for its people. Bill writes:

the USA ranked at 150. My experiences overseas, in countries considered poor, confirmed to me what was in the report: nations where people have more stuff and are able to hire more services, don’t necessarily produce more well-being for their citizens. The well-being that wealthy countries produce comes at a high price to the planet.

I am surprised that we even ranked at 150 out of 178. What really is happening here is so upsetting.

Put forward the idea that most of our biggest problems aren’t due to lack of technology, lack of resources, lack of knowledge or lack of intelligence, but instead, are due to a lack of congruence with what it is we are told to believe and with the way a planet with a finite biosphere actually functions.

Most of this is what I talk about (generally met with rolling eyes - now where did they learn that?) Many students do not understand many of the issues, they believe anything they read, and feel they can do nothing to solve current environmental problems. I continue to use project based learning in order to help them understand material that applies to their lives, learn how to understand problems for themselves, think critically, and become an agent for change by making a positive impact.

In my family I am a recycler (in an area where curbside recycling is not present), I have always reduced what we use, and reuse as much as possible. I am modeling to my kids how to best live in the world and learn to live differently. Am I perfect? No, but I try. And I always improve. If we can inspire one person to think differently, then it can get passed on.

Gems from "Accepted"

Have you seen the movie "Accepted"?
I was flipping through HBO channels one day. Have you seen this movie? The one I normally would not watch, but started to intrigue me.

The story where a so-so student did not get into any college?
The story where said student made up a college acceptance, received money from his parents, and bought an old building?
The story where others heard about it and sent their money to enroll?

They decided to try something new and create their own school because these students did not fit into the college mold.

How did they decide what to teach? They asked the students and put it on a large whiteboard to see the patterns and decide the curriculum.

Who were the teachers?

They were students led by facilitators who took a lead.

Eventually, they were brought before the Board of Education to state their case to become an accredited school. They were not given accreditation but were given a year to prove their new university style.

Some of the quotes jotted down from the movie that were used to state why their model of education was not a bad idea:

"You rob kids of their creativity and passion."

They asked the Board: "Did you follow your heart or just played it safe. Did you take the easy road?"

They pushed for the right to have an education. A student "just needs the desire to better himself/herself."

The main character said that if they shut the institute down that "we will never stop learning, we will never stop growing, and we will never forget the ideals instilled in us."

And, most importantly, "Life is amazing and full of possibilities."

I wonder if many of my students say that and if a push in educational reform can make it so?

Techorati tags: Accepted, education, educational reform

Goal of education

A quote from Clay Burrell's blog:

The principle goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done; men and women who are creative, inventive and discoverers, who can be critical and verify, and not accept, everything they are offered. –Piaget

Critical thinking...

I may not be the best at this yet, but I am working on it. If we can get kids to look at new information in a different way, connect it to past information, and evaluate it critically...

Scientists are calling for our future need...

Moving at the Speed of creativity hosts a podcast from Dr. Steven Beering about future needs in STEM fields: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. We need to strengthen our investment in our future by encouraging and supporting students to pursue these fields.

More importantly, students need to view the sciences as dynamic possibilities instead of dry, disconnected texts. Meaningful, relevant discourse about topics of current and future importance is needed as well as a focus on critical thinking that provides students an opportunity to think like a scientist.

The podcast is worthy of time and attention and can be heard here.

Tags: edtech, leadership, podcasts, politics, schoolreform, science

A Manifesto

The idea of creating a manifesto comes from Christian Long: The future of Learning Manifesto. Christian is a brilliant and humble thinker (no, Christian, you should not offer apologies because I read your blog!)

My manifesto (declaration of intentions and beliefs):
1. Teach students not to just use tools but to leverage tools to their benefit.

This is discussed by Marc Prensky in Programming: The new literacy. Just watching my son play is the proof. He works to use the tool, but when he makes the tool work for him, that is something completely different.

2. Teach and learn to be able to question and let that drive learning and thought. This is more important than a bunch of facts.

I discussed this in another post below. It is critical thinking and crucial for effective science education that transcends not just learning science, but in understanding the world we live in.

3. Confront obstacles. I have a lapel button: But we have always done it this way. Of course it has a nice red circle around it with a red line through it.

Enough said. I was an honor student and learned my fair share of content. It really did not get me anywhere. I had to talk with people who understood what I was saying. How I used it and where I made my connections has made me who I am today. Students need to know that is important. Have we forgotten that?

4. Help students be the best they can be.

Talk with them, not at them. Find out what makes them tick. Listen to their heads and their hearts. I need to listen to mine more as well (ooh - a science teacher with a heart. Not sure I clue into it enough).

5.Walk the walk.

Students have always brought our inability to follow rules or adhere to what we say to our attention. Students can't just hear what we want them to do. They need to see how it affects us. My kids see the passion. (Some think I am nuts). They see my other passions too. I know what I am talking about and they love the stories that I have. My poor example: I am teach them blog commenting and then fall short on my own.

6. Teach and learn the techniques

Don't just tell them to google it - show them how. Give them the skills to leverage the tools to their potential. Learn from the others out there. I will always have something to learn.

7. Location, location, location.

We are in a remote area with a homogeneous community. I cannot travel a lot as well. But that does not have to stop myself or my students. Building a network is slow. I am impatient. I am an un-confident voice. I feel outside the loop. It will come. I will benefit from the paths I am laying now and the world will crack open that much more. My students will reap those rewards.

8. Push for a new type of Professional Development to be officially recognized.

If I am learning so much by reading feeds and blogging, why does it not count officially? I could be in Professional Development run from my school and find more information reading blogs and talking on twitter at that time.

9. I am new to this. Admit it because my students know it.

I don't have to teach some students. They get technology and smile (That is so cute, look what Mrs. Maine learned to do!). They teach each other. I need to let them teach me, tell me what to use, tell me what we should do, release the need to control the class.

10.Remember we are all just learning.

That is the name of the game. We all learn and teach. Be real and admit that. I stated in a class that I did not know the answer. Gasp! That is okay, human, and real.

I should save this to edit later as I am not finished. The list was quick and obviously will change (and should be written differently but it is a conversation with myself). But I am under deadlines and know I won't complete it for awhile. Besides, this is mine. Eventually it will move to an about me segment on my blog or on my learning wiki.

Technorati tags: Christian Long, Marc Prensky, education, manifesto, critical thinking