As I began reading the end of Darling-Hammond, I was trying to focus on the first principle: meaningful learning goals. Honestly I can say that I agree with a lot of what was said in this section especially on how assessments should be used to better support students. I think something that myself and the rest of my cohort is doing with our research since we will be gathering data and then analyzing it. After analyzing this I believe that we can use these results to make our classrooms a better learning environment. These assessments should be used just for that not to rank our schools or our students. These assessments should be “used to guide learning, diagnose students’ needs, and inform teaching.” (pg. 292) I think that if we can do this we can really help students prepare for the future while instilling 21st century skills rather than preparing them to just pass the class.
If teachers can’t explore new teaching practices then how can we develop and improve the learning environment in our classroom? The third policy mentioned in Darling-Hammond, was Strong Professional Practice. I mean, who wouldn’t want an incentive for developing their professional growth? I have been lucky enough to attend a couple of AVID Summer Institutes and a talk from Jo Boaler but for me they have been free. There have been many opportunities where I would have loved to attend other week long conferences or daily conferences but I can’t attend because they are expensive and I have to pay for them. Why can’t the government at any level support teachers in a better way for these opportunities to be equitable and accessible for all of us teachers? This has to change. Another policy that caught my attention was the last one: Schools Organized for Student and Teacher Learning. I loved the idea that the a change should happen where there are “investments in technology that extend the capacity of every teacher and child to connect with an infinite variety of resources and tools for learning, and in new assessment systems that value students’ abilities to use these tools to solve real-world problems.” I feel that we are all trying to do this but our time to develop this is very limited with very little resources. This was seen across the Learning and the Brain Log where there was a theme across our ideas of changing the classroom where students are and can be more creative through collaborative and engaging curriculum.
3 Comments
James Macariola
3/17/2018 09:06:21 pm
I agree with everything you said in your blog. Especially when you said "If teachers can’t explore new teaching practices then how can we develop and improve the learning environment in our classroom?" For one to be able to solve a problem the first step they must do to solving ANY problem is to acknowledge that there is a problem to begin with. If we as teachers feel like we have nothing left to learn then it is time we need to retire from teaching or find a new profession. There is always something to learn and always room to grow in our field of work. If we do not attempt to grow then we are doing a disservice to our students.
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Kendra
3/18/2018 07:29:18 pm
I agree with you that attending professional learning should be more incorporated available to teachers. I have been really lucky to attend many different workshops and conferences since being at New Tech; however, it is often at the cost of being out of my classroom. I think we need a system where meaningful professional learning is built into our contracted hours and we don't have to be taken away from our students.
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Kristina Lopez
3/20/2018 01:11:12 pm
Imagine if there was more incentive rather than just a "well, your job is fulfilling" then I'm sure we would have a lot more competent teachers in our schools. While a lot of us did not get into this profession for the money, I do feel that our job is one of the only ones that people say "but your job is so rewarding!" Ok, but we still have bills to pay! I wish there were more incentives for people to get into this profession as it is probably one of the most important jobs in our society. Great insight!
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Samuel UreñaWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
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