Comments on Guy Claxton: What's the point of school?TypePad2011-11-29T14:15:48ZEwan McIntoshhttps://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/2011/11/guy-claxton-whats-the-point-of-school/comments/atom.xml/Ewan McIntosh commented on 'Guy Claxton: What's the point of school?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451f00f69e2015393fd8bfd970b2011-12-04T09:00:59Z2011-12-04T09:00:59ZEwan McIntoshhttp://edu.blogs.com@Devin - ThinkAlouds (I had to google them to see what they were!) might have some value if they happen...<p>@Devin - ThinkAlouds (I had to google them to see what they were!) might have some value if they happen out of genuine uncertainty from the teacher, rather than 'feigning' ignorance and working through it. In Design Thinking, where students have often picked a problem to solve where the teacher doesn't even know the answer, then think alouds like this would simply constitute genuinely good questioning to and fro - both student and teacher having a deep conversation working through lower to higher order questions.</p>Donna A. Menner commented on 'Guy Claxton: What's the point of school?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451f00f69e2015393dd8c68970b2011-12-01T23:17:30Z2011-12-01T23:17:30ZDonna A. Mennerhttp://www.modernseniorproducts.comVery interesting article about innovative schools, students that are confident, and the need for curiosity and imagination. The question as...<p>Very interesting article about innovative schools, students that are confident, and the need for curiosity and imagination. The question as I see it is how to motivate students to WANT to learn, and how much of this is environment and how much is just genetics or whatever? </p>
<p>I've been trying to motivate my granddaughter to start looking at different types of careers out in the real world and think if she might be interested in that field - then she will have an idea of what to take in high school. She is 10 years old and already, for the last couple of years is dead set against college (yes, I am talking up college already, trying to motivate her) maybe she will change her mind in the future - but she says it sounds like "too much work". So this is the opportunity - how to motivate children that they will WANT to work hard in school and further their education. How to make them want to learn just for the sake of learning? She is an average student in an accelerated school - but just doesn't seem to want to work hard enough to excel - just doesn't have that drive. </p>
<p>Is this drive innate? Can it be put there by teachers and parents? Will a school that tweaks their curiosity motivate them to WANT to learn? Can the design of a classroom or the hard work of a teacher instill imagination? That is the basic question I would like answered because I think some things you just have from birth and if a student doesn't have that to begin with how can all the creative classrooms and innovative teachers help? I'm fond of the old saying, "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink". Finding the right motivation may be key for many students.</p>Kartik Ganesh commented on 'Guy Claxton: What's the point of school?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451f00f69e20162fd228c48970d2011-11-30T18:25:36Z2011-11-30T18:25:36ZKartik GaneshI am moved by the very basic question about education that you raised here: "What is the need of a...<p>I am moved by the very basic question about education that you raised here: "What is the need of a school?". </p>
<p>Education should stimulate the imagination and creativity of a child, in addition to installing human values which will make him a better human being. Learning which cannot translate into something creative to the society would not have much value. The motivation to contribute to fellow human beings will come from the moral values. </p>
<p>I remember the importance my teachers gave to teaching "Bhagvat Gita" during my primary school days. Although it took me some time to realise the importance of the teachings, it is one course that contributed the most to shaping my character and attitude towards life.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting such a thought provoking article.</p>Devin Schoening commented on 'Guy Claxton: What's the point of school?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451f00f69e20162fd146a45970d2011-11-29T15:22:10Z2011-11-29T15:22:10ZDevin Schoeninghttp://schoeningseesit.blogspot.comI was struck by this question you posed: "Who's modeling learning about learning to our children?" I find that to...<p>I was struck by this question you posed: "Who's modeling learning about learning to our children?" I find that to be an interesting question because the idea of modeling learning seems to have two camps. </p>
<p>The first camp - the one your example fits - is that of authentic learning. Of taking on something where you might not hold a great amount of expertise. Of not being afraid of failure, and actually realizing the inherent value in failure. </p>
<p>The second camp - one that I often see my school leaders in - has teachers utilize "think alouds" to model learning and thinking to students. This all too often is a contrived exercise that has zero authenticity or meaning to the students - and not just personal meaning, but no actual relationship to learning.</p>
<p>My question is how does this way of thinking and teaching gain widespread traction in larger school systems. In the schools where I work, there are pockets of teachers who think and teach in this way. But in a system of nearly 700 teachers - teachers being instructed to do think alouds and read alouds (which I don't believe are inherently bad, by the way) - we fail to make a lot of headway down this path.</p>
<p>Really intriguing post. Interested to hear your thoughts.</p>