Comments on: AFT: Education must change to move forward http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/01/12/aft-education-must-change-to-more-forward/ Just another eSchool Media site Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:48:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: moursund http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/01/12/aft-education-must-change-to-more-forward/comment-page-1/#comment-43 moursund Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:39:54 +0000 http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=28961#comment-43 There are many ways to measure competence in a profession, such as teaching. One way is through self assessment. Provide teachers with a good set of questions that they can ask themselves, along with access to good materials they can use for self improvement. Not all teachers will take advantage of this type of approach to self improvement. But, enough will so that the cost-benefit ratio will be very favorable. For example, third grade teacher might self-assess using the following question: "Can I accurately explain the theory of evolution at a level appropriate to my third grade students, at a level appropriate to a discussion with parents of such students, and at a level appropriate to a "learned" discussion with my fellow teachers? Or, take the same type of self-assessment, but substitute "explain what science is" or "explain what math is" or "explain what poetry is" or explain what the Web is" or etc. There are many ways to measure competence in a profession, such as teaching. One way is through self assessment. Provide teachers with a good set of questions that they can ask themselves, along with access to good materials they can use for self improvement. Not all teachers will take advantage of this type of approach to self improvement. But, enough will so that the cost-benefit ratio will be very favorable.

For example, third grade teacher might self-assess using the following question: “Can I accurately explain the theory of evolution at a level appropriate to my third grade students, at a level appropriate to a discussion with parents of such students, and at a level appropriate to a “learned” discussion with my fellow teachers?

Or, take the same type of self-assessment, but substitute “explain what science is” or “explain what math is” or “explain what poetry is” or explain what the Web is” or etc.

]]> By: moursund http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/01/12/aft-education-must-change-to-more-forward/comment-page-1/#comment-2083 moursund Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:39:54 +0000 http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=28961#comment-2083 There are many ways to measure competence in a profession, such as teaching. One way is through self assessment. Provide teachers with a good set of questions that they can ask themselves, along with access to good materials they can use for self improvement. Not all teachers will take advantage of this type of approach to self improvement. But, enough will so that the cost-benefit ratio will be very favorable. For example, third grade teacher might self-assess using the following question: "Can I accurately explain the theory of evolution at a level appropriate to my third grade students, at a level appropriate to a discussion with parents of such students, and at a level appropriate to a "learned" discussion with my fellow teachers? Or, take the same type of self-assessment, but substitute "explain what science is" or "explain what math is" or "explain what poetry is" or explain what the Web is" or etc. There are many ways to measure competence in a profession, such as teaching. One way is through self assessment. Provide teachers with a good set of questions that they can ask themselves, along with access to good materials they can use for self improvement. Not all teachers will take advantage of this type of approach to self improvement. But, enough will so that the cost-benefit ratio will be very favorable.

For example, third grade teacher might self-assess using the following question: “Can I accurately explain the theory of evolution at a level appropriate to my third grade students, at a level appropriate to a discussion with parents of such students, and at a level appropriate to a “learned” discussion with my fellow teachers?

Or, take the same type of self-assessment, but substitute “explain what science is” or “explain what math is” or “explain what poetry is” or explain what the Web is” or etc.

]]> By: keen2learn http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/01/12/aft-education-must-change-to-more-forward/comment-page-1/#comment-39 keen2learn Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:16:23 +0000 http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=28961#comment-39 The critical focus must centre on how to pro-actively improve teaching standards. In the UK the Ofsted inspection, which entails a similar function, are dreaded by the majority of teachers and headteachers. This state of affairs has been created by Ofsted reporting their findings in a report rather than providing resources to help improve standards. It is a question of being in the boat with the school rather than throwing rocks at the boat from the shore. Whatever System is adopted consideration should be given to parachute any support needed to help the school and children improve. The critical focus must centre on how to pro-actively improve teaching standards. In the UK the Ofsted inspection, which entails a similar function, are dreaded by the majority of teachers and headteachers. This state of affairs has been created by Ofsted reporting their findings in a report rather than providing resources to help improve standards. It is a question of being in the boat with the school rather than throwing rocks at the boat from the shore.

Whatever System is adopted consideration should be given to parachute any support needed to help the school and children improve.

]]> By: keen2learn http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/01/12/aft-education-must-change-to-more-forward/comment-page-1/#comment-2082 keen2learn Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:16:23 +0000 http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=28961#comment-2082 The critical focus must centre on how to pro-actively improve teaching standards. In the UK the Ofsted inspection, which entails a similar function, are dreaded by the majority of teachers and headteachers. This state of affairs has been created by Ofsted reporting their findings in a report rather than providing resources to help improve standards. It is a question of being in the boat with the school rather than throwing rocks at the boat from the shore. Whatever System is adopted consideration should be given to parachute any support needed to help the school and children improve. The critical focus must centre on how to pro-actively improve teaching standards. In the UK the Ofsted inspection, which entails a similar function, are dreaded by the majority of teachers and headteachers. This state of affairs has been created by Ofsted reporting their findings in a report rather than providing resources to help improve standards. It is a question of being in the boat with the school rather than throwing rocks at the boat from the shore.

Whatever System is adopted consideration should be given to parachute any support needed to help the school and children improve.

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