What is the "curriculum" Roosevelt is calling for in "Learning to Learn?"
What similarities/differences do you observe across the Progressive Era readings
(section one)?
Clay T - Dewey - My Pedagogic Creed
Clay T - Both Dewey and Roosevelt identify the importance of interest in the purpose and process of education.
Clay T. - "Education, therefore, must begin with a psychological insight into the child's capacities, interests, and habits." p. 34
Clay T - "What I have learned from my own experience is that the most important ingredients in a child's education are curiosity, interest, imagination, and a sense of the adventure of life." p. 4
Clay T - Education and learning is a social process. Dewey identifies the individual as a social being and using that characteristic for learning and as a purpose. Roosevelt provides several examples of how she used socialization as a means to learn.
"Education provides the necessary tools, equipment by which we learn how to learn" (Roosevelt, 4) Charla B.
Imaginative Method of Education
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"School is simply that form of community life" (Dewey, 35) Charla
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Curriculum should be a series of things which children and youth must do and experience by way of developing abilities to do the things well that make up the affairs of adult life" (Bobbitt, p.13) Charla B
Schools "are in need of a central purpose which will create new enthusiasm and devotion, and which will unify and guide all intellectual plans" (Counts, 62). Charla
Learning how to learn is calling for schools to be a place to further imagination, thinking, dialogue and learning the skills to be lifelong learners. The Progressive Era pushes for schooling to keep up with the changes in society, know the purpose, and create more modern circumstances for school. Montessori challenges the reasons we do things, we need to think about what is best for students and learning. Not just what is practical or makes sense. Curricula has to think about these ideas. Charla B.
This quote should be on a sticky note at every teacher's desk. It is so easy to use our instructional time on things that aren't good for learning and kids. Curiosity, imagination, adventure need to be remembered as important and necessary. Charla B.
Valerie - Opportunities
The Meaning of Curriculum
Valerie - Dewey believed that students should have the opportunity to be a participating and contributing member of a community.
Purpose of Education
To provide the necessary tools to be successful, to teach students how to learn since we can't teach them everything they will need to know, to provide a place for children to develop socially - A. I.
I completely agree! I think we often get lost in the little details of our lessons at times that we forget the big picture. - A. I.
Charla, I agree! Keeping up with the changes of society can be rather difficult . I often wish change would happen faster so we can incorporate more of learning, our students interests, and what is best for them in our schools. - A. I.
'Education, therefore, is a process of living and not a preparation for future living" (Dewey, 35). I found this quote extremely interesting because we often talk about how we are preparing our students for after graduation and how they will be career or college ready rather than just a part of life - A. I.
Valerie - Dewey defined the instructional problem as knowing how to clarify and build up the child's experience so that it would eventually grow to include the body of systematized knowledge which the adult already possessed. (Tanner, p 43)
Valerie - The most important ingredients in a child's education are curiosity, interest, imagination, and a sense of adventure of life. (Roosevelt, p 4)
This quote is extremely interesting! Giving our students opportunities to learn and show their knowledge is a crucial part of their learning experience. - Valerie
I thought that was interesting also. One of the things we use in our school is Mindfulness. It think this is important because we teach students how to be in the moment. If we enjoy the learning along the way instead of just the final goal, how great would that be for kids. Charla
Brittany - I think part of our job in schools is to teach students how to learn/study. I never understood my teachers' assignments in school, but found them to be extremely helpful in college. I also think Roosevelt talks about maintaining students' curiosity and teaching them how to pursue these curiosities.There is always more to learn.
Brittany - I also agree! I feel like sometimes as teachers we get so wrapped up in the content rather than teaching students how to understand and question what they are learning. In math, many students do not understand why they must learn certain concepts. It is not the concept that is important, but rather learning how to learn and make sense of ideas in any area.
Brittany - Roosevelt talks about how we "learn by living." Some of us are provided with opportunities to travel and engage with others, while some are not. I think providing opportunities within the classroom helps students to learn these skills, even if they may not have the opportunities set out for them outside of school.
Kate M. - Finding Interest and Meaning in Education
Kate M. - "If you can develop this ability to see what you look at, to understand its meaning, to readjust your knowledge to this new information, you can continue to learn and to grow as long as you live and you'll have a wonderful time doing it." Roosevelt
Kate M. - "I believe education is the fundamental method of social progress and reform" (Dewey, J., p.39)
Kate M. - When students are able to connect meaning and purpose to their education they are more involved in the process and seek out opportunities to learn. When people are willing, ready and able to learn from all experiences in life they are more likely to contribute to the overall social well-being of our culture and society.
Kate M. - Dewey believed there should be overlap in the different subject areas, so students could see that the information they were learning could be applied to multiple content areas not just limited to the classroom.
Kate M. - "the construction of a course of study which harmonizes with the growth of the child in capacity and experience" Dewey
Kate M. - I believe this comment pairs well with what Roosevelt was trying to say because she too talked about the need to have some background knowledge before you can move forward. The background knowledge is necessary but not where we should live when thinking about our learning development.
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Curriculum's Meaning-Adam
Curriculum should be creative and interesting to students. -Adam
Should tap into the student's imagination and sense of adventure. -Adam
Students should be a contributing member of the class and community- Adam
Curriculum should build on experiences and previous knowledge that grows as they progress. -Adam
Nate M. - Valerie, I agree with this completely. I read the Innovator's Mindset and getting students to understand that their talents and abilities can be developed is very important. Inspiring students to be curious and develop their strengths gives them more opportunities and helps them look for those opportunities.
Nate M. - Clay, I think it is very important to know your students and what they are capable of doing. Tying their interests into anything they are learning is only going to foster more engagement and curiosity. The hardest thing to overcome is if students come to you with poor habits and attitudes and do not look at the opportunity to be a part of a community.
Nate M. - Adam, I completely agree with this statement. Getting students excited about the content requires teachers to dig deeper and understand their students and their interests. You have to "hook" the students into what you are teaching which allows students to be open to learning new concepts which allows them to imagine and wonder.
Nate M. - Kate, I really enjoyed this statement. It reminds me of this quote, "unless you care a whole lot, nothing is going to change or get better." Students that come to class caring and having a positive attitude are open to learning new things and contributing to class.
Tyler S.--This goes along with this quote from Roosevelt: "By learning, of course, I mean a great deal more than so-called formal education. Nobody can learn all he needs to know. Education provides the necessary tools, equipment by which we learn how to learn. The object of all our education and all the development which is a part of education is to give every one of us an instrument which we can use to acquire information at any time we need it."
Tyler S--As a career education teacher, I love this quote. I believe deeply in teaching lessons that are bigger than the content. I use the content as a vehicle to teach lessons that relate to the student's lives today and in the future. Great that you included that quote.
Chelsey- Bringing in Passion
Chelsey- Bobbitt focused on what specific skills were needed to make it in the real world. All the focus was placed on where mistakes were commonly made. It did not matter necessarily matter what a student's interests were.
Chelsey- In comparison to Bobbitt, Montessori talked about how the passion of a teacher can have an effect on a student's learning. The learning was not just skills based, but built on exploration and discovery.
Chelsey- "All human victories, all human progress, stand upon an inner force." (pg. 29) This alludes to the fact that in education a student or teacher must have a drive or perseverance within themselves to improve over time.
Chelsey- I really like this as well. The student's need to be intrigued and have a desire to dive deeper. We can do this by finding topics that do exactly what you mentioned.
where do learners obtain education---Bo
Chelsey- I love this. I feel like so many of my students have lost their fire over the years because so many classes they take are lacking in these areas. They need that inner desire and intrigue to maximize their learning, and as teachers we need to do our best to provide opportunities for it to occur.
Bo---"If education is life, all life has, from the outset, a scientific aspect, an aspect of art and culture, and an aspect of communication. It cannot, therefore, be true that the proper studies for one grade are mere reading and writing, and that at a later grade, reading, or literature, or science, may be introduced. The progress is not in the succession of studies, but in the development of new attitudes towards, and new interests in, experience. (Dewey, page.37)
Bo---" ...the most important ingredients in a child's education are curiosity, interest, imagination, and a sense of the adventure of life. You will find no courses in which these are taught; and yet they are the qualities that make all learning rewarding, that make all life zestful, that make us seek constantly for new experience and deeper understanding. They are also the qualities that enable us to continue to grow as human beings to the last day of our life, and to continue to learn. ( Roosevelt, 4)
Jaclyn- Roosevelt is calling on curiosity and other important ingredients of interest, imagination and sense of adventure. These factors allows for the learner to grow and become a learner for a life time. (Roosevelt, p4)
Bo---"We obtain our education at home, at school, and, most importantly, from life itself. "(Roosevelt, 5)
Jaclyn-Theory backs this sense of carefree "experience" learning. Dewey states that "school must represent present life" (Dewey, p35) Finding interest in the alphabet was something any learner can take heart to . I loved this exercise that anytime when put in the situation of silence why not keep the mind growing by filling in the ABCs. when we give students tools like these they will expand as independent learners.
Bo---Both Roosevelt and Dewey agree that one important source of education is from life itself. When I watched my second-grade -daughter measuring objects at home and recording them, I have a deeper understanding of "education is from life itself."
Bo---I agree that "curiosity, interest, imagination and a sense of the adventure of life" matter, they make learners always want to know more. It is also a reason why as an educator, I always look for new ways of teaching in my career.
Old System vs. New System: To Discipline the mind and provide a background do of knowledge vs. to explain the things which we can feel, see, touch, and experience.
I feel that we need a balance of both. Education would be about exploring our interests and seeking answers to our curiosity, but I feel it plays a vital role is teaching discipline and responsibility - A. I.
Tyler S--Isn't it interesting how the same argument we are having now about different approaches to teaching was being discussed this long ago? I think it shows that we tend to get stuck in our ways or gravitate to the "new shiny thing". I agree with you that a balanced approach is best.
Jaclyn- This minds me of the quote" ideas stirred in your own mind, the ideas which are a reflection of your own thinking. which make you an interesting person" (Roosevelt, p7-8) this rings true to individuality within learners that build confidence like life long learning. Its our own personal takeaways that make as good learners but I think most students still feel they are stuck in the memorization of facts and knowledge vs.applying the knowledge.
Bo---I totally agree! Sometimes, as teachers, after we get used to what we teach, we do not think of changes. I think I need more imagination in my teaching.
Jaclyn- I think Dewey is ahead of his times probably which makes him a well-to-do theorist, But he was all about culture in learning. Its great to be able to "relate every fact learned with tangible world" (Roosevelt p6)
Bo---I agree! I have the experience that once the students are active participants in my class, the effect is learning is more obvious.
Jaclyn- Brittany your statement makes me think of the women that wrote (pathetic but at least they had a resource) letters to Roosevelt to get suggestions on readings and she said to read old Greek plays, etc. During a time when travel is impossible or finances are unattainable reading has been the only way to travel in the mind and has keep so many learners grounded.
Brittany - I also agree with this statement. Sometimes when I am teaching there are topics that truly interest students and they feel like it will benefit them in life. They want to know more and look up various things. The key is how do we create meaning to certain topics and concepts for every student so that they want to learn it?
Brittany - I also thought bringing up the ABC activity was interesting. This would really help to find the unique interests of another person, and maybe held to intrigue a student to follow a certain passion.
Brittany - I also think experiences in like help to educate. I think about traveling and all the things that I have learned from interacting with people from another country or visiting memorials. These experience made it memorable, but also intrigued me to learn more. I think it is our job as educators to create "mini" experiences in the classroom that help our students create meaning and actually learn about a topic!
Brittany - I think in some areas, it is hard to find the drive. Especially is a student has not found meaning in the subject area . This motivation piece is always difficult, but sometimes it is the individual that must seek out and find the drive within themselves.
Charla, I do agree that schools needs to keep up with the changes that is happening throughout the world. I feel like too often we are teaching our students content that doesn't apply to them anymore. Is it necessary to know all the presidents or all the states where we can so easily access the information on our phones. It would be nice if schools could spend more time or thinking and skills to be life long learners. Macklin
I think it is so important to build on previous knowledge and making those connections with students. Else students have no interest in the topic and quickly loses interests. Macklin
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Adam, the imagination is such a great tool to help students learn to tap into. We can change our thinking routines to help with that. Charla B.
Yes, I like that. Remembering the exploration and discovery parts lead to deeper understanding and knowledge for students. Charla
The tools-that is the important part. Charla
Jiayi- Public school and immigrant child
Parents are subjected to certain judgment that asks them to use Americanism standards to see their children. Thus, schools should support a multicultural curriculum to help immigrate learners value their own culture and identity.
Learn their difference. Schools promote appreciation to their diversity. Learn the learners. "Give these children a chance to utilize the historic and industrial material" (Adam, 57).
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This is so true! For deep, true understanding students need to explore and discover. As educators, we know that so many times more learning occurs this way. -Valerie
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Curiosity (Imeda)
Keeping curiosity alive and present. Encouraging students to wonder about things happening in the classroom, have questions about why things are the way they are, supporting their critical thinking by asking them to delve into deep explorations, avoid superficial observations. Those are the things that we learn from Roosevelt's letter. (Imeda)