The factory-like educational system of the early and mid 20th centuries may have done well to prepare individuals to work on an assembly line in the U.S.’s growing manufacturing industry, but that industry is now declining and our educational system needs to prepare individuals for the 21st century. We have attempted to move from standardized processes to standardized content, but have not yet completely closed the door on the ways of the past. Many schools still incorporate scripted lessons from which teachers may not deviate to meet the needs of his/her learners. And while some schools are incorporating technology, they are using it in the ways of the past rather than ways of the future. (ex. just using it for a multiple choice quiz/test, rather than for interactive and cooperative research).
I have a difficult time differentiating to meet the specific needs of every one of my learners. I try to utilize multiple instructional strategies based on the the content and what I know about my students. What works one year or even in one class may not work the next year or even an hour later with a different group of students. I have a few tried and true activities that I love using every year, but I have some that I have thrown out in order to add new ones. I am working on utilizing technology in a more cooperative and engaging fashion to prohibit “sharing answers” and encourage real growth in learning.
Wiburg, K. An Historical Perspective on Instructional Design: Is it Time to Exchange Skinner's Teaching Machine for Dewey's Toolbox?. Retrieved 3 June 2020, from http://michel.delord.free.fr/bibli1998/instructional_design.html
Continue to keep up your blog by focusing on the reflections section. Here you can determine your own big ideas like the following: changes in practices, growth areas, instructional approaches, assessments, outreach, parental involving, and collaborations. These a few of the major categories that you'll be including in your potential analysis for the end of course project.
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