What do grades do? They organize or classify students, placing them in advance or special education classes, for evaluating and judging teachers' and students' performances. The current system, in our school at least, is based on a scale of 100 points, numbers, and letters. The letters are A - advanced, B - average, C - below average, D - far below proficient, and F - failing, according to me.
In my opinion, grading systems don't measure intelligence. You can test poorly or not complete your homework, giving you 0s, but you can also be smart. Even in my best subjects I've gotten bad grades on assignments -- not that it means I don't understand the material. If I'm going to be accepted into only certain colleges in the future by my grades, I probably wouldn't be very happy; and that is what's going to happen. I know I'm not going to be accepted at every college I apply for, and it makes me unsatisified with the grading system we have now. Additionally, I've learned a lot more than my major assesments can prove. As for the standards-based grading, I think it's fine, but could be better. I honestly don't like the idea of targets, and you-must-learn-this-today-no-matter-what style. It gives teachers no freedom to express what they want to express, and it makes it worse having to cram exactly one "target" in a 40-minute period. So I guess something in the middle of standards-based grading and the current system would be fine, if it's the closest we can get to something reasonable.
10.12.2012
10.04.2012
The Creativity Crisis
Last week in ROGATE, we watched a TED talk (technical education and design) by Sir Ken Robinson. If you don't know what that is, they let one person go on stage, who's usually smart or's discovered something and lets them talk about whatever they want for 20 minutes or so. Robinson is a British oratorical fellow who knows a lot and has some interesting views. It was really interesting; you can watch it here. I agreed with most of it, and I guess I have for a while, subconciously at least.
The TED talk was based around the theme "Are Schools Killing Creativity?" (The answer is yes.)
Robinson's theory is that all kids are born creative, but over the years we're being educated out of our creativity. Most kids or toddlers start out scribbling, laughing, doodling, if you've noticed. When students progress in their lives and get to high school and middle school, options for creative classes -- not just art, but also things like debate -- are very limited. Also, we're forced to be quiet, do our work, and not express ourselves in any way other than what we're told. It's a very true thought process.
One interesting thought Ms. Mystrena tied into it all was that sometimes, when there's a project or other in school, teachers will give the option of making a poster, and they think that passes as a creative choice; they check that off their list. I've had that happen, and posters for geography or science aren't fun. A life without creative kids is dark and threatening. What if all kids walked around calmly, gray clothes, no stains or crayons? Luckily, some students rebel in their own minor way and end up with excelling creativity later in life. The unique thinkers are the ones who end up with TED talks sessioned. They invent, create, and innnovate; without them, where would we be?
The TED talk was based around the theme "Are Schools Killing Creativity?" (The answer is yes.)
Robinson's theory is that all kids are born creative, but over the years we're being educated out of our creativity. Most kids or toddlers start out scribbling, laughing, doodling, if you've noticed. When students progress in their lives and get to high school and middle school, options for creative classes -- not just art, but also things like debate -- are very limited. Also, we're forced to be quiet, do our work, and not express ourselves in any way other than what we're told. It's a very true thought process.
One interesting thought Ms. Mystrena tied into it all was that sometimes, when there's a project or other in school, teachers will give the option of making a poster, and they think that passes as a creative choice; they check that off their list. I've had that happen, and posters for geography or science aren't fun. A life without creative kids is dark and threatening. What if all kids walked around calmly, gray clothes, no stains or crayons? Luckily, some students rebel in their own minor way and end up with excelling creativity later in life. The unique thinkers are the ones who end up with TED talks sessioned. They invent, create, and innnovate; without them, where would we be?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)