The Future

Why do you teach? 
What is the purpose of education?



In 10 years, over 50% of the jobs that exist are expected to be jobs that do not currently exist.  Almost all technology will be completely different in 10 years.  We will have discovered a ton of new factual information in the next 10 years.  In this time, we will also disprove a fair amount of the misconceptions we currently think of as facts.  Considering that we have almost no idea what the future 10 years from now will look like...... how should we be educating students so that they are prepared for this future?

Prepare them for success!!!

Big Ron Finished the Burgess Book: Teach Like a Pirate!!!

Today in breaking news out of Wisconsin, Ronald "Big Ron" Crowley has completed Dave Burgess' wonderful book titled Teach Like A Pirate and claims that he is:

"Now ready to dominate this school year.  Bring it on.  Rrrrrrrrr."

Big Ron is not a candidate for the Teacher of the Year Award, although this book may have moved him up the charts.  Wonderful book. Average Rapper.  Heart Warming Story.

Why Students Need to Know About the Phases of Mitosis......

THEY DON'T

Take a little extra time and teach some 21st Century Skills.  We should start telling students the truth.  This is my opinion.


I originally started this blog to generate some conversation.  Not that much has been generated.  I actually hope somebody has a great answer about why I am wrong about the statement above because I would love to hear it.  I am about ZERO for ONE-THOUSAND finding an answer by asking people so far.

Oliver Schinkten
http://compassionbasedlearning.blogspot.com/

Mentor or Used Car Salesman?

I am so frustrated with education right now.

  OR

I have always considered myself a reasonable and logical person, but I am absolutely bewildered as to what is required to be taught in school right now.  Why do we even have school?  Honestly, what is the purpose? I would think we are:


*  Trying to prepare children to become responsible citizens
*  Equipping students with the concepts and skills necessary to live a
    happy/healthy life
*  Preparing students to reach their potential, obtain a job, and be
    successful.
*  Promoting health
*  Promoting environmental awareness
*  Promoting literacy skills that are needed to function in society           *  Creating altruistic people

Maybe I am not correct on assuming this is what we are preparing student for.  If this is what we are preparing them for, however, why in the world are we going in extreme depth about:

Catcher in the Rye, mitosis, the ocean floor, mitochondria, the Prime Meridian, specific forms of poetry, the Kreb's Cycle, the Calvin Cycle, Grapes of Wrath, capitals of countries, identifying all rivers of the world, covalent bonding, writing papers with the teacher as the only audience, and on and on and on and on.

What are we doing?

******************************

This is the main point that I want to emphasize:  I have always tried to treat every student I have had as if they were my own child.  I need to look at myself in the mirror every day.....and more importantly I have to look these students in the eye every day and tell them that I am doing everything possible to prepare them for their future.

Most believe me, and therefore do what is asked of them in the classroom....but should they be?

Am I preparing them for their future?  Are all of the standards and content that we are requiring students to memorize.....are all of the worksheets students are being asked to do for tomorrow.....are all of the standardized tests students are taking.......preparing them for their future?




If so, why is every business and organization I have had the opportunity to partner with saying that they are not necessarily concerned about what the students know, but just need people who can:

• Communicate
• Collaborate
• Think critically about problems
• Solve problems
• Be creative and innovate
• Have soft skills (eye contact, handshake, leadership voice, etc...)

These are 21st Century Skills and they are being drastically neglected by the majority of classrooms!!!  AND, it is NOT the teachers that I am pointing the finger at (I am one).  We are doing what we are told.  We are selling our students the "American Dream".....or are we?

Are you really preparing your students to be successful in the future?  Are you a mentor?

-or-

Are you just following orders and convincing kids that what you are teaching them is truly important and will prepare them for the future, although you do not believe this?  Are you a used car salesman?

CHOOSE......then STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE.  

Do it for your students.

Speak Up!!! Your Students Need You.

This much content?  What about Life Skills?

I have personally made a strong effort to connect with hundreds of community members, businesses, teachers, and administrators and "picked their brain" for what they thought our students would need to be successful at the next level (whether this is a job, college, or life).  I have never heard anybody say to me anything about specific content.  Of course we have to have a general concept of how things work.....content is important.  I would actually argue that "concepts" are more important than specific content.  For instance, knowing how plants grow, why they are important, and how  they impact the environment and food web is more important than knowing that the enzyme NADPH is created which drives the Calvin Cycle.





What about all of the things that are "real".  Everyone will have to communicate via many different forms.  Almost everyone will have to collaborate in some form or another.  We think critically and problem solve on a daily basis.  These and hundreds of other "21st Century Skills" seem as if they should be the FOUNDATION of education.  Instead, I feel that they are neglected.  They are not required.  Our standards require that the content is taught, but does not come close to touching the complexity of these 21st Century Skills.

Is this why customer service is disappearing from the earth?  Is this why over 50% of students who enter college drop out?  Is this why we have major unemployment issues?

If the vast majority believes that these skills are so important, than why aren't we speaking up more an DEMANDING that they receive a stronger emphasis.  I feel as if the politicians and universities have shackles on K-12 schools, and that they use K-12 teachers and administrators as the scapegoats in this downfall.  Comments such as "Students are coming into college unprepared" and "we need to hold our teachers accountable by evaluating standardized tests", etc... are ridiculous.

Our students are disengaged.  I don't blame them.   As Seth Godin said, "If your audience isn't listening, it isn't their fault, it is yours."  The trend will only continue in the wrong direction unless enough people speak up and demand change.  Will you please be one of those people?

This is just my 2-cents

Oliver Schinkten
oliver.schinkten@oshkosh.k12.wi.us
Twitter:  @schink10

I wish I would have........

Give your students a head start!!!

I feel that I have talked to a LOT of juniors and seniors in high school that say they wish they would have done more in order to fill out a better college resume, scholarship application, job application, etc.....  I have heard many teachers say that they "tried to tell them this early on", but is this really the students fault?  After discussing this issue with most of the students, the first time they had seen a college application, scholarship form, or job application was when they were filling the real one out.  Shame on me.  I wish that I would have had them filling them out in middle school or at least as freshman/sophomores.  I think it would be a good idea to have each student have an ongoing college application, scholarship application, and job application.  This way, they will see that they will be asked questions such as "What clubs or organizations have you been involved with".  "Do you have any volunteer experiences".  Etc.......

Why not show them this early on in the game......and let them fill it out as they go.  This way, they are not surprised when they fill the real one out and have regrets about what they "should have done". 

Dressing Up is Overrated.

Dress Professionally?  What does that even mean?

I understand that this viewpoint is an OPINION and that many people will disagree with me, but I think that there is too high of an emphasis on "dressing professionally".  What does that even prove?  You could dress up a serial killer "professionally", but that doesn't change who they are.

"I think that we should worry more about people 'acting professionally' and less about them 'dressing professionally'."

Message:  You are different than me.

I believe strongly in building student rapport.  I think that if good student rapport is built, you eliminate classroom discipline issues and you get more productivity, ownership, and buy-in from your students.  In my opinion, one way to immediately damage your rapport building is to overdress.  I believe that a really dressy outfit sends an immediate message of  "I am different than you".  I have worked in a district with a very high percentage of low-socioeconomic status, so this phenomenon is probably extra relevant, but I believe it is true in most places.

Try it once.  Wear some crazy clothes.  Wear some crazy shoes.  Act like a professional.  Give the students a ton of respect and attention and see how it turns out.

This is just my 2-cents.  I would love to hear your opinion (whether you agree or disagree).  I am very open-minded and able to be swayed!

Oliver Schinkten
oliver.schinkten@oshkosh.k12.wi.us
Twitter:  @schink10