C4T Summary Post # 2

Structures  By: Monika Hardy  - In this blog post, Hardy is concerned with structure and the limitations it places on students. Are our students owning their education or are they owning what is being suggested? This is a central question Hardy asks readers to consider. The structures we place on children restrict their creativity and drive to think outside of the box   What they think of as being normal is only what they are taught. Structures set into place by parents, teachers, and government stifles the passions and ideas of students. While these structures are important to sustain safety, we must make sure that we allow students to freely embrace their creative abilities. We too often underestimate students' intelligence and willingness to learn .  It is important to understand that children are able to create their own structure based on their environment. Structure is an individualistic perspective. It does not look or work the same for everyone. Hardy states, “that one person’s organization/structure is another person’s muddle.” 

Adora Svitak

Adora Svitak on the "big" changes in education By: Kima - Adora Svitak is a 13 year old writer, poet, and humanitarian speaking to adult audiences at TED 2010, which is a small nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. In this post, Kima reposted Svitak's  recent article from her personal blog. In her post, Svitak asks, "why your age, not your aptitude, should determine your grade?" Some students are accelerated in areas where others are not. Placing students who already know information into a classroom where instructors teach to an age group creates boredom which may result in disruptions. I agree that there are some problems with this style of grouping. I assume this practice is intended to keep students at the same educational level as their peers, but if they are gifted then they should be allowed to reach their full potential in higher level classes. In her post, she also discusses the Authority Hierarchy in Schools. She expresses the need for students to voice their own opinion when making larger decisions in schools. Students' input can positively help form better curriculum and create lessons and assignments that reflect each students needs and interests. She also discusses the need for Online Learning. Similar to podcasts, online learning allows students to access information when they are unable to attend class. Online Learning allows teachers to post information that can be assessed by students on their own in order to provide class time for higher learning and not house keeping agendas. Adora understands that these changes will cost the school systems money. She suggests that schools budget more money for these educational tools and provide less for sports. 

Visit Adora's Blog -  http://www.adorasvitak.com/Blog.html