Week 2

Sir Ken Robinson states in his TED talk, "Reform is simply improving a broken model. What we need is not evolution, but a revolution in education." I believe this is very true and it is clear by looking at the education system there are major issues that need to be fixed and sometimes that requires tearing down the foundation and beginning again, but it is much easier to say what is wrong and propose a solution than to actually implement it and make it function. As I listened to his speech I agreed with much of what he said about the education system and its downfalls, but at the same time wondered how much of what he said could realistically be implemented and how soon this revolution could occur.

One of the major downfalls that Robinson pointed out was the linearity of the education system and the almost assembly line characteristics of it. It is as if we have the kids on a track and just move them through the classrooms assuming they all learn the same, have the same life goals, college, career, retirement. Like the example Robinson uses about the student who wanted to become a fireman, many of his teachers did not leave room for him to comfortably move outside of the box our education system has become. As teachers it is critical as Robinson put it, "to feed the spirit" to figure out our students passions and personalize our curriculum as much as we can to feed each of our students' passions. It is the idea of moving from the industrialized model to the agricultural model of education, to create an environment that allows our students to grow and flourish if they so choose.

Unfortunately, as with many great ideas there are hindrances that make it much harder to successfully implement them. In this case, realistically there is not enough money, time, or teachers to create classrooms that can have a true agricultural model. You simply cannot create a curriculum for each student you have. As nice as Robinson's ideas sound, as with most ideals, they are not completely attainable, but I do believe we can find a balance between the standardized assembly line form of education and the personalized agricultural form and create classrooms where students are able to flourish and grow more. We cannot reach the ideals of Robinson, but with committed, passionate teachers I believe we can start a revolution in education and begin the journey of creating classrooms where students are most likely to succeed and grow.

As for technology in the classroom, I think it can be an important tool used to involve students. Most young people today have grown up in an environment saturated with technology, to think then that we can keep doing education the same way and not adapt our curriculum to fit the way students are learning now is unrealistic. As Robinson is pointing out, we need to create curriculum and environments that best fit our students needs and learning styles and create classrooms that encourage their learning and growth, not hinder it. With how prevalent technology is in this day and age, it is an important tool in creating classrooms that students can flourish in.