Sharing is Caring

(I could only record 60 seconds)

The overuse of cell phones – or any phone for that matter – is another illustration of this faux-sharing concept. When talking or texting over a phone you may be conveying information but are you truly sharing? You cannot in fact see facial expressions or body movements over the phone – two mediums of expression that are essential with human interaction.

So, my question to you is, how much do we share these days? Does modern technology aid in the sharing process or are we just fooling ourselves?

Competition

I came across a wonderful article and video this past week that happens to piggy-back on my previous post quite well. Before you read on, please watch this op-ed video on the New York Times website...

Although I found the issues presented in the video to be quite engaging, one line stood out to me the most. One of the interviewees, when referring to advanced placement classes, characterized them as "preparation for the college application - not college itself." In other words, she argues that most students are taking advanced placement classes solely because they have been told that it looks good on a college application. Students are not taking AP courses to edify their knowledge base or because they have a great love for the content. They are simply trying to boost their GPA.

The other portion of the video that I found to be poignant was when the biology teacher was explaining how his course must cover such large amounts of information in a relatively short amount of time. On this account he is correct. Most AP courses are about breadth of information and have little time to go in depth with any particular topic. College courses, on the other hand, tend to be rather focused (with the exception of entry level, general courses) and do not cover nearly the amount of information that is required for a high school level AP course. In defense of the teachers, I must state that the breadth over depth approach is necessary since College Board (the creators of AP tests) tends to pull information from a wide range of topics under the umbrella subject area.

But, is this the best way to approach the education of our students? If students were willing to expand upon their studies on their own, then offering a large amount of information would work out well. During non-school hours students could easily engage in further exploration of those topics that sparked an interest. Unfortunately though, this is rarely the case. "School stuff" stays in the school realm and, for most students, there is no crossing over the "non-school" line during personal time.

I have seen (and experienced) the positive and negative effects of dedication and hard work during the high school years. But, I am not yet convinced that AP courses are the best that we have to offer for students that are willing to reach their highest potential.

College Readiness

One of the most common complaints that I hear from students is about the amount of work they are assigned. No matter what, it is always too much. Despite what students may think, teachers worry about this issue often. We must constantly ask ourselves if we are assigning too much work, and better yet, if the work we assign is valid. Teachers realize that students have a personal life outside of the classroom but they also have first hand knowledge of what their students will encounter after they enter the "real world." Preparing students for this "real world" is the most important balancing act in education.

Currently, the numbers show that high school educators are not doing all they should to prepare students for post-secondary education (college, vocational school, etc.). In 2007 only 53% of students in the top Florida public universities graduated after six years. This means that the other 47% were unable to make it through the typical 4-5 years in college. Although the causes for this high dropout rate are varied, one can assume that a primary reason students dropped out is because they just could not handle it. Is this because their high school education was poor? Is this because they were unable to properly manage their time? Is it because college was just too hard?

The answer to all of these questions is a resounding YES, at least for some of the drop outs. And, as long as this is the answer, educators need to improve the quality of the education that they are providing. But, the proverbial "buck" does not stop with the educators. Students need to take control of their education and realize that hard work, dedication, and motivation are required in the edification of an educated individual.

I would never like to see any of my students go off to college and then drop out, but the current numbers tell me that this may be a reality for some of them. What can students do now, while they are still in high school, to avoid dropping out of college?

Welcome

I would like to extend an enthusiastic welcome to my new round of readers. I use my blog to present topics that connect to our studies during class or topics that I find to be interesting and engaging. And sometimes, I simply just post my thoughts and appreciate the feedback that my readers offer.

I hope that you enjoy this adventure in blogging as much as I do. Please don't be hesitant to voice your opinion through your blogs. Also, don't be surprised when readers completely disagree with you. These debates will only edify your knowledge, analysis skills, and communication skills.

I urge you to read other blogs to get ideas on how to structure your posts and make your topics interesting to readers. There are some recommended blogs listed on the side of my site or you could always search for blogs through your favorite search engine.

Happy blogging!

A Fond Farewell

The end of the semester is either a welcome event or a bittersweet event (depending on my classes). This time, it is a bittersweet event. I have had the opportunity to watch my students grow-intellectually, creatively, physically - over the past semester and that is always my honor. In fact, it is often one of best parts of my job. Not everyone gets the chance to watch such an important transformation take place.

I want to take this opportunity to tell my students that I am quite proud of them. I have presented numerous challenges over the semester that most students have rose to and, in some cases, conquered. Also, and this may seem odd to say (but it does go a long way), these students rarely complained and worked hard to become better writers, readers, and overall students. I am grateful for that.

As you move on to bigger and better things, remember that there is always someone willing to help in room 361. Maybe I will even see some of you next year in my classes. I am teaching a film class that should be fun...