Monday, August 29, 2016

September 5...Brainstorming a Problem-based Approach

Please use this space to suggest some potential topics around which we might organize our inquiries. In class we talked about how we could break into subgroups interested in common problems and do some readings, discussion and maybe even action.  I will try to jump in to help move us toward some problems that are broad enough to be of interest to several students each. For now, though, just start tossing ideas out there...
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20 comments:

  1. ladiosabriSeptember 1, 2016 at 8:45 AM

    A totally self-centered reply here, but I would like to explore problems with technology in education: over/underuse, access, lack of training, dependence, etc. I'd love to dig deeper into what I brought up in class and that is what is best for the STUDENT and not for an annual evaluation.

    Also, just generally exploring the tension between teacher-centered and student-centered learning. There is what we know in theory and then there is what teachers are/can do in the classroom.

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    1. AnonymousSeptember 5, 2016 at 7:59 AM

      Michael Schad:

      I am with Brianne. My focus is on technology in the classroom. Specifically, I am looking at the Maker movement, and digital fabrication within the classroom. But, more broadly I'd love to look into the worth of a "traditional" education versus an "alternative" education and how it influences our lives.
      The Maker movement in education encapsulated many past theories and philosophies about education. It would be interesting to look at why the Maker movement is seen as new and exciting, and to look at what happened to other movements in education that involved hands on experiential learning. What happened to shop class? Why aren’t people excited about shop class, or other vocational classes? Why is AP Calculus so impressive to college admissions, but not a class on Carburetors?
      There are also two books I’d like to suggest reading: Shop class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew Crawford (This guy actually lives in Richmond), and Out of Our Minds by Sir Ken Robinson. Both take a different perspective at the importance of education in life, and what it means to be a “happy” person – or so I have heard, I’ve not read either only seen their Ted talks.

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  2. ladiosabriSeptember 1, 2016 at 8:49 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2016 at 1:55 PM

    My current area of interest is around the problems faced by new teachers and how they can be empowered to identify their own areas of need and work toward developing and implementing solutions as well as support structures to be more confident, effective, and persistent. Traditionally, new teachers are subject to the professional development and mentorship of administrative and veteran teacher expertise. I'm interested in exploring how this power structure might be inverted by acknowledging the expertise of the new teachers themselves.

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  4. AnonymousSeptember 4, 2016 at 11:10 AM

    To piggyback on Donia's comment, I am interested in how all teachers can be empowered to identify and address their own areas of need as well as the needs of their students, and in implementing structures to support this. In addition, I am interested in critical analysis of the accountability movement. Carolyn

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  5. AnonymousSeptember 4, 2016 at 1:32 PM

    Hey, it’s Laurie.

    I was thinking that, in light of the lawsuit against RPS regarding inequitable discipline, we could look at the school-to-prison pipeline and restorative justice. Here are links to three articles about the lawsuit:

    http://richmondfreepress.com/news/2016/aug/26/naacp-lawsuit-alleges-black-and-disabled-students-/
    http://wric.com/2016/05/09/school-discipline-falls-harder-on-some-students/
    http://www.phillytrib.com/ap/harsher-discipline-of-black-students-spurs-lawsuit-in-va/article_26241eca-50a0-5a7c-a876-60536d277eeb.html

    And here is an article you probably saw about VCU’s School of Social Work and their work on the issue:

    http://news.vcu.edu/article/VCU_social_work_students_tour_Richmond_to_explore_schooltoprison

    It also ties in really nicely with the Nolan section of the Anyon book from 703. Just for kicks, here’s a link to another article she wrote about the issue:

    http://www.tandfonline.com.proxy.library.vcu.edu/doi/pdf/10.1080/09518398.2011.600263?needAccess=true

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    1. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2016 at 7:49 AM

      Kiara Lee:

      My research interests are closely related to what you've brought up here, Laurie. I'm currently reading "Pushout" by Monique Morris and its all about the criminalization of black girls in schools. I think this could be an excellent sub-topic of the larger topic you're talking about. In the book, Morris talks about how girls are often excluded from the school-to-prison pipeline conversation and how that adversely effects research/ practice. A more holistic/ foundations approach could certainly be useful when considering an educational issue of this scope.

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    2. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2016 at 5:20 AM

      Jodi: I like this idea of Laurie's too as it is relevant and a continuing issue/discussion.

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  6. UnknownSeptember 4, 2016 at 5:29 PM

    Hilary here.
    Hello Laurie: Thank you for mention Richmond [Re]Visited and the school-to-prison pipeline. I was able to take part in the committee that planned the event and would welcome the opportunity to learn more about the issue.
    My primary interest is in exploring innovative theories, models, and practices that are being used to address the unique strengths and challenges of refugee and immigrant students within the public school system.

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    1. Susan WatsonSeptember 5, 2016 at 5:45 AM

      Hilary - we have a commonality in that I've recently gotten involved in a Refugee Community of Care project with Anna Lou Schaburg (Schaburg foundation, ties to VCU SoE). My interest within the community of newly settled families is also education; my focus is the parents' engagement with their children's education here in the U.S.

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  7. AnonymousSeptember 4, 2016 at 7:09 PM

    Hey all! Brionna here.

    My main research focus is actually closely aligned with several comments already posted. I am interested in how institutional and social structures encourage or inhibit teacher efficacy.

    However, lately I have been involved in Art180's work with bringing attention to the school-to-prison pipeline and their youth led activism around the issue. That being said, I would be happy to work on a restorative justice topic or one regarding teacher empowerment.

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  8. Susan WatsonSeptember 5, 2016 at 5:49 AM

    Not sure how this translates into a problem-based task for class, but my research interest is what I call "colliding worldviews." What happens in the teaching and learning process when people with very different backgrounds, languages, cultures (worldviews) encounter U.S. curriculum. What does this "collision" of worldviews produce? Yes, very weird and poststructural...

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  9. AnonymousSeptember 5, 2016 at 7:02 AM

    Kim: I am interested in studying historical thinking and the narratives that develop as a result of our social studies curricula and standards. I am also interested in studying teacher education and professional development in regards to creating classrooms that value skill-building and democratic education, such as service learning, over the fact-oriented, memorize & repeat model that is reinforced by high stakes testing policies.

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  10. AnonymousSeptember 5, 2016 at 9:47 AM

    Hi,

    I am interested in helping students and teachers build relationships in school. There are many positive programs that assist with this such a restorative justice, and classroom circles. However there are also issues such as the school-to-prison pipeline, potentially colliding world views (as Susan called them), and high stakes testing.

    I am also interested in mental health education.

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  11. AnonymousSeptember 5, 2016 at 11:38 AM

    Hi everyone,
    This is Anna. I am interested in exploring how it might be possible to embrace a democratic and participatory educational philosophy within current school structures in the United States. We could potentially examine philosophies and ideologies regarding children and youth roles in the educational process within the United States as well as within countries across the world. This examination could be structured by taking a closer look at the school to prison pipeline (as suggested by Laurie and Brionna) and other issues of injustice in our school systems through a human rights lens (perhaps drawing on principles outlined in the UNCRC).

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    1. AnonymousSeptember 5, 2016 at 11:41 AM

      Anna here again: I meant to include a link the the UNCRC in my post. Here is is, just in case: http://www.unicef.org.uk/UNICEFs-Work/UN-Convention/

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  12. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2016 at 4:53 AM

    Virginia here:
    My current interests sound similar to a couple of my classmate's interests. I would love to talk about the refugee and immigrant population in schools and what schools are doing to accommodate and help those students be successful and families transition to American life. Any related ESL talk would also be okay with me.

    The current news about RPS is also very relevant, so spending time on the school-to-prison pipeline would be of interest. In a book for another class, "50 Myths & Lies that Threaten American's Public Schools," the authors talk about how the state of Oregon spends more money annually on its prison system than on K-12 public school. This could be a good jumping off point for us.

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  13. UnknownSeptember 7, 2016 at 9:13 AM

    I share similar research interests with Susan, Virginia, and a few others that look to discuss culturally and linguistically diverse populations. However, when I think of an overarching problem in education, the word equity jumps out. We could construct discussions using this as a root problem and how it affects the needs of different subgroups, including students, teachers, and districts. I know this is pretty broad, but I think it may serve various curiosities.

    Melissa

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  14. AnonymousSeptember 7, 2016 at 11:50 AM

    I am interested in anything involving pedagogy and the K-12 classroom. The teacher vs. student-centered classroom (as Bri mentioned) is intriguing to me. Also, the huge gap between the research based strategies discussed in higher ed and the classroom pedagogy that is occurring in most K-12 math classrooms. Even though I focus on math education, I am happy to explore any subject!
    Last semester I began following the opt-out movement as well. I find the who and why of the opt out movement the most intriguing. Connecting this to the philosophies we will discuss in class might be interesting. Heather

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  15. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2016 at 5:24 AM

    It's Jodi...I am seeing that my original post was not published although it said it was. :/
    My interest continues to lie in the realm of children of trauma in the classroom and how they respond to discipline as well as the teacher's perspective on professional development to aid in this area (or lack of it).

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