"When teaching is dominated by specific goals, the educational process becomes static, and there is an unnatural separation between the activity the student engages in to reach the goal and the goal itself."
in other words, if we are focused on a single goal and not the learning, then students will not really get to the thing we want them to learn. All they focus on is the test... at all costs. You can see this effect in people cheating on AP, SAT, and ACT tests. When the test is the entire focus, then reaching that goal at any cost is the way people tend to act. Ironically, the quote above was made over 80 years ago. It seems we haven't learned that being authentic in our outcomes is so much more engaging and motivating. I had a conversation with my curriculum director today. We were talking about our state CTE requirements. The state is putting a major emphasis on certification exams. They are putting this emphasis over the bigger goal of preparing students for future careers. The message coming from the state is that the certification is what makes the career. How sad. Employers don't want people who can pass tests. They want people who can think. People who can be counted on. People who can work with others. Check it out online. Company after company has publicly stated that "soft skills" are more important than technical skills. It makes me wonder if our legislators and state leaders really want all students to be successful.
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About me & this blogThis blog is for things related to my class, PL, coaching, or just teaching in general. You can follow me on Twitter @myakSTEM Archives
June 2021
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