There are five conversations I feel like I’m having, over and over again. In my learning space, through Twitter, at conferences. I even read about them on blogs, in educational magazines… the five questions that haunt me because I feel like they are roadblocks. Things to discuss instead of taking action.
1.) Shouldn’t there be an “A” in STEM?
There’s a national trend right now to add the “A” in STEM, so that Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math will also include Art. But, the way I see it, STEM is already so much about creativity, innovation, and ingenuity that Art is already in that. Look at a rocket when it effortlessly glides into the atmosphere. If that’s not a work of art, I don’t know what is. Talking about the acronym takes too much focus off the actions we need to happen to get STEM at the forefront in our learning environments.
2.) Isn’t gifted education elitist?
If I had a nickel for everytime I had to explain this, I’d be able to pay back the National Debt. Being gifted is about being wired differently. Saying it’s “elitist” to meet a child’s needs is the same as saying helping a student with dyslexia in their reading is giving them too many privileges. The argument just gets the focus off of doing something. And doing something is what is best for kids.
3.) Won’t changing teacher evaluation systems make teachers work harder?
Oh gosh. Really. Do you know any teachers? Teachers are already working beyond what most can imagine to be hard work. Every single day. Trying to meet kids needs in the face of increasing demands. Believing that you can “force” teachers to work even harder by changing the way they are evaluated is like thinking you can get a Pro Football Player to score more touchdowns by giving him more things to carry when he’s running down the field.
4.) How can I become a connected educator if I don’t have time?
It’s not about having time. It’s about making time. None of us have endless amounts of time, but we all have to determine what our priorities are. The time you take to connect will enrich your teaching in ways you can’t even begin to understand, until you connect.
5.) How will ________[insert name of a device] change the learning environment?
Turns out, devices aren’t magic wands. No device, no matter how big or how small, is going to change the learning environment without a strong, collaborative educator at the helm of the class, leading the way, and guiding learning. If you give a class a brand new box of pencils, will that be a game changer? Nope. Unless what the teacher encourages and embraces students to use those pencils for. It works just the same for devices.
What conversations are YOU hoping to never have again?
