Charting the Course of Teaching and Learning in a Networked World
Dear Students,
Today's lesson takes us back in history as we witness and experience what British Prime Minister during World War Two, Winston Churchill's was quoted during a difficult time in world history,"Those who fail to understand history are doomed to repeat it.", and we will find that the events of the past will have an everlasting effect our lives today.
In the fall of 1918 a global disaster struck known as the most devastating epidemic in world history. This disease 'pandemic', known as the 'Spanish Flu', was estimated to have killed more than 40 million people world wide . . . unlike any seen in recorded history. The influenza epidemic was so severe that the average life span in the US was depressed by 10 years (Starr, 1976). The physicians of the time were helpless against this powerful agent of influenza the affected one-fifth of the worlds population. The pandemic came under control as the medical and scientific communities developed new theories and applied them to prevention, diagnostics and treatment of its' patients.
A similar 'Pandemic' is gripping this nation today! It is spreading easily from victim to victim and no cure in is sight. It's prevention and treatment is possible, but many individual refused to seek a cure. This 'disease' can trap people into a comatose state in which may paralyze them for years to come. It's easy to catch this disease and difficult to rid yourself of its' gripping hold on you. Unlike the pandemic of 1918, this disease doesn't seem to have a cure. This disease is excepted throughout our society and the scientific and medical communities have no control of this 'virus' as it looms everywhere out of control. This pandemic is called . . . MEDIOCRACY. Yes, mediocracy is the disease that is running ramped throughout our society and in our SCHOOLS. Mediocracy is not concerned with the quality of content of a culture ( or school), but it does care to some extent about appearances (window dressing - looking good on the outside). Our schools need to do better to equip you with the tools you will need to avoid this contagious disease called mediocracy.
I recently viewed an ad campaign from Kaplan University that makes a statement that the traditional higher education system (college) doesn't always meet the needs of today's adult learners and they claim in their ad to 'customize' their education to meet their needs, and by providing resources and support to help them succeed. The ad is a 60-second commercial dipicting a professor standing before a lecture hall of students and apologizes to his class that their educational experience does not have to be limited to the classroom and that it is 'time' to change the institution to the needs of 'your needs' (students).
This promotional ad campaign for Kaplan University actually speaks volumes of education today, not only for the traditional higher educational system, but for all schools K-12. The 'time' is now for change and the future of our nation falls on schools to begin TODAY. Our destiny is not written for us, but it must be written by us! Students, we owe you more than what you're receiving from your public schools. It is time we adapt to you instead of you adapting to us by 'writing' your destiny.
What is your destiny? What do you want from school/education? How do you learn? What are we doing to foster your learning styles? How is our instruction adapting to you? What is your "Personal Manifest Destiny" (How you want to expand your mind and capabilities)? Be a voice TODAY! Let us (schools) NOT repeat history by failing to meet the needs of our precious commodity . . . YOU!
In the fall of 1918 a global disaster struck known as the most devastating epidemic in world history. This disease 'pandemic', known as the 'Spanish Flu', was estimated to have killed more than 40 million people world wide . . . unlike any seen in recorded history. The influenza epidemic was so severe that the average life span in the US was depressed by 10 years (Starr, 1976). The physicians of the time were helpless against this powerful agent of influenza the affected one-fifth of the worlds population. The pandemic came under control as the medical and scientific communities developed new theories and applied them to prevention, diagnostics and treatment of its' patients.
A similar 'Pandemic' is gripping this nation today! It is spreading easily from victim to victim and no cure in is sight. It's prevention and treatment is possible, but many individual refused to seek a cure. This 'disease' can trap people into a comatose state in which may paralyze them for years to come. It's easy to catch this disease and difficult to rid yourself of its' gripping hold on you. Unlike the pandemic of 1918, this disease doesn't seem to have a cure. This disease is excepted throughout our society and the scientific and medical communities have no control of this 'virus' as it looms everywhere out of control. This pandemic is called . . . MEDIOCRACY. Yes, mediocracy is the disease that is running ramped throughout our society and in our SCHOOLS. Mediocracy is not concerned with the quality of content of a culture ( or school), but it does care to some extent about appearances (window dressing - looking good on the outside). Our schools need to do better to equip you with the tools you will need to avoid this contagious disease called mediocracy.
I recently viewed an ad campaign from Kaplan University that makes a statement that the traditional higher education system (college) doesn't always meet the needs of today's adult learners and they claim in their ad to 'customize' their education to meet their needs, and by providing resources and support to help them succeed. The ad is a 60-second commercial dipicting a professor standing before a lecture hall of students and apologizes to his class that their educational experience does not have to be limited to the classroom and that it is 'time' to change the institution to the needs of 'your needs' (students).
This promotional ad campaign for Kaplan University actually speaks volumes of education today, not only for the traditional higher educational system, but for all schools K-12. The 'time' is now for change and the future of our nation falls on schools to begin TODAY. Our destiny is not written for us, but it must be written by us! Students, we owe you more than what you're receiving from your public schools. It is time we adapt to you instead of you adapting to us by 'writing' your destiny.
What is your destiny? What do you want from school/education? How do you learn? What are we doing to foster your learning styles? How is our instruction adapting to you? What is your "Personal Manifest Destiny" (How you want to expand your mind and capabilities)? Be a voice TODAY! Let us (schools) NOT repeat history by failing to meet the needs of our precious commodity . . . YOU!
Comment
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Comment by mccmodlab on January 16, 2009 at 7:53am -
Dear Mr.Quinlan
I think school would be alot more fun if we could go online when ever we wanted.Students do not understand teachers when they tell you in words not physicaly.WE think that we should be in deferent groups for what level we are.
that is what we think about school today. Logan Larsen and Josh Quinn
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Comment by mccmodlab on January 16, 2009 at 7:52am
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dear mr. Quinlan
i think schols should have, for each lesson, a way for each type of learning style.For example I learn by doing hands on things, some people are visual learners, some learn by doing hands on things, and some learn by listening. I think that teachers should have a diffrent kind of way (of teaching) for each of these kinds of learning. I also think that people should be allowed to have access to internet, library, ad other resources in order to learn. I also think we should take more school trips.
chase barnett 3rd hour
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Comment by mccmodlab on January 16, 2009 at 7:52am
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dear mr quinlan
jessica 3rd hour
i think we should be tought in different ways not the same ways all the time, there should be more hands on learning and we should work alone so we can pay attention. :)
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Comment by mccmodlab on January 16, 2009 at 7:51am
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Dear Mr.Quinlan
the one below isi think MCC schools are teaching us the same way everyday, and year. When we talk about something like Grand Canyon we should be going there to see it. We should teach the teacher what we already know about the subject.
Jared Knizacky and Daniel Fugere
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Comment by mccmodlab on January 16, 2009 at 7:50am
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Dear Mr.Quinlan I think that your article is true because us kids we should be able to do what ever we set our minds to. I think it would be great if we got to chose to vote and other things we can't do now.
Makila Hodges 3rd hour
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Comment by mccmodlab on January 16, 2009 at 7:50am
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dear mr. Quinlan
i think schols should have, for each lesson, a way for each type of learning style.For example I learn by doing hands on things, some people are visual learners, some learn by doing hands on things, and some learn by listening. I think that teachers should have a diffrent kind of way (of teaching) for each of these kinds of learning. I also think that people should be allowed to have access to internet, library, ad other resources in order to learn. I also think we should take more school trips.
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Comment by mccmodlab on January 16, 2009 at 7:49am
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the one below is Jared Knizacky and Daniel Fugere
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Comment by mccmodlab on January 16, 2009 at 7:48am
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dear mr.quinlan
Anthony 3rd hour
i think we should be able to work at our own rate, take more field trips, choose the class's we want to take, and i would like if we could use computers more often.
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Comment by mccmodlab on January 16, 2009 at 7:48am
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Dear Mr.Quinlan,
i think MCC schools are teaching us the same way everyday, and year. When we talk about something like Grand Canyon we should be going there to see it. We should teach the teacher what we already know about the subject.
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Comment by mccmodlab on January 16, 2009 at 7:48am
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Dear, Mr.Q
we belive there should be more hands on S.S.,math, and L.A. also more time to do are homework that we dont understand.
from Noah Genson And Zack LaPonite
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