Weekly Reflection 1 (posted late because I couldn’t figure out how to edit the website)

I am writing this first reading reflection in a google doc, unable to edit my website. I am having a lot of trouble figuring out all of these technology issues. I have never been the most tech-savy person but I am hoping this class will change things.

In class we have been talking about the implementation of technology in classrooms. This began for me in reading about Alpha School, a school fueled by ai teachers, before class, and I really didn’t like the idea of this school. It talked about how it believed this would push students further and challenge them more than traditional school, as well as standardized content more than traditional schools. However, I am of the belief that the purpose of schools isn’t to cram as much knowledge into learners as humanly possible; especially at the elementary level it is so important to teach communication, social skills, teamwork, how to interact with adults, and so many more skills that an ai bot couldn’t teach. It is also so important to have teachers in classrooms to notice who isn’t getting enough food at lunch, who may need an SLP referral, who may have learning disabilities or need glasses, or who may being living in an unsafe home. Teachers aren’t just in classrooms to teach, they are there to be an additional person in a child’s life who cares and who is looking out for them.

We also watched a documentary on High Tech High, a school that works in project based- group style learning, instead of standardized testing. At the start of the documentary we saw this young girl who was pretty quiet and reserved, but by the end we saw her go on to direct a play and lead other students with confidence. This school prioritizes learning group work over standardized testing. Seeing this, some people worry about the future ramifications for these students who don’t learn how to take standardized tests. While this is a large concern, the documentary also discussed how students barely retain any information from standardized testing the previous year. Keeping this in mind, I think it’s important to consider if our current education systems are actually helping the kids in it learn and grow. I think this type of schooling is very interesting to learn about.
Thanks so much! Hopefully this will eventually be posted!