The main topic in this week is the teachers' role in innovation, which is tightly related to Steve Jobs' who unfortunately passed away several days ago.
I do not choose the grey apple, instead, the colorful one may well represent the contribution made by Steve since our world becomes more colorful owing to his great innovative practices.
However, it should be pointed out that innovation does not simply equal to educational innovation. One of the obvious reason is clearly stated by Clive in his "What if Steve ran your school?": examination. In other words, it is the assessment system that exert negative influence on innovative practice in education.
Looking back to what is discussed in class last week, we can see there are traditonal and emergent roles of teachers. Although the emergent role seems more attractive especially we are trying to introduce something new, the traditional roles of teachers should also be reconsidered carefully. To manage the whole class, to provide useful and selected resources, to assess students' assignment are all teachers' task. More importantly, the traditional role is the basic of other roles. If there is no well mananged class and satisfactory resources, the innovation is meaningless.
Finally, innovation is a kind of personal practice and the greatest advantage of Steve's products is that countless of possibilities are offered. While special personalities and abilities are expected to be developed in school, as a class, students may be well organized to do something together. So it is the teachers responsibility to explore to what extent should we introduce innovative practices in today's complex situation and assessment system which seems hard to change.
I do not choose the grey apple, instead, the colorful one may well represent the contribution made by Steve since our world becomes more colorful owing to his great innovative practices.
However, it should be pointed out that innovation does not simply equal to educational innovation. One of the obvious reason is clearly stated by Clive in his "What if Steve ran your school?": examination. In other words, it is the assessment system that exert negative influence on innovative practice in education.
Looking back to what is discussed in class last week, we can see there are traditonal and emergent roles of teachers. Although the emergent role seems more attractive especially we are trying to introduce something new, the traditional roles of teachers should also be reconsidered carefully. To manage the whole class, to provide useful and selected resources, to assess students' assignment are all teachers' task. More importantly, the traditional role is the basic of other roles. If there is no well mananged class and satisfactory resources, the innovation is meaningless.
Finally, innovation is a kind of personal practice and the greatest advantage of Steve's products is that countless of possibilities are offered. While special personalities and abilities are expected to be developed in school, as a class, students may be well organized to do something together. So it is the teachers responsibility to explore to what extent should we introduce innovative practices in today's complex situation and assessment system which seems hard to change.
This is a money-oriented world. Apple has many creative and innovative products such like Clive mention below. However, money-driven is the main purpose to the company, organization and enterprise. The profit-making is the bottom line to determine this innovative product is success or not. The boss always want get 'instant-money'. They need the revenue immediately. However, they want to cut the budget, cut the research and development (R&D) time for their product life-cycle. This can affect the quality of innovation also! Because the innovated product and invention need time, idea and capital. Reduce time and money can direct influence the innovation.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in school, the bottom line should be the assessment result of the students. Because it can represent the teacher's role is success or not, just like the above innovative product is profit-making or not. Result-driven is a common point occurs in company and school!
Sorry guys, sick today so wont be there tonight.
ReplyDeleteThe real crux is what is the role of the teacher?
Is it to prepare students for examinations, or to prepare students for life. Are they the same thing? I don't think so. It's a tough one.
Clive, hope you can recover from sick asap!
ReplyDeleteYes, agree with that! On my opinion, a teacher's role should be prepared for student's life rather than the personal examination result.
However, in fact, this real world is a result-oriented, so that why many people hate this world and society! Right now, the world still has unchanged at this point! The real fact is really high-grade person can get into a good school and find a good job. Because school and company always look at your grading and marking when you are interview for the offering. The chances and opportunities are occupied by the high-grade guy always! I think this point should think in deep!
I hope the world's interviewing can change to use another assessment method rather than 'grading' or 'marking'! Because it is unfair to the person they got another abilities! But I think this change still need a time!
Clive, recover soon and take care. We are now having lesson.
ReplyDeleteOur professor just mentioned that while we are studying the effect of assessment / examination on innovative practice, in another direction we can look at a larger picture on the ecology in education... And do discuss further whether the innovative practice is sustainable and transferable.
Just a brief note for our discussion =)