The best metaphor I ever heard for teaching “back in the day” came from Marc Prensky, an acclaimed writer and speaker in the field of education who is often credited for coining the terms “digital immigrants” and “digital natives.” At a November Learning conference I attended in July, 2007, Prensky described the old way of teaching as pulling back the curtains and showing students the world. That was a teacher’s job, expose her students to that which was beyond their immediate view and understanding. Then, with the proliferation of internet access, students gained 24/7 access to the world, and the role of the teacher truly shifted from the old cliche of “guide on the side” to “sage on the stage.” Thus began the struggle for relevance that teachers continue to fight for today.
Practically every state in the land including my home state of Illinois and my adopted state of Alaska are now using the Danielson Framework for teacher evaluation. The “heart of the framework,” according to Charlotte and parroted by trainers and administrators is Domain 3, Component C: Engaging Students in Learning. 3c is the lens through which every aspect of evaluation flows, it is the core of effective instruction. Yet as adolescents gain more and more access to the world and knowledge outside the walls of the institution, engaging them becomes more and more challenging. At Highland Tech we offer students greater voice and choice in their learning, and more freedom to explore their individual interests than the majority of secondary schools, I dare say. Yet engagement remains a challenge. Students possess abundant freedom to access learning through technology, yet many remain aloof from content and curriculum.
I wonder if we ought to consider streamlining our course offerings as students move through high school. Once they’ve reached a competent level of literacy, if their interests lie in STEM should we allow them to focus solely in that area? If their bent is humanities do they need chemistry AND biology AND physics? High school graduates ought to be well-rounded and they ought to have exposure to everything we have to offer, but when even the most dynamic teachers sometimes struggle with engagement, I wonder if we’re fighting a losing battle. Perhaps it’s my first exposure to high school students and reconciling the inherent differences between them and middle schoolers. They are very young adults as opposed to pre-pubescents and require a different approach, yet we still must engage them. Further study may be warranted on my part. I’m not ready to draw any conclusions yet.
Cultural observation: They love The Eagles here! No, not the national bird, the 70’s California country rock when-hell-freezes-over Eagles. There are no less than four classic rock/oldies stations and one that plays “whatever we want” here in Anchorage. I’m in my car about twenty minutes a day between work and home and rarely a day goes by without a “Witchy Woman,” a “Long Run,” or a “Hotel California.” Not sure what the obsession is about. Once again, further study may be warranted on my part.