If I Built A School
Krissy Venosdale is a gifted teacher for grades 3-6. She has taught in Missouri for ten years. Krissy loves sharing her passion for Math, Science, Engineering, and Technology with her students. Venosdale sees her students as inspiration to why she teaches. She stated on Why I Teach that her students "inspire me to rise to the challenge of meeting all their needs, ensuring their growth, and of reaching out to build a relationship with every single one who comes into our class." In addition to her passion for education, she maintains a blog called Venspired.
In one particular blog post called If I Built A School, Krissy Venosdale explains what it would be like if she open her own school. Not having any experience on how a school is started, and quite frankly she doesn't care, she explains how inviting her school would be. From the moment anyone enters inside her dream school, creative ideas would be everywhere a person would possibly think it could be. The school would be equipped with anything students may need so that they could be collaborative learners. From the art room looking like an actual art studio to the science lab having all the material that students may need to conduct an experiment, every need would be met. Venosdale also explains how collaboration would be supported in her school and grade levels would be more like advancing to another room. Students would advance to the next grade level not based on age but by their "readiness and ability" (Venosdale). In addition, Krissy's school would not have a set curriculum. Every standard would be met but at their own pace. Homework wouldn't be the main focus and having electronics would be allowed. In regards to having electronics, the only regulation would be to trust, respect, and have knowledge on the device that's being used in class.
Building a School in the Cloud
Sagata Mitra is the Professor of Education, Communication and Language Technology at Newcastle University (Wiki). Dr. Mitra is best know for the "Hole in the Wall" experiment (TED). This experiment shows that a teacher doesn't have to be present for students to teach themselves. The whole point of the "Hole in the Wall" experiment is to show that an environment that shows curiosity can learn from instructing themselves and helping each other.
In Dr. Mitra video, Build A School in the Cloud, he starts by explaining that education came from the British Empire about 300 years ago. There was no Internet, no phone, and data was handwritten. Victorians traveled by ship and global computer was made out of people and ships called the Bureaucratic Administrative Machine. Schools produced the people that helped run the machine. Everything had to be identical, which is handwriting, reading, and performing basic math skills in their head. Victorians were great engineers. However, Mitra made the statement that schools are now "obsolete." He's not saying it's broken; however, schools need to change with society. From the "Hole in the Wall" experiment, Dr. Mitra prove that students have the ability to teach themselves. In addition, teachers should serve as guidance and raise questions, "intangible questions." Sugata Mitra came up with the idea called SOLE. SOLE stands for Self Organized Learning Environment. SOLE consists of Broadband, Collaboration, and Encouragement put together. In other words, let the learning process happen on its own.
Krissy Venosdale and Sugata Mitra both made important statements on innovating learning. I can only imagine what my class will be like when I start teaching. The grade I want to teach is grade 6. The subject will be reading. I will raise a question and let great minds wonder. Being a collaborative teacher is something I will be. Therefore, most of their assignments will be team base and research. There wouldn't be any dull moments in my class.
What do you want your students to know?
Some of the basic things I want my students to know is how to work a computer. I want them to know how to do a simple browse and create a free email. I want them to know how to research to find answers.
What do you want your students to do?
I want them to be able to follow instructions. Some assignments may require them to follow instructions on paper to find answers to questions. Therefore, they must know how to pay attention to details.
What will be your primary way of teaching your students? What you want them to know and do?
My primary way of teaching will be Class Discussions. I like to know what the kids think about certain situations. What I want them to know and do is be creative thinkers. I want them to be able to express themselves.
What tool will you use in your classroom?
A tool I will use in my classroom is open-ended questioning. Since discussions are based off of open-ended questioning, what would've been a better tool.
What role will students play in your classroom, i.e. How will they participate in the learning process?
My students will be my little helpers. They will not only learn, they will teach and explain.They will show each other how new techniques work.
