tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107060758629396184.post6159840233604490012..comments2024-03-26T23:23:06.905-07:00Comments on Blogger in Middle-earth: A Panacea for Education Ills?Blogger In Middle-earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722634477041121797noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107060758629396184.post-91209908260320900302009-03-03T19:51:00.000-08:002009-03-03T19:51:00.000-08:00Haere mai Daisy!I couldn't agree more with you! In...Haere mai Daisy!<BR/><BR/>I couldn't agree more with you! In fact, in distance education there are only a few parameters that really determine success of the student. Leaving the student out of this important loop, what's left is care and attention from parent and teacher. If either one of these lets the student down, the likelihood of success is slim.<BR/><BR/>Very few young people in western society today are entirely self-motivated to learn (but there are some). A caring environment in the home (not necessarily a rich one at that) clears the path for the teacher to engage the student.<BR/><BR/>If the student is then willing, it happens.<BR/><BR/>Catchya laterBlogger In Middle-earthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08722634477041121797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107060758629396184.post-54636539306828611702009-03-01T07:14:00.000-08:002009-03-01T07:14:00.000-08:00One of the biggest challengs I face in my fourth g...One of the biggest challengs I face in my fourth grade classroom is this: apathy. Another is this: poverty. No matter how well trained I am, how hard I work, if the kids in my class don't know where they'll sleep tonight, it's hard to care about long division. No matter how hard i work, if the parents buy the kid shirts that say "Homework? What homework?" and encourage that attitude, it's nearly impossible to teach that kid.<BR/>There are many effective programs that will help these kids, but superficial quick fixes will not.Daisyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11647906900944224234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107060758629396184.post-30760303723667471502009-02-26T11:17:00.000-08:002009-02-26T11:17:00.000-08:00Kia ora Paul!Thanks for alerting me to this book -...Kia ora Paul!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for alerting me to this book - it looks a fascinating read and you've got me looking for it too now.<BR/><BR/>Yes, Bill Gates is not an educator. He is an innovator. If there is anything I could say in favour of what he is trying to do, it's that I wholeheartedly agree with nearly all of the points he brought forward - student engagement - pedagogy (though he didn't necessarily use that word in context) - statistics on 'average' teachers - the need for research into what makes good teaching.<BR/><BR/>I noted that he did not criticise teachers. This is a point in his favour, for so much I have read and heard about recently is into attacking teachers rather than analysing the methods and procedures used with a view to improving those and going forward with some practical experience and knowledge of how to teach.<BR/><BR/>Catchya laterBlogger In Middle-earthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08722634477041121797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107060758629396184.post-81501378327499926592009-02-26T09:53:00.000-08:002009-02-26T09:53:00.000-08:00Regarding the Bill Gates' TED video I am trying to...Regarding the Bill Gates' TED video I am trying to get a copy of Work Hard Be Nice by Jay Matthews. (The title sure seems trite.) Gates held it up as a model for change. I thought Gates was somewhat superficial in his overview of the whole question of education.Paul Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01836602667355512504noreply@blogger.com