Friday, December 31, 2010

Reflect on the Year With Some Intriguing Education Questions

21 Things That Will Become Obsolete in Education by 2020 [TeachPaperless via EdReformer] - I agree with most of these to varying degrees, but some are off. Real books (#8) are not going anywhere--their role in schools will certainly be reduced, especially as we transition away from traditional textbooks over the next 20 years, but they're not going to be completely obsolete by that point.

Charters: Ten Things Charters Won't Tell You [This Week in Education via WSJ] - I'm just speechless on this one. Every single item on this list is flat out wrong. There are certainly bad charters, just as their are bad traditional public schools. To make such sweeping generalizations is irresponsible. I'm surprised that this didn't illicit a stronger response across the edublogosphere.

Slate's Classroom of the Future [via GOOD] - Is this vision practical, or even possible?

The Expectations of a Teacher [Fix Public School] - A teacher lists 31 distinct expectations placed upon her, some of which you won't find in a contract or employee handbook. She doesn't specify which items on the list are expectations she places on herself, instead of those put upon her by the school or district administration. What would you add to the list? What doesn't belong there?

Opinion: What Makes a Great Teacher? Students Share Their Top 11 Traits [AOL News] - I don't think there will be too much controversy from this list, but it does merit discussion: How many of these traits do you have? What do they look like in your classroom?