I really enjoyed reading The Global Achievement Gap by Tony Wagner. Wagner illuminates the current state of education in America while highlighting outdated educational practices and methods and shinning light on the dawn of a new era in education. Wagner makes clear education in America has been hurting. “The U.S. high school graduation rate—which is about 70 percent of the age cohort—is now well behind countries like Denmark (96 percent) and Japan (93 percent)—and even Poland (92 percent) and Italy (79 percent)” (Wagner). “Only about a third of all high students graduate ready for college in the U.S. today, and the rates are much lower for poor and minority students. More than a third of all students who enter college must take remedial courses. While no hard data is readily available, it is estimated that 1 out of 2 students who start college never complete any kind of postsecondary degree” (Wagner). It becomes very clear while reading this book just how bad things have gotten. There is definitely reason now more than ever to reinvent the education profession. For decades, schools have followed outdated educational methods that were essentially formed during the industrial revolution to train factory workers. While schooling has evolved to some degree, it falls short in training kiddos today to enter an ever-advancing digital world with 21st century job skills. For too long students have been meticulously trained to memorize material and the “correct answers”. Students today need to be taught how to explain reasoning and apply their knowledge to different situations. “Sixty-five percent of college professors report that what is taught in high school does not prepare students for college. One major reason is that the tests students must take in high school for state accountability purposes usually measure ninth- or tenth-grade level knowledge and skills. Being mostly multiple-choice assessments, they rarely ask students to explain their reasoning or to apply knowledge to new situations—skills that are critical for success in college—and so neither teachers nor students receive useful feedback about college readiness” (Wagner). I personally entered college unprepared. I was a straight A student in high school and graduated with a 4.0 GPA however, I was in no way prepared for what I would se in college.
My high school career was filled with memorization of what seemed like pointless facts and multiple-choice tests. I cannot remember having to write any type of essays in high school or any type of persuasive papers. There was very little writing and rarely did I have to explain my reasoning. I had to work my tail off when I entered college just to keep my head afloat. I could barely write a paper and they had little thought and argument simply because I did not know how to do so. I worked around the clock with who ever I could find on campus to develop my skills. As I fast forward now to a time in my life where I consider myself a great writer as well as someone who is getting ready to enter the teaching profession, I am committed to giving my students the education I did not get.
From what I have witnessed, it seems that more and more school districts are starting to realize that it is time to change and there is a definite need to reshape our educational practices. There are many schools in this country that are leading the way when it comes to progression of new and emerging educational teaching methods and curriculum. Wagner discusses several of these schools such as High Tech High. These schools are helping students to be advanced 21st century learners with advanced skill sets, and college and work readiness. I can attest for this first hand after volunteering at High Tech High. Schools like this do a great job with instilling in students what Wagner calls the seven survival skills, which are inquiry, expression, critical thinking, collaboration, attentiveness, involvement, and reflection.
I think that these seven skills are something that all teachers should push students to have. It is important for teachers to understand Wagner's definition of these terms while also having definitions of their own. To me inquiry is all about seeking information and knowledge. Inquiry involves involvement. Inquiry based learning can help foster students ability to ask the right questions to seek understanding. "An old adage states, “Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand”(http://teachersnetwork.org/ntol/howto/adjust/inquiry.htm). This essentially describes the essence of inquiry. This then leads us to expression. Expression deals with students ability to use verbal and non verbal behaviors to communicate. Students often express them selves in negative or outrageous manners so it is our duty as educators to help them understand an to see how they are expressing themselves. Students need to think critically about their actions. Critical thinking is
all about analyzing and evaluating information. Something students often forget to do. Students need to be able to find deeper meaning in subject matter as well as their own lives and actions through critical thinking. While thinking critically can be difficult for students to achieve, collaboration can help students to find deeper meaning and to learn from each other. Collaboration is all about people working together to accomplish a task or goal. I often hear students tell me how they do not like group assignments. However group assignments help students to collaborate which is something they will need to know how to do well in most work environments. To collaborate affectively, students need to be able to pay attention to detail and to be attentive. Attentiveness directly deals with the ability to be observant and to pay attention. Many students I work with are often oblivious of their own actions. For instance I have a student who constantly says the "F" word and does not even realize it. It is important for students to be attentive of their actions and work so that they can be professional, considerate, courteous and polite. When students are attentive of their actions and of those around them, they are able to be better involved with their work and affairs. Involvement deals with one's engagement. It is important for students to understand and recognize what type of involvement is necessary to succeed in school, work, and life. Once students begin to learn and to take all of these things into account, they will be better able to reflect on their work and their life. Reflection is when someone makes careful consideration regarding their work, thoughts, or actions. It is a process of understanding where improvement can be made and also realizing the positive and negative. Students often have a hard time reflecting on their work as well as their lives. Incorporating reflection exercises in the class room can help students to improve upon all of the previous six survival skills listed previously.
I think Wagner defines a great set of skills here for the 21st century student and learner. If I were to add a skill to this list it would probably be “Becoming a Leader”. I think that too many students are not pushed enough in school. I want to inspire each of my students to know what it takes to be a leader. This will be accomplished in my classes through a series of project-based learning assignments. Students in my class will refine all of the survival skills mentioned by Wagner as well as my own. Students will work in groups often and will complete service learning and get involved with the community and various organizations. Students will have to manage their time, set up meetings, delegate group assignments and more. This will truly help my students to become leaders while advancing their abilities to inquire, express, critically think, collaborate, be attentive, get involved, and reflect. Students will measure their success in my classes through, peer and self-evaluations as well as well as grades and participation. I am very excited to begin my teaching journey and to begin implementing an amazing curriculum with project based learning.
My high school career was filled with memorization of what seemed like pointless facts and multiple-choice tests. I cannot remember having to write any type of essays in high school or any type of persuasive papers. There was very little writing and rarely did I have to explain my reasoning. I had to work my tail off when I entered college just to keep my head afloat. I could barely write a paper and they had little thought and argument simply because I did not know how to do so. I worked around the clock with who ever I could find on campus to develop my skills. As I fast forward now to a time in my life where I consider myself a great writer as well as someone who is getting ready to enter the teaching profession, I am committed to giving my students the education I did not get.
From what I have witnessed, it seems that more and more school districts are starting to realize that it is time to change and there is a definite need to reshape our educational practices. There are many schools in this country that are leading the way when it comes to progression of new and emerging educational teaching methods and curriculum. Wagner discusses several of these schools such as High Tech High. These schools are helping students to be advanced 21st century learners with advanced skill sets, and college and work readiness. I can attest for this first hand after volunteering at High Tech High. Schools like this do a great job with instilling in students what Wagner calls the seven survival skills, which are inquiry, expression, critical thinking, collaboration, attentiveness, involvement, and reflection.
I think that these seven skills are something that all teachers should push students to have. It is important for teachers to understand Wagner's definition of these terms while also having definitions of their own. To me inquiry is all about seeking information and knowledge. Inquiry involves involvement. Inquiry based learning can help foster students ability to ask the right questions to seek understanding. "An old adage states, “Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand”(http://teachersnetwork.org/ntol/howto/adjust/inquiry.htm). This essentially describes the essence of inquiry. This then leads us to expression. Expression deals with students ability to use verbal and non verbal behaviors to communicate. Students often express them selves in negative or outrageous manners so it is our duty as educators to help them understand an to see how they are expressing themselves. Students need to think critically about their actions. Critical thinking is
all about analyzing and evaluating information. Something students often forget to do. Students need to be able to find deeper meaning in subject matter as well as their own lives and actions through critical thinking. While thinking critically can be difficult for students to achieve, collaboration can help students to find deeper meaning and to learn from each other. Collaboration is all about people working together to accomplish a task or goal. I often hear students tell me how they do not like group assignments. However group assignments help students to collaborate which is something they will need to know how to do well in most work environments. To collaborate affectively, students need to be able to pay attention to detail and to be attentive. Attentiveness directly deals with the ability to be observant and to pay attention. Many students I work with are often oblivious of their own actions. For instance I have a student who constantly says the "F" word and does not even realize it. It is important for students to be attentive of their actions and work so that they can be professional, considerate, courteous and polite. When students are attentive of their actions and of those around them, they are able to be better involved with their work and affairs. Involvement deals with one's engagement. It is important for students to understand and recognize what type of involvement is necessary to succeed in school, work, and life. Once students begin to learn and to take all of these things into account, they will be better able to reflect on their work and their life. Reflection is when someone makes careful consideration regarding their work, thoughts, or actions. It is a process of understanding where improvement can be made and also realizing the positive and negative. Students often have a hard time reflecting on their work as well as their lives. Incorporating reflection exercises in the class room can help students to improve upon all of the previous six survival skills listed previously.
I think Wagner defines a great set of skills here for the 21st century student and learner. If I were to add a skill to this list it would probably be “Becoming a Leader”. I think that too many students are not pushed enough in school. I want to inspire each of my students to know what it takes to be a leader. This will be accomplished in my classes through a series of project-based learning assignments. Students in my class will refine all of the survival skills mentioned by Wagner as well as my own. Students will work in groups often and will complete service learning and get involved with the community and various organizations. Students will have to manage their time, set up meetings, delegate group assignments and more. This will truly help my students to become leaders while advancing their abilities to inquire, express, critically think, collaborate, be attentive, get involved, and reflect. Students will measure their success in my classes through, peer and self-evaluations as well as well as grades and participation. I am very excited to begin my teaching journey and to begin implementing an amazing curriculum with project based learning.