This hot take isn’t so hot and perfectly describes why public education will always have to deal with standardized testing mandates and measures from the government.
“You might ask why politicians endorse solutions that don’t work. The answer is not complicated: because they can legislate them; because they are in a hurry; because the remedies can be made to appeal superficially to the public; because (and unkindly on our part) some of them really don’t care about the public education system, preferring that education be taken over by the private sector; and (more kindly) because they do not know what else to do.” (Michael Fullan, Joanne Quinn, Coherence)
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Picking up from yesterday’s discussion from Teaching for Deeper Learning on framing units around the idea of “a study in…” an area, another way to frame units or lessons is with essential questions.
If you’re using the “a study in…” idea, you can partner essential questions with that idea for deeper discussions. Essential questions are open-ended questions that reflect the big ideas we want our students to come to understand. They are designed to stimulate thinking, spark discussion and debate, and raise additional questions for further inquiry.
Scott McCleod & Julie Graber point to this idea of essential questions in the Deeper Thinking & Learning section of the 4 Shifts protocol. Looking at our daily work, we can ask if student work focuses on big, important themes and concepts central to the discipline rather than isolated topics, trivia, or minutiae.
It is posed within the context of important content
It is written so students can understand them (kid-friendly)
It can be answered but may not have an obvious correct or simple answer
It requires higher-order thinking, problem-solving, or decision-making
It uses concepts that require students to use their knowledge in developing responses
It causes students to organize their knowledge to uncover important ideas now and in the future
Serves as a formative assessment tool (when answered)
Essential questions help guide our learning targets, help define student work, and drive us closer to our deeper learning goals.
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The Eclectic Educator is a free resource for everyone passionate about education and creativity. If you enjoy the content and want to support the newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep the insights and inspiration coming!
Diving into more authentic learning topics, I’ll share some insights from Jay McTighe’s book “Teaching for Deeper Learning” which has some great ideas for making learning more meaningful.
One of the first concepts McTighe discusses is framing learning around big ideas. Curriculum experts advise prioritizing a smaller number of conceptually larger, transferable ideas because there is too much information to cover everything (which is why essential standards are important), and trying to do so results in superficial learning. Focusing on larger ideas enhances knowledge retention and application, which is crucial in our rapidly changing world.
One way to reimagine how we plan units is to think of them as “A Study In…” some concept or big idea. McTighe gives these examples:
Argument Writing: A Study in Craftsmanship
Impressionism: A Study in Revolution
The Four Seasons: A Study in Change
The Pentagon Papers: A Study in Deception
Four Films by Hitchcock: A Study in Obsession
Weight Training: A Study in Proper Technique
Whole Numbers: A Study in Rules and Relationships
This is a very different way of thinking about unit planning, and it would be a great conversation for teachers, coaches, and principals as we begin another school year.
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I’ve often heard the Portrait of a Graduate or Graduate Profile referred to as the “north star” for our work, which is appropriate. Everything we do should align with our Graduate Profile as we prepare students for a future we can’t predict, but we can give them the skills for success.
Focusing on those enduring skills prepares our students for those changes we can’t see. Remember when no one knew about generative AI tools like ChatGPT? And now people are using those tools with great success!
“I say this often in regard to generative AI, but it’s worth repeating: Prior to the arrival of ChatGPT in November 2022, very few people had any hands-on experience in interacting with and using large language models. The people who are using them productively today are not trained in the specifics of generative AI but in ways of thinking that allow one to make use of the tool as an aid to the human work, rather than outsourcing our thinking to something that does not actually think or reason.” – John Warner, Inside HigherED
Always look to the future. As Wizard’s Seventh Rule tells us, “Life is the future, not the past.”
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Comic-Con is upon us, that time of year when thousands of geeks descend upon San Diego and enjoy some quality time together. Sadly, I have never been. However, one of my very good friends is actually presenting some of his research on using comics in education for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Be sure to check it out if you’re there.
You should try going if you’ve never been to a “Con” of any variety. I usually attend the Cincinnati version in the fall and love seeing the cosplay and just hanging around some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.
Although Comic-Con is rooted in comics, the convention is using its growing popularity and global recognition to support and further social progress. In 2017, Comic-Con conventions in various cities and countries featured mental health panels. These panels are still going strong as attendees are looking for ways that pop culture can help them deal with current issues (like Covid-19-related stresses). Regarding diversity, for the first time in history, a woman won the Best Writer Eisner Award – the top award for comic book writing – at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con, around the same time it was announced that the first transgender superhero in television history would be joining the characters of “Supergirl.” And, the first-ever Indigenous Comic-Con, which began in 2016 and has slowly taken off in America and in Australia, celebrates Indigenous creators and artists and their contributions to pop culture. Its success has since spawned a mini-Indigenous-Comic-Con with pop-up events in various cities. Comic-Con unlocks people’s imaginations and addresses serious cultural and societal issues.
Quote of the Day
“Our children should study what’s important to learn, not what’s easy for you to test.” (Ted Dintersmith, What School Could Be)
Musical Interlude
Sultans of Swing is one of my all-time favorite songs. It’s just… perfect. And here’s a great cover from this past April by Umphrey’s McGee
Long Read of the Day
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) was first introduced in 2023; over a year later, with the August recess looming, the Senate is poised to vote on the bill. With 70 cosponsors, the bill appears likely to pass.
Proponents of the bill believe that the law is necessary to safeguard children from harm that could result from the platforms’ relentless quest for user attention. Critics argue that KOSA not only erodes internet freedoms but could also prevent minors — particularly LGBTQ minors — from accessing potentially lifesaving information.
“The Earth reminded us of a Christmas tree ornament hanging in the blackness of space. As we got farther and farther away, it diminished in size. Finally, it shrank to the size of a marble, the most beautiful marble you can imagine.” – James Irwin, Apollo 15
Several years ago, a small group took those words to heart and built a scale model of our universe in the desert. To know how small the scale was to create the model and for it still to take up as much space as it did is a reminder to all of us how big our universe is and how small we are.
I showed this film to my math students when we discussed scale drawings, and it never ceased to give them lots to think about beyond scale drawings.
Final Thoughts
I just started Jim Harrison’s “Legends of the Fall”—yes, that one—this week. I’ll let you know if I like it better than I like the film.
“I followed all the rules – man’s and God’s. And you… followed none of them and they all loved you more”
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When will we finally stop sending our kids to huge buildings managed by bureaucracies that are more concerned with making sure everyone changes class on time than they are with making sure that everyone is prepared to participate in our society?
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It’s Friday in America, and Hulk Hogan showed up last night at the Republican National Convention.
If you haven’t seen his appearance, it’s everything you think it could be and so much more. I didn’t watch it live (trust me, there are far better things to do) but I’ve seen plenty of clips this morning.
What in the actual nonsense is going on?
Anyways, on to other topics. As I said, it’s Friday, and my dog is sleeping next to my desk in his favorite sunspot, warming up after a moderately chilly morning jaunt. I say moderately chilly since it’s below 70 in Kentucky for the first morning in a couple of weeks (thank the gods).
Right now, I long for the day when I can walk outside, feel that first bite in the morning air, and say, “It smells likemarchingband…”
Fall will be here soon enough and, along with it, far more bearable temperatures and breathable air. At least, if we don’t all melt from the effects of another record-breaking hot year.
Quote of the Day
Because there’s a large portion of the population who needs to use their brain…
“You have a mind? —Yes. Well, why not use it? Isn’t that all you want—for it to do its job?” (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations)
Musical Interlude
I’m a shameless Oasis fan, and I’m also a shameless Noel Gallagher fan. (Liam is, by far, the more evil brother. I mean, they’re both evil. I’ve just accepted Noel’s evil to enjoy his music.)
Here’s a live performance from 2023 of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Long Read of the Day
Madeline Dore has some great thoughts on finding things that make time pass unnoticed. This essentially comes down to doing things you love and getting into a flow.
Of course, my thoughts turn to, “How do we make schools a place where kids can find the things they love and help them experience enough of them to decide what they want to keep pursuing?”
Folks, Papa Elf left us yesterday. Bob Newhart was one of the funniest “straight men” in comic history. Growing up in the 80s, I watched his magic on “Newhart” and reruns of “The Bob Newhart Show.” He was hilarious.
Here’s a short documentary from Judd Apatow on the lifelong friendship of Newhart and Don Rickles (another one of the funniest comedians ever).
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The debate about AI usage in schools rages as some educators want to block all AI access, and some want to embrace the new technology and leverage it for learning.
A core tension has emerged: Many teachers want to keep AI out of our classrooms, but also know that future workplaces may demand AI literacy.
What we call cheating, business could see as efficiency and progress.
A new book, Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning, aims to help teachers discover how to harness and manage AI as a powerful teaching tool.
AI is a fabulous tool for getting started or unstuck. AI puts together old ideas in new ways and can do this at scale: It will make creativity easier for everyone.
Where are you on the AI in schools debate? Fan or foe?
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I’m certain that the only way we can change our schools is to focus on creating authentic student learning experiences. The more I read and watch in the education world only solidifies that belief.
If we’re not focused on authentic learning, we betray the sacred trust given to us by families when they give us their very best every day. They want more for their kids.
They want more than scripted learning stuck in an industrial design that stifles creativity and individuality.
They want their kids to be their authentic selves. And that must be our commitment, our moral and ethical duty as educators.
If it’s not, we’re wasting our time.
Quote of the Day
“Habit is a mighty ally, my young friend. The habit of fear and anger, or the habit of self-composure and courage.” (Steven Pressfield, Gates of Fire)
Musical Interlude
Foxes and Fossils, one of my favorite YouTube cover bands, published a cover of Paul Simon’s “America,” and it is everything.
Have I mentioned that Paul Simon is one of my favorite musicians? No?
Long Read of the Day
I’m going to guess that most of us aren’t too worried about having clean clothes to wear when we leave the house (we’re not going to talk about summertime teacher lounging around the house wear…). However, clean clothes are a luxury for some students, and not having them can keep them away from school.
For most students, having clean clothes to wear to school is not a problem.
But for many families at 112th St. S.T.E.A.M. Academy in Watts, a pair of clean pants and a shirt is such a struggle that it has become one of the main contributors to chronic absenteeism, which is when students miss 15 or more days or classes…
In this webinar, experts discussed what whole child design looks like and what it means for broader systems change. Local education leaders provided lessons learned from their whole child design efforts and discussed how state policy can accelerate or impede these efforts.
Final Thoughts
I talk about authentic learning experiences all the time—maybe too much, but it’s kind of my thing. We don’t have enough authentic learning experiences in our schools, but what is more concerning is that we don’t let our students be their authentic selves very much.
We put them in boxes of grade levels, achievement, lunch groups, pathways, etc., and fully expect them to thrive. There’s nothing authentic or personal about much of what we deem important in education.
Before we can see better outcomes for our students, we have to let them be authentic to what is inside them. I’m stuck on Steven Pressfield’s idea that the artistic journey is the “passage by which we re-invent ourselves as ourselves.”
We need to give our students a passage to reinvent themselves by discovering who they really are. It wouldn’t hurt to give our teachers the same experience, either.
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