I fear my blog posts could blur with redundancy in the use of concepts like balance, meaningful, thoughtful or purposeful. As I was listening to the debate and then investigating sources, I started to wonder, What if the alphabet on the wall in every (Apologies here: dominant Western culture is showing) classroom was jumbled or random? Why do we learn the alphabet the way we do? What would English language acquisition, reading development and the learning of writing be like if we just completely went to a discovery model? These are probably better questions for the likes of Merriam-Webster, Oxford, Cambridge, Collins, and Longman.
When it comes to the debate statement: Schools should continue to teach skills that can be easily carried out by technology, I AGREE. Does that mean that I think time should not be devoted to modern activities like coding? It does not. One of the roles that schools have is to prepare students for the world outside of school. Integrating instruction related to technological skills is preparing them for the modern work world. It is, however, vital that technology use is purposeful and the usage is planned, not just frivolous and random screen time.
Rote learning is often the target of the old ways. It would be irresponsible to completely banish rote learning from classrooms because of the benefits it can have on “mental training”. Spending hours a day memorizing facts would be a wasteful way to spend precious class time. Boredom aside, students who are just memorizing and regurgitating information are not developing the important skills of critical thinking. This is an area where discovery or innovative learning methods can provide a spark in our students, light the flames of curiosity and creativity.
I know technology, like iPads and Chromebooks, can bring benefits to our classrooms. What I also know is that kids need time away from screens. Why not bring the art back to language arts with some handwriting practice? Taking some time every day in our elementary school classes to build fine motor skills will have benefits well beyond the cursive letters themselves. Handwriting has also been linked to brain development, which links to reading skills in pre-literate children. This might create an argument that cursive can be phased out as students become more competent readers. Finally, our developing writers are supported through handwritten work.
As stated, old school methods still have a place in my classroom and should have a role in many elementary classrooms. However, ‘new school’ methods and activities are just as important in my classroom. This source highlights adaptability as a modern and important skill in the current and future workforce. I might contest that having the “old school” skills makes a student more adaptable. When the power goes out, when the subscription runs out, students need to have some skills to fall back on when the zombie apocalypse ensues.
The big question for me then is, how do we integrate the old teaching with the new teaching to best prepare our students for the world outside the classroom?
Dustin, as a RN your handwriting meme at the end had me laughing out loud as it so TRUE!! Your blog showed a good balance between “old school” and new technology. I would have to agree with you, it also think it’s not about choosing between old and new but finding the right blend. Although, that is so easy to say and hard to do in the classroom. For any of us parents, your reference to the power going out and the zombie apocalypse is hilarious….. when the power has gone out a few times recently, my kids look at me like the end is near. “mom what should we do…. my phone is almost out of power”. Ha-ha it’s a good reminder that basic skills are still relevant and matter.
Thanks Jillian, it’s great I could provide a laugh. I am not one to believe we should just stick to one particular era (I’m in my fax era), but just pushing forward because of planned obsolescence or because it’s new and novel isn’t the answer either. Finding balance and purpose is great for the old school and the new school.
Hi Dustin,
Another great post- thanks for sharing! I agree also that foundational skills not only support cognitive development but also ensure that students are prepared for situations where technology might not be available.
Your emphasis on adaptability and the need for a balanced approach in education is spot-on. By blending traditional skills with modern technology, we can equip students with a comprehensive skill set that prepares them for any situation.
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Kaela. I like to live by the motto, “you never know?!?” Will you need to be able to handwrite? Will you need to be able to code? Why not learn some of the basics of many skills and as you grow and specialize, you can focus on the necessary skills. I still wish I took home ec. in school so I had better sewing skills because my iPhone can’t fix a zipper. It can play a video however…
Hi Dustin,
The question you posed about integrating old teaching methods with new approaches to prepare students for life beyond the classroom is a challenging one. As technology develops, the skills required for students from kindergarten through high school may change, particularly as they prepare to enter the workforce.
Purposeful use of technology along with basic foundational skills is important, as you mentioned. Since technology is not always completely reliable, and power outages can occur, it remains necessary to maintain self-sufficiency rather than relying solely on technological solutions.
I also had a good laugh at your joke at the end.
Jenna