Weekly Reflection #1 – Most Likely to Succeed: Rethinking Education
Photo below by: https://www.youcanchangeeducation.org/high-tech-high.html
What I Learned:
After I watched the documentary “Most Likely to Succeed,” one of the main ideas that stuck with me was that there can be a difference between what schools traditionally teach and what students actually need to learn for their future. I find that schools often focus on tests, memorization and grades. However, the documentary also showed me the importance of creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. One part that stood out to me was the story about the little girl who fully lost all of her interest for school in Grade 4. This made me think about how important motivation for students really is. I believe that if students do not understand why they are learning something or how it connects to their lives, it can be much harder for them to stay interested and engaged in the material.
Technology and the Future:
Technology is changing the workplace with computers now being able to complete human jobs and everyday technology is changing the types of jobs that are available. This made me think about whether schools are preparing students for the world they will actually be entering. I think technology can be a useful tool in education when it has a specific purpose.The documentary also made me realize that students need to learn skills that technology cannot easily replace, such as creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
A Different Approach for Learning:
High Tech High is a school in California where students learn primarily through projects, working together, and having responsibility for their learning. Teachers at this school act more as guides allowing the students to present their work to a real audience. Although I liked this approach, I think that there are also important concerns regarding students who may still need a strong foundation and preparation for assessments or even post-secondary education. I liked the idea of students creating something for a real audience instead of only completing work for a grade. However, I also understand the problems with their approach because the documentary explains that there is not enough long-term evidence to prove it works better than traditional education.
My Reflection:
This documentary made me think about the type of teacher I want to become in the future. I do not think traditional education is completely bad, but I think there should be a stronger balance. Students need to have academic knowledge, but they also need opportunities to be creative, collaborate, solve problems, and make decisions. As a future teacher, I want my students to understand that learning is more than getting a good grade. The documentary also reminded me that students are more than grades and test scores. They all have different interests, experiences, and motivations that teachers should recognize. Overall, Most Likely to Succeed made me think about what the purpose of school really is. I think school should prepare students for academic success, but it should also prepare them for life. For myself as a learner, I don’t think this kind of structure in a school would work best for me, however I can see how it could benefit other learners. I can picture myself as a teacher using direct instructions with students who need the structure, while also using projects and collaborative activities that allow students to apply that knowledge in meaningful ways. In my future class, I want to figure out how I can balance letting the students guide their own work but also giving them enough structure to feel engaged and motivated.
Question I Am Left With:
Should the main purpose of school be to prepare students for college and tests, or should it focus more on preparing students for life and the workplace?