Educating for the Unknown

International Technology, Education and Development Conference (INTED) International Collaboration in Education and Technology

2011-03-11T07:02:00.000-08:00

This week the International Technology, Education and Development Conference (INTED), took place in the wonderful city of Valencia, Spain. As you can see in the photos above, Valencia was a perfect choice of city to host this conference, because along with possessing strong respect and pride for the history and culture of the past, this city is looking to the future and is embracing technology. So, too, our challenge as educators is to respect our institutional history and academic achievements, but also to look to the future of education and how technology is reshaping and redefining our mission. This conference presented a wonderful opportunity for educational collaboration across disciplines and geographic boundaries facilitated by the crucial role that technology is taking in reshaping research and education. This conference clarified the realization that technological advancements, regardless of the field of study, edify all fields. For example, the use of interactive texts in mathematics or the drawing and then digital mapping of novels, using software that explores the depth of meaning through syntax and word repetition, all offer transferable ideas to explore other disciplines. Further, many presentations offered the development and findings in studying platforms for capturing, organizing and archiving work that will be increasingly housed in cyberspace rather than libraries. The other obvious enormous benefit of current technology, which was underscored at INTED, is how sharing research globally has become very easy. Minds that never would have been able to collaborate because of language and distance are now forming communities of practice.

At INTED I was honored to present a paper on studio learning and teaching, which has been my passion. This passion arose from teaching studio art and art history and from studying the student centric Reggio Emilia inspired teaching at School within School studio in Washington, DC. Studio learning is, as witnessed by anyone who has taken an art class, transparent and ongoing. Because of technology my passion has expanded to include studios that use technology, such as Technology Enabled Active Learning (TEAL) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, rather than art materials as tools for teaching and learning. In the same way that learning in an art class channels creativity to produce varied outcomes exhibiting the same content knowledge, so too can the thoughtful use of technology. I look forward to continued collaboration with the colleagues I met at INTED and to broaden the circle to those reached via the net. I share with all of you the paper I presented at INTED, A Multi-case Study of Two Studio Learning Environments: Technology Enabled Active Learning (TEAL) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Reggio Emilia Studio at School within School (SWS) and appreciate all feedback, ideas and comments that will continue to illuminate this work. Through the thoughtful use of technology we can work together to create an egalitarian education for all.

MULTI-CASE STUDY OF TWO STUDIO LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS: TECHNOLOGY ENABLED ACTIVE LEARNING (TEAL) AT MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND A REGGIO EMILIA STUDIO AT SCHOOL WITHIN SCHOOL (SWS)

Christine Morano Magee, Ed.D.

The George Washington University (United States)

Presented at The International Education and Development Conference (INTED) 2011
All rights reserved

Abstract

The classroom environment plays an important role in a student’s education, impacting student achievement and engagement in the process of learning ([1] Gandini, 1998; [2] Lackney, 1997; [3] Van Note Chism & Bickford, 2003). Technology should be seamlessly embedded into the learning environment in a way that serves all learners. The arts-based studio offers a platform for such integration, as both technology and art offer hands-on active learning.

This paper reports on a blended theory model resulting from a six month qualitative research study of two studio classrooms which span age groups and disciplines: the Technology Enabled Active Learning (TEAL) freshmen studio physics classroom at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Reggio Emilia inspired atelier of School within School (SWS) Preschool on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. Data collection included non-participant observation field notes, interviews, photographs and artifacts. The study resulted in rich description of the structures and processes inherent in each studio and their implications for learning. The blended model depicts a studio in which technology, hands-on arts-based learning and a caring ethos, in concert, create an egalitarian holistic learning environment for all students.

The theoretical lens for this blended model includes, the Theory of Multiple Intelligences ([4] Gardner, 1993), the Ethic of Care [5], Universal Design for Learning [6] and Studio Habits of Mind ([7] Hetland, Winner, Veenema & Sheridan, 2007). This research paper is foundational, adding to the body of literature on the use of technology and arts-based learning in studio settings as a platform for further research.

This research concludes that a blend of technology and arts-based learning in a studio setting, (a) offers student-driven hands-on active learning, (b) breaks down barriers between teachers and students, (c) is conducive to the development of caring peer relationships, (d) removes hierarchy and competition, (e) empowers students towards proficiency in the use of tools for learning, (f) offers a platform for differentiated instruction using multiple modalities for teaching and learning, (g) provides embedded ongoing feedback and assessment and (h) facilitates learning that is transparent and open-ended. This model shows promise for the creation of egalitarian, inclusive, technology rich classrooms where methods and modalities actively engage learners.

INTRODUCTION:

There has always been much debate about the value of art vs. science. Nowhere has this debate been more visible than in the educational arena. There is an emphasis on the importance of math and science achievement as crucial to the global economy, while the current economic downturn has negatively impacted funding for the arts [8] (Madden, 2009). Scholars in the field of art education report that many research studies have attempted to correlate studying the arts with improved academic achievement, generating results which are void of a strong link between the two [9], [10]. (Eisner, 2002, Adams, 2008)). These studies are looking at the arts as a means for improving conventional measures of achievement rather than a broader model for learning [11] (Eccles & Elster, 2005). A potential strong benefit of the arts can be attained in the studio environment, which provides students an avenue to connect outside information with internal thought through active physical and mental engagement within a social environment [12] (Karkou, Glasman, 2004). There is also a school of thought which calls for new educational pathways that integrate the humanities and the sciences and sees this as an essential component for the survival of civilization [13], [14] (Bugliarello, 2002, Rosenzweig, 2001). The studio model of hands-on active-learning has been adopted for teaching physics at the college level ([15] Dori & Belcher; [16] Beichner).

Both the Reggio Emilia Pre-school Studio Model classroom and the TEAL Freshman Physics Studio at MIT have dismantled the concept of the traditional classroom. Each model has created a studio learning environment which contends that students are learning collaboratively and interacting with educational materials which allow for exchange of knowledge in multi-modalities. The philosophy underlying both models creates thoughtfully designed learning spaces supportive of the planned educational projects to be executed. These studio models allow for flexibility and innovation while the process of learning is taking place ( [17], [18] Ceppi, & Zini, 1998; Dori & Belcher, 2005). The classroom arrangement and materials for learning are strategically and purposefully placed in the room with the intent of creating an optimal learning environment [19], (Gandini, 2005). Reggio Emilia pre-school theory includes the concept, that in concert with parents and teachers, the environment is the third teacher [20], [21] (Edwards, Gandini & Forman, 1998; Gandini, Hill, Cadwell & Schwall, 2004). The environment of a Reggio Emilia school is not static; rather it is a continual reflection of active student learning [17], [22] (Ceppi, & Zini, 1998; Strong-Wilson & Ellis, 2007).

The potential significance of a multi-case study of these theories in action, will lead to emergent structures and processes, which will add to the body of academic literature on classroom environments and how they influence pedagogy and learning. Further, a confluence of these theories may offer a construct of a holistic learning space and process which includes the technological tools and materials for learning inherent in MIT’s model, and the caring, exploratory environment of Reggio Emilia which connects each child with the broader global community. These models move away from the institutional factory model which informed early public education and are still evident in many public high schools today [23] (Leland & Kasten, 2002). Bentley [ 24] (1998) postulates that a “learning society” can be created through environments which encourage relationships and motivation to inquire about things in collaboration and independently. Both models observed hold promise in producing such environments as well as contributing to educational theory.

1.1. Theoretical Foundation and Conceptual Framework

The theoretical and conceptual framework for this study includes an understanding of the historical roots of our current school environment, which is based on the industrial factory model of education. This model informed public education during the industrial revolution by creating schools, which mimicked factories and whose remnants still influence classrooms today [25] (Katz, 1987). Reggio Emilia views school as a place where learning is constructed both by individual learners and in collaboration with others [17] (Ceppi & Zini, 1998). TEAL has its roots in constructivist theory advancing that learning does not take place unless meaning is constructed by the student while being actively engaged in the process of learning [16] (Dori & Belcher, 2005).

The theories inherent in both the educational philosophies of TEAL and Reggio Emilia provided primary lenses to explore if these environments are examples of their underlying theories. Two key theoretical tenets of Reggio Emilia and Technology Enhance Active Learning were used as foundational lenses for the study of both models. Reggio Emilia states that the environment is the third teacher and the Technology Enabled Active Learning, TEAL, model advances that students’ learning is more successful in a collaborative, interactive technology rich environment. These theories combine to form a lens through which hermeneutics was used to study the Reggio Emilia atelier or studio classroom and the TEAL, Studio Physics Classroom at MIT. The concept of studying place as “landscape hermeneutics” led to a rich description. The literary “metaphor of landscape as text, the idea of inter-textual connections, multiple authorship, and the role of the reader in constructing meanings” all contributed to an interpretive landscape [26] (Armstrong, 2003, p. 9).
The “ethic of caring,” provided a lens through which to observe and understand the type of environment that studio offers [27] (Noddings, 2005). In order to view what is occurring in studio classrooms beyond literacy benchmarks, a broader definition of intelligence was employed through Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences [4] (Gardner, 1993). Studio Habits of Mind, which codified visible ways of knowing and learning in studio, will provided a description of what occurs when a student engages in authentic learning in studio [7] (Hetland, Winner, Veenema, & Sheridan, 2007). The tenets of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which advance fully accessible classrooms through the use of multi-modal assistive technology and accommodations, provided a further foundational lens through which to explore the inclusive nature of these models [28] (Rose & Myer, 2002).

1 METHODOLOGY

Because a study of an active classroom environment is a dynamic entity, which can be both unpredictable and fluid, some elasticity was built into the initial structure of the study. Maxwell’s [29] (2005) theory of qualitative research underpinned this study design. “Design in qualitative research is an ongoing process that involves tacking back and forth between the different components of the design, assessing the implication of goals, theories, research questions, methods, and validity threats for one another” [29 p. 3] (Maxwell, 2005, p. 3). The research model allowed for flexibility in order to capture elements of the case, which may not be obvious before the study commences [ 29] (Maxwell, 2005, p.3).

The selection of two models which have heterogeneous qualities of studio with a maximal variation between the cases found in comparing a successful early childhood model with a successful higher education model was further viewed by using the theories inherent in each of these models as facets of the theoretical lens with the goal of a creating a holistic picture of what was occurring in each case.

This multi-case study observed two different classrooms, the Reggio Emilia inspired School within School (SWS) in Washington, DC, and the Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) freshmen physics studio at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for five one-week time periods over the course of one semester. The School within School (SWS) setting was observed Mondays through Fridays throughout the school day. The researcher also observed field trips, teachers’ meetings and other school events which added to a holistic picture of the studio classroom. Eighty-eight students from four classes, two pre-k and two kindergarten classes, were observed as they learned in the studio each week. These students were also observed in their classrooms and during school activities to document connections to the studio. The researcher conducted open-ended interviews with seven teachers; four of the teachers were founders of SWS twelve years ago. Also interviewed were the studio teacher or atelierista, the lead teacher, the music teacher and the four classroom teachers. Additionally four classroom aides were interviewed, all of whom were current or past parents of students who had attended SWS.

At MIT the researcher observed 213 undergraduate students in two sections of Physics Studio, TEAL, 113 students in Section A and 100 students in Section B. Thirty-four voluntary interviews with open-ended questions related to TEAL lasted between twenty minutes and eighty minutes. Twenty-two students participated, 10 from TEAL Class Section A, and 12 from TEAL Section B. There was a random disbursement of 12 female students and 10 male students. Four professors volunteered to be interviewed; two of the professors were teaching the sections of TEAL being observed and two of the professors where instrumental in the planning and implementation of TEAL at MIT. Additionally the TEAL Program Coordinator and his assistant were interviewed. Two graduate teaching assistants, one male and one female, and four undergraduate assistants, one female freshman, two male freshmen and one male junior, were interviewed. Data was collected during each site visit through observation, field journal notes, digital photography, artifacts in the form of student work and informational materials about the programs, recorded interviews conducted with the instructors, teaching assistants and students. Interviews were used to acquire background information not available through observation and also served as a reliability check for what was observed. Analysis and data collection occurred simultaneously during fieldwork as well as after field work. Data was collected during the initial weeks of classes, at mid semester and at the end of the semester. All information was transcribed and coded, to initially deconstruct or take apart the information [30] (Strauss & Corbin, 1987). Information was placed in analysis categories, “organizational”, and “substantive” to find emerging patterns, issues and themes [29] (Maxwell, 2005). Information was triangulated within each setting and then merged between cases and again triangulated. The results were then studied for emerging joint theory and the creation of a blended model. Outside readers were used as auditors to check for biases. The study resulted in a rich descriptive narrative of each case, and a foundational theoretical model, which resulted from a combining of the two cases.

2 RESULTS

The results of the case studies of SWS and TEAL studio classrooms were found through data collection which led to rich narratives that offered a confluence of observations, artifacts and the stories of those who interacted within these spaces. Despite the difference in educational levels, the Reggio Emilia inspired pre-school studio environment at SWS and the Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) freshmen Physics studio at MIT had many things in common. They both offered hands-on active learning experiences and used multi-modalities of teaching and learning to reach all students. Because of the hands-on nature of learning in the studio the teacher role shifts from being solely a lecturer to being a guide. Students worked individually and collaboratively to explore and experiment, using trial and error while actively applying information. There were also differences between the two studio classrooms. The researcher has purposefully chosen to illuminate the differences in these two studio classrooms results in order to bridge these gaps within a blended model. The major differences between these two studios were evident in two distinct area, nurturing and technology.

Because SWS studio is in a pre-school setting, there was a strong emphasis on nurturing, caring and development of the individual while simultaneously the student learned to work, to cooperate with and to communicate with others. There was little technology in the pre-school studio, which was arts-based. In the MIT TEAL studio there was a less nurturing environment consistent with college aged students. State of the art technology was seamlessly embedded into the classroom to aid in both teaching and learning. The following vignettes are examples of the results found in this study of the nurturing at SWS and the use of Technology in MIT TEAL.

3.1 SWS The Individual is Nurtured and Celebrated:

Because of SWS’s belief that children create their own languages to express learning, and these languages are developed through creative expression, the studio was used as a spring board for collaboration with classroom teachers and the touch stone for ideas. These ideas and the development of creative languages by the students were facilitated by allowing multiple ways of knowing. The school employed a full-time studio teacher and also had a part-time music and part-time movement teacher. The studio and the classrooms were filled with visually stimulating objects, both man-made and natural. In this project-driven environment I observed students learning by doing. I also observed students using all of their senses to learn. All of the learning which occurred had an active hands-on component as a base. Each of these projects offered many different ways of knowing. The rich landscape of studio at SWS emerged as a philosophy through the four major emergent themes (a) student-centered learning, (b) community, (c) multiple ways of knowing, (d) comfort and care.

During my time at SWS, stories emerged as a key element in student-centered learning. Multi-modalities were used to accommodate all types of learners. Children were encouraged to compose and tell stories, act out stories through dramatic play, create art work that was reflective of their stories. Storytelling gave each child a personal voice and allowed them to relate their individual interests, memories, concerns, and priorities. Their stories demonstrated their individuality and gave the teachers a deep insight into what a child was thinking about, allowing them to express their thoughts through a variety of media.

Over the five weeks of observation at SWS the students were learning about literature. They were taught the difference between fiction, fantasy “a pretend story” and non-fiction “a story about a real person, place or thing.” Concurrently with the study of literary genres the students were also learning about Pueblo culture, art and also were discovering what it means to have a voice as a writer and an individual. The studio teacher used Pueblo clay story-telling dolls, artifacts of the Pueblo culture, as a symbolic vehicle to teach through. Each child created their own story-telling doll and composed a story that they told through their doll. These young students were learning concepts and facts by doing. In the studio classroom students learned many skills as a by-product of the project-based approach to learning. Through this one project students acquired skills, concepts and knowledge about multiple things including: working with clay, art history through sculpture, structuring a story, self portraits, drawing as symbolic, dramatic play and Native American culture and traditions. At the heart of the project, students learned about themselves finding their own personal storytelling voice. The art teacher asked the children to think about who their story-teller would be in their own story, “whose voice will it be in and how will you show your story in symbolic pictures and tell your story through your storytelling doll.” Since many students were too young to write complete sentences, students drew their story using a storyboard and then dictated the story to the teacher. Within the studio classroom allowed for multiple things to occur at once. So while the children drew their stories the teacher was able to circulate the classroom and spend individual time with each student, listening and transcribing those stories.

At SWS, the studio structure encouraged the children to be engaged in active learning, while permitting the teacher to spend quality individual time with each student. A unique feature of learning through studio methods was that, although all students were learning the same information, they were able to acquire the information in their own unique way and at their own pace. Once the teacher taught the students how to use the materials, they were free to be creative with them. There was a uniform outcome in the knowledge gained but each individual was able to demonstrate their learning in a creative and individual manner. The children were all treated as individuals and were excited when this project culminated with each child sharing their story with the entire class. Students appeared to be engaged and interested in learning about their classmates. At SWS the rich studio environment for learning was rooted in the arts and resulted in tangible products of that learning. Assessment of learning in the studio was therefore transparent and ongoing, providing the teacher with numerous student-created artifacts and an opportunity to observe progression in each student’s learning. The arts-based studio model at SWS revealed each child’s learning style preference and their individual talents.

Rather than just a process or a method of learning and teaching, studio emerged as a way of thinking. The SWS studio empowered students to be active participants in learning and in the community. The studio was boundless, and allowed learning to be open-ended and reach far beyond the walls of the studio.

3.2 TEAL at Massachusetts Institute of Technology: A Technology Driven Studio Classroom

At MIT in the TEAL freshmen physics studio I encountered similar themes to those at School within a School studio but these themes were rooted in technology rather than art. A defining factor in the TEAL studio was the use of a rich assortment of technology available to the students, professors and teaching assistants. The classroom’s physical arrangement, the seamlessly embedded technology and the studio teaching and learning methods all contributed to the efficacy of learning in the TEAL classroom. I observed technology being used in multiple ways in the TEAL classroom: as a teaching tool, as a resource for learning, as a communication enhancer and as a way for students to interact as a class. Within the TEAL studio classroom the infrastructure of technology wove a web of support for both teaching and learning. The list of technology and technology based tools used in TEAL included: computers, online interactive text books, PowerPoints, available online and in class, assignments available online, visual applets of concepts developed for the class, desk top experiments with computer-based components, student personal hand held response systems, wireless microphones, audio surround sound, video cameras and video projection. Technology also offered multiple safety nets, letting the professor know the progress of the student groups as well as the progress of individual students; it allowed students, professors and teaching assistants to be alert to students who were in need of help. The technology, used to collect and track how individual students were progressing in class, provided a valuable tool for teachers to assess their own efficacy and a platform for ongoing research into the efficacy of TEAL as a model.

The TEAL studio is set up both physically and philosophically to use multiple learning tools simultaneously, allowing simultaneous interaction among students, professors and teaching assistants. Despite having over one hundred students in the class the TEAL studio was able to create a small class atmosphere, which lead to collaborative practice. This was accomplished by seating students at round tables in teams of nine, and subdivided into groups of three. Each group of three shared a computer. During each class, I observed that students worked as individuals, taking notes during the brief initial presentation of material to be covered that day and then worked in teams of three on computer-driven desk-top experiments. Finally they worked in their team of nine to solve mathematical equations that were the language of the physics concepts they were learning. Students formed pro-social relationships with this group of peers. TEAL also gave students the opportunity to respond to problems individually through the electronic personal response system, allowing the individual to be recognized with the aid of this technology. One student reflected upon the multi-modal nature of TEAL: On each screen, so we can see what he [the professor] is doing, they keep a PowerPoint up on half of the screens and video, him solving problems on the board on alternate screens. Sometimes there are three things shown around the room at once. I can hear the professor talk (because he is wearing a wireless microphone) and see what he is writing (because he/she is being filmed and projected on large screens around the room). Actually I prefer (viewing the professor) on the screen because I can see everything going on.” The professor is free to walk around the room and interact with the students throughout the class.

The TEAL studio used technology to extend beyond its physical walls into a virtual space. Students used computers outside of class as access points to TEAL, with twenty four hour access to the online interactive text book, online help, and PowerPoints. All course materials were are available online from the first day of class. The students therefore knew what was expected of them and were able to schedule their time accordingly. Much of the technology used in the TEAL studio, such as computers, LCD and video projectors, and audio equipment provided consistent sensory accommodations to all the students. This technology on a smaller scale is commonplace in most schools.

The professors, teaching assistants and students agreed that one key to the successful functioning of the TEAL process is the Personal Response System (PRS). These small hand-held electronic devices enabled each student to input answers to multiple-choice questions which were introduced intermittently during class. This system provided the professor an “instant read” on what percentage of the class was grasping the concepts. There was also an interactive system, through networked desktop computers used to provide feedback to the professor and the entire class during desk top experiments. This further permitted the professor to know which group and individual students were struggling with particular concepts. A professor, who was instrumental in the development of TEAL at MIT, described the importance of the personal response system. “The most important technology is these clickers [the personal response system]. They enable us to ask questions and get them to respond. To get an idea of what is going on, how they are doing, anonymously.”

Every professor interviewed cited the importance of having this immediate feedback mechanism. “In the standard lecture format you can go through it and think you know everything and get to the problem set or exam and you realize you don’t know the concepts. With the concepts, PRS really helps.” In the TEAL studio the format and the classroom are integrated for a common goal. A professor described how the structure promoted active learning: “In lecture recitation you may have interaction with your students but TEAL is specific to the classroom setting. TEAL students are seated at a round table where they are facing each other and have three common computers with access to slides everywhere on the walls. There is a white board where they can do problems and then there are presentation screens where they can view slides. Students look at each other rather than at a central focal point. They also utilize the PRS which can create a so-called turning point as each student uses the little remote to answer anonymously. The students can click on their choice and the professor knows what the students know. If twenty five percent get it wrong I know I have to go back and go over the concepts again. “

Students did their group desk-top experiments in sub-groups of three, posting a series of answers as they worked through the hands-on experiments. Their answers submitted electronically registered on the large video screens around the room linked to the computer. If a group of student was not keeping up with the rest of the class or were having difficulty in getting the correct solutions the professor or teaching assistant could look at the screen and go over and assist the group instantly.

Views on collaboration within the TEAL classroom often focused on the ability of students to relate to the world around them. Understanding that technology has promoted a diminution in boundaries and increased the ease of communication, highlights the importance of developing an awareness of a smaller, more immediate and vastly more diverse world. One professor underscored this point. I don’t care if they remember Maxwell’s equation. They are MIT students- they will remember that. All the technology in TEAL is geared toward getting them to learn to communicate with each other and get them engaged in class. In this environment you are teaching yourself, but we also provide a platform in which you are also teaching others.” A majority of the students, staff and faculty that were interviewed agreed that the technology provided a rich platform for teaching, learning and collaboration.

3 CONCLUSION

The differences between the two studios, with the SWS pre-school focusing on nurturing and the MIT’s TEAL college studio focusing on using technology could be attributed to the differing educational level. This research concludes that a blend of technology and arts-based learning in a studio setting, (a) offers student-driven hands-on active learning, (b) breaks down barriers between teachers and students, (c) is conducive to the development of caring peer relationships, (d) removes hierarchy and competition, (e) empowers students towards proficiency in the use of tools for learning, (f) offers a platform for differentiated instruction using multiple modalities for teaching and learning, (g) provides embedded ongoing feedback and assessment and (h) facilitates learning that is transparent and open-ended.

4.1 SWS Studio: An Emergent Definition

What began as a study of a particular room, the studio classroom at SWS, led to a study of the entire school and the realization that the SWS studio was synonymous with education. Studio proved to be both a physical place and a comprehensive philosophy. The result of the SWS case study suggests that the studio environment is in many ways a state of being. The studio concept, evidenced by project-based learning at SWS, revealed the following conclusions: that students approached all learning as if it was a creative project, the teacher acted as a guide, that tools and materials were visible, that competence in using these materials is taught and that students were comfortable and free to create varied rather than uniform products. Further, SWS took the idea of studio learning in an elegantly crafted transparent direction between the classroom, the studio and the community. What is truly unique about this definition of studio is that one can conclude, that it is both a cerebral space and a physical space, it is a way of looking at the world as a studio to be explored and everything in it is a potential creative tool or material. This emergent definition of studio at SWS is congruous with the research on studio environments advancing that learning in studio is both individual and collaborative [31] (Carbone, Lynch, Arnott and Jamieson, 2001; [7] Hetland, Winner, Veenema, and Sheridan, 2007; [33] Stevens, 2002). Further, the concept of studio as being boundless is supported by the tenets of Reggio Emilia theory which advances that the physical studio is the hub for the initiation of ideas which reach out into the world [19].

4.2 Technology was a driving force in TEAL

In recent years a growing body of research discusses the efficacy of integrated technology in the classroom and how it may affect student achievement ([33] Lei & Zhao, 2007; Rose, Meyer, & Hitchcock, 2006; [6]] Sheffield, 2007[34]). New ways to use technology to serve “students in the margins” [6] (Rose, Meyer, & Hitchcock, 2005, p. 30) is seen as key to developing a truly universally designed inclusive classroom. A defining factor of learning in the TEAL studio was the use of a rich assortment of technology, available to the students, professors and teaching assistants. The introduction of technology was integrated into the course materials, not displacing the use of traditional print media but rather enhancing it. Students and teachers became proficient in the use of technology in order to operate in the TEAL classroom. This was accomplished with the use of interactive textbooks and other supporting materials which address the needs of different types of learners. MIT’s use of media is supported by the principles advanced in UDL that “new electronic media offers the opportunity…the obligation to reexamine old assumptions about teaching media and tools and reconsider their impact on learners” [28] (Rose, & Meyer 2002). TEAL was developed in such a way as to offer a full complement of technology-driven learning tools suitable for a variety of learning styles. The theoretical importance of understanding and using tools, to “stretch and explore” learning, an important tenet of the studio thinking frameworks, was supported by the TEAL studio approach ([35] Hetland, & Winner, 2005). Students and teachers had to become proficient in the use of technology in order to learn in the TEAL classroom, with its use of technology as a link to expanded teaching and learning and as a tool for communication. The students and the professor agreed that the PRS System was very useful technology since it instantaneously gauged students’ understanding of the material being covered. The dependence on technology had both positive and negative implications. A studio classroom that is enriched by technology demands significant maintenance, training of teachers and students to be proficient in the use of this technology and an investment of time for planning and curriculum coordination.

4.3 Implications for Practice

Technology in the studio classroom serves the following major functions: it enhances communication among students, professors and teaching assistants, it allows for communication and information in and outside of the studio, it provides hands-on collaborative opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and it provides accessibility enhancements of the professors’ communication and digital text and graphics, microphones, video cameras and computers. The rich technological environment of TEAL demanded two full-time, dedicated technical staff members who were not only well versed in the use and maintenance of the technology but also had degrees in physics, the subject being taught. The use of technology in the studio setting implied that practitioners must look forward to how technology impacts
teaching and learning by creating new ways of knowing. Technology changes the teacher’s role to guide and adds a new layer of scaffolding to instruction, assessment and learning. The capabilities of classroom computers should be explored to reach maximum advantage of use. The use of technology in the studio classroom allowed students, professors and teaching assistants to communicate in class and out of class. The personal response system which gave students a chance to instantaneously respond to question giving the professor an ongoing means of assessing student understanding was described as one of the most positive uses of technology for teaching and learning in TEAL. The use of technology integrated into
instruction and application of knowledge requires training of both teachers and students in the use of the technology. It also requires thoughtful, purposeful opportunities for students to use the technology to problem solve, think actively and make direct correlations to the subject being studied ([32] Sheffield, 2007). Research shows that it is not the quantity of the technology used in a classroom but rather the quality of the technology and that positively effects student achievement ([31] Lei & Zhao, 2007). Integrating and embedding technology into the classroom therefore is challenging but once achieved, may provide a seamless way of introducing accommodations for learning to all students.

A confluence of the results of the two case studies of studio classrooms leads to the conclusion that the studio as classroom is conducive to student-driven hands-on learning. Technology, both hardware and software, is seamlessly embedded into the classroom providing tools both for teaching and learning. Studio moves away from the lecture/recitation format enabling the teacher and students to interact throughout the class. Because of this ongoing interaction, the studio classroom model may break down the barriers among teacher and students in the classroom and may allow caring peer relationships, and teacher-student relationships to occur. These caring reciprocal relationships in the studio may occur by the removal of hierarchy and competition in the classroom. This is achieved through the teacher acting as a guide, empowering each student by making sure they are proficient in the use of the technology, which are the tools for learning, and then facilitating the acquisition of knowledge. Because learning is occurring by students actively applying knowledge, there is a transparency inherent in the studio classroom. The teacher is able to observe students while they are exploring information, gaining and applying knowledge. This allows the teacher to assess student understanding and offers both the teacher and the student the opportunity to understand and recognize how each student learns. Rather than only judging a student through summative evaluations, the studio classroom offers constant interactions and opportunities for formative assessment and reflection. This, in turn, allows the teacher to help the student to direct their own learning. Students are aware of what they do not understand when they are actively involved in attempting to apply knowledge. SWS embracing of the Reggio Emilia’s tenet of encouragement of individualized learning which emerges from a student’s unique way of understandings, combined with MIT, TEAL’s use of technology to broaden ways of learning and assessing, may offer students with disabilities and those placed at risk opportunities for interaction with others and may lead to a self knowledge of how they learn. An overarching benefit of studio was the strong pro-social skills they produced through collaborative work and peer teaching and learning. This model shows promise for the creation of egalitarian, inclusive, technology rich classrooms where methods and modalities actively engage learners.

REFERENCES
[1] Gandini, L. (1998). Educational and caring spaces. In C. Edwards, L. Gandini & G.Forman (Eds.), The hundred languages of children (2nd ed.) (pp. 161-178).Westport, CN: Ablex Publishing Corporation.
[2] Lackney, J. A. (1997). The overlooked half of a large whole: The role of environmental quality management in supporting the educational environment. Paper presented at the Second International Conference: Buildings and the Environment, Paris, June 9-12, 1997.
[3] Van Note Chism, N., & Bickford, D. J. (2002). Improving the environment for learning: an expanded agenda. In N. Van Note Chism & D. J. Bickford (Eds.), The importance of physical space in creating supportive learning environments (pp.91-97). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
[4] Gardner, H. (1993). Frames of mind, theory of multiple intelligence. (10th anniversary edition). New York: Basic Books.
[5] Noddings, N. (2003). Caring: a feminine approach to ethics and moral education. (2nd Edition). Berkeley: University of California Press.
[6] Rose, D. H., Meyer, A. & Hitchcock, C. (2005). The universally designed classroom: Accessible curriculum and digital technologies. Cambridge: MA: Harvard Education Press.
[7] Hetland, L., Winner, E., Veenema, S, & Sheridan, K. (2007). Studio thinking: The real benefits of visual arts education. New York: Teacher’s College Press.
[8] Madden, C. (2009). Global financial crisis and recession: Impact on the arts’, D’Art Topics in Arts Policy, No. 37, International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies, Sydney.
[9] Adams, K. (2008). The relationship between art education and student achievement in elementary schools. Doctoral thesis. Minneapolis: Walden University.
[10] Eisner, E., (2002). The arts and the creation of mind. New Haven: Yale University Press.
[11] Eccles, K, Elster, A.(2005). Learning through the arts: A new school of thought?. Canadian Education Association, 45(3) 45.
[12] Karkou, V. , Glasman, J. (2004). Arts, education and society: the role of the arts in promoting the emotional well-being and social inclusion of young people. Support for Learning: British Journal of Learning Support, 19(2) 57-65.
[13] Bugliarello, (2003). A new trivium and quadrivium. Bulletin of Science Technology 23(2), 106-113.
[14] Rosenzweig, R. (2001). Course Changes for the Research University,” Science, Vol. 294, October 19, 2001, pp. 572-28.
[15] Beichner, R. J. () Introduction to the SCALE-UP Student-Centered Activities for Large Enrolment Undergraduate Programs. Invention and Impact: Building Excellence in Undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) In Collaboration With the Education and Human Resources Programs (EHR) American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 61-66.
[16] Dori, Y. J., & Belcher, J. (2005). How does technology-enabled active learning affect undergraduate students’ understanding of electromagnetism concepts? The Journal of the Learning Sciences, 14, 243-279.
[17] Ceppi, G., & Zini, M. E. (1998). Children, spaces, relations: Metaproject for a environment for young children. (L. Marrow, Trans.). (3rd ed.). Reggio Emilia Italy: Reggio Children Domas Academy Research Center.
[18] Dori, Belcher 2005 Dori, Y. J., Belcher, J., Bessette, M, Danziger, M., McKinney, A., & Hult, E., (2003). Technology for Active Learning, Materials Today, 6(12), 44-49.
[19] Gandini, L., Gandini, L., 2004. Foundations of the Reggio Emilia Approach. In J. Hendrick (Ed.), Next stepstoward teaching the Reggio way: Accepting the challenge to change (2nd ed., 13-26). Upper SaddleRiver, NJ: Pearson/Merrill/Prentice Hall
[20] Edwards, C., Gandini, L., Forman, G. (Eds.) (1998). The hundred languages of children: the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education.(2nd Ed.) Greenwich, CT: Ablex Publishing Corporation.
[21] Gandini, Hill, Cadwell & Schwall, (2004). Gandini, L., Hill, L., Cadwell & Schwall, C. (Eds.). (2005). In the spirit of the studio: Learning from the atelier of reggio emilia. New York: Teachers College Press
[22] Strong-Wilson & Ellis, Strong-Wilson, T. & Ellis, J. (2007). Children and place: Reggio Emilia's environment as a third teacher. Theory Into Practice, 46, 40-47. 2007
[23] Leland C. & Kasten W. (2002). Literacy education for the 21st century: It’s time to close the factory. Reading and Writing Quarterly, 18, 5-15.
[24] Bentley, T. (1998). Learning beyond the classroom. London: Routledge.
[25] Katz, M. (1987). Reconstructing American education. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
[26] Armtrong. (2003).
[27] Noddings, N. (2005). The challenge to care in schools: an alternative approach to education. (Second Edition). New York: Teachers College Press.
[28] Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
[29] Maxwell, J. A. (2005). Qualitative Research Design: An interactive approach (applied social research methods series) (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
[30] Strauss, A. & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Sage Publication.
[31] Carbone, A., Lynch, K., Arnott, D., & Jamieson, P. (2001). Introducing a studio-based learning environment into information technology. Paper presented at the Flexible Learning for a Flexible Society Meeting. Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.
[32] Stevens, K. L. (2002). School as Studio: Learning through the Arts. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 39(1), 20-23.
[33] Lei, J & Zhao, Y. (2007). Technology uses and student achievement: a longitudinal study. Computers and Education, 9 (2) 284-296.
[34] Sheffield, A. (2007). Necessary variables for effective technology integration. Idaho: Boise State University.
[35] Hetland, L., & Winner, E. (2005). Arts and understanding: the studio thinking framework. Paper presented at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education Project Zero Classroom 2005: Views for Understanding|, Cambridge,MA.

Parents and Teachers Need to Embrace Digital Reading and New Technology

2010-09-30T07:23:00.000-07:00

Imagine a world where a book can be with you anywhere. You could conjure it up, no physical book needed, any blank space or place will do, a table, a wall, a piece of paper or thin air against a blue sky. I think that day is coming. A Berkeley University study published in 2003 explains how knowledge is expanding exponentially. Where are we going to publish all of this information? Paper and ink makes less and less sense. So what about the paper and ink book? I love the touch and feel of books, to have the words in hand, like viewing an original painting connects you with the artist, the book with the author. But the current world demands new thought about books and reading and perhaps we will find that different modalities of books, print, audio, digital will serve varied purposes and offer readers their preference and interesting choices. A study by Scholastic Books as reported in the New York Times states that 57% of school aged children are interested in reading digital books and that 25 percent of students surveyed had read a digital book. So what is the problem? Somehow the tenor of this article makes it sound as if parents feel that technology is the enemy, reminiscent of parental reactions in the past to: in the 30's and 40's radio and motion pictures, in the 50's and 60's TV and Rock and Roll and cracks in traditional values, in the 70's- Pong, and a breaking with traditional values and in the 80's Super Mario Brothers and other games, and home computers becoming ubiquitous. Then came the more threatening, interpersonal interactive iterations of technology like email, high powered Internet service, intersecting platforms of delivery between cell phones and PCs. I am sure the list will continue to grow. Every decade seems to have technological advances that scare parents. I am sure the light bulb did the same in its day. So how far a field have I gotten from my first few sentences about digital books? Not far, I feel fear may be blocking an unfettered discussion of the incredible possibilities that digital books can bring to our society. As a professor, who teaches teachers and grad students, and as a parent I feel compelled to weigh in on this most important and urgent issue. Parents and teachers technology is not our enemy, it is our friend. I would like to clarify this statement by saying that many technological advances and applications are so new to the world that their potential problems and applications need to be tinkered with as we all get swept along. Our concerns of cyber bullying, lurking Internet stalkers, and Internet identity theft and fraud, all serious issues, that were somehow unforeseen, will be the new focus of legislation and constitutional debate. Yes these aspect of technology are rightfully scary, especially to parents. Playing video games, as other aspects of a child's life, like sports, TV watching and hobbies should be scheduled with thoughtful guidence by parents or guardians. But the idea of parents being afraid of technology as being too much of distraction for children may need revisiting. Like it or not technology is the fabric of our modern existence, and yes it continues to change things radically. So I was a little dismayed when the New York times article stated, "But many parents surveyed also expressed deep concerns about the distractions of video games, cellphones and television in their children’s lives. They also wondered if the modern multi-tasking adolescent had the patience to become engrossed in a long novel." I found this statement funny in a way. Students today do and accomplish so much. They do multi-task and yes, they still find time to read. I would like to dispel this deep concern with fact, according to a National Educational Association Study in 2009 as reported by the National Endowment for the Arts, more young adults are reading good literature than ever before, and I quote:

-Demographics of literature readers

-Young adults show the most rapid increases in literary reading. Since 2002, 18-24 year olds have seen the biggest increase (nine percent) in literary reading, and the most rapid rate of increase (21 percent). This jump reversed a 20 percent rate of decline in the 2002 survey, the steepest rate of decline since the NEA survey began.

-Since 2002, reading has increased at the sharpest rate (+20 percent) among Hispanic Americans, Reading rates have increased among African Americans by 15 percent, and among Whites at an eight percent rate of increase.

-For the first time in the survey's history, literary reading has increased among both men and women. Literary reading rates have grown or held steady for adults of all education levels. (NEA,2009).

If I had to guess, I would say that within the next five years most school aged children are going to be reading online, digital books either from handheld devices or on their laptops. Further, I believe that this shift will bring about a leveler playing field as
more schools are legally mandated to go digital with their text booksthere will also have to be equal access to those textbooks afforded to every student. Potentially required digital media textbooks and books for public school students could help lessen and even erase the digital divide which currently exists between the rich and the poor. So I am excited about technology, bring it on. But as teachers and parents let us recognize that we must be good stewards of this technology. Martha Stone Wiske, Co-Director of the Educational Technology Center wrote a wonderful article exploring how the use of technology requires a shift away from traditional teaching methods, she states that,
" To change school practice, curriculum goals and materials, assessment policies, and teacher
development must shift. Without these changes, a new technology will merely be used to enact traditional practices(2010, p73).
So let us look at our school aged children and celebrate their attraction to technology and let us become educated in how digital books, and the myriad of technology in use can raise all boats!

Universal Design for Learning and the Arts

2010-07-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

“I'm a great believer that any tool that enhances communication has profound effects in terms of how people can learn from each other, and how they can achieve the kind of freedoms that they're interested in” (Bill Gates).

Once again, I have the pleasure of being a guest online lecturer for a Universal Design for Learning course hosted by The George Washington University in Washington, DC. I would like to share with you the mini-lecture on the arts and Universal Design for Learning that I posted during the online discussion. I hope that this information will continue to spark ideas and conversation.

A book that made a profound impact upon my life was Howard Gardner’s, Theory of Multiple Intelligences. I read it and thought …he understands what it is to be an artist…he understands that there are multiple view points and they can all be valued..he understands that honoring multiple intelligences will lead to a full picture of a topic as informed by a confluence of the intelligences of multiple learners. I found his ideas liberating in my art studio allowing my elementary and middle school students to bring their sensitivity their unique way of knowing something to each project. Collaboratively we decided to drastically move away from uniform outcomes, students were encouraged to create from their hearts, what they saw, how they saw, how they felt and experienced their world. Below are paintings of “The Essence of a Bicycle” painted by fifth grade students.

The Essence of a Bicycle

As a lifelong artist and elementary and middle school art teacher I took it for granted that the integration of tools for learning and learning itself were so intertwined that they created transparent processes in the studio. For example, one could see the progress by watching the students mix colors, use brushes, start with a blank canvas and gradually create a painting, which connected their internal thoughts with the external world. Four years ago I took a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) course. I realized that there was a synergy between the art studio and UDL and I began exploring ways to embed the use of technology both as a teaching and learning tool and a modality of expression into my art classes. What developed was a practice in my art studio where students were free to use the computer, scanner and printer as touchstones of innovation to explore and gather information by visiting various websites, to plan and create artwork and even sound-scapes. This technology provided content, inspiration and a platform for creating. Even video games, many of which have negative reputations, were used to spark discussion about art technology and censorship. Technology in my view pushes the boundaries of learning in studio beyond the walls! It offers paperless, instantaneous communication, access to information, artistic creative capabilities once thought unimaginable, virtual realities, a new language of knowing and a platform for educating that asks us to re-examine the traditional modes of teaching and learning. An example of art and technology used for teaching physics is found in the visual applets created at MIT for use in thier freshmen physics studio. They are beautiful to look at and create artistic images of what is scientific truth but is invisible to our eyes. Art and technology marry to make visible the invisible!! I have linked to
“The Falling Ring with Finite Resistance". What a beautiful work of art and valuable teaching tool!

Perhaps a confluence of technology and the arts may offer great promise in helping to solve the dropout epidemic in our country. Much educational research has been done on the reason high school students are dropping out"(Bridgeland, DiIlulio, & Burke Morison, 2006). Reasons cited for dropping out include that school lacks relevance to a student’s life and real world challenges, that no one takes a personal interest in the student and that it is too hard to attend school and deal with issues of life outside of school. Further, student engagement research has illuminated what is needed to keep students engaged in school (Sharan, S. & Tan, I.G.C. 2008). Student engagement as defined by Sharan and Tan goes beyond “motivation to learn” it must take into account “student interest, attachment to school achievement motivation, self-regulated learning, commitment to learning, and/or the investment of energy in learning in general” (p. 41). Further supporting this definition studies have shown that students who were placed at risk by circumstance became engaged in school through collaborative group project-based learning where the teacher was actively engaged with the students and the students felt a personal connection to their teacher (Kuh, 2007; Means & Knapp, 1991).

Universal Design for Learning offers foundational tenets for truly egalitarian education where no one is marginalized by being labeled as having “special needs or exceptional needs” rather, UDL widens the circle so that every learner is considered unique and has a full compliment of accommodations offered to them to support a holistic educational experience. Accommodations become invisible, embedded in the classroom and integrated into the way we teach and learn. In this same way the art studio classroom allows project based learning and portfolio assessment to be the norm. Students work collaboratively and the teacher becomes a facilitator or guide. Both models move away from lock step “one size fits all” curriculum and instruction mode to a classroom which allows the student to take control of their learning by integrating rich and varied tools that allow for multiple ways of showing knowledge. The studio and UDL embedded technology break down the barrier between teacher and student by making the teacher a facilitator and guide while the student takes active control of their learning. As posted of the Arts Ask for more website the benefits of arts education are listed:

-The arts make a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child and have been proven to help level the "learning field" across socio-economic boundaries
(Involvement in the Arts and Success in Secondary School, James S. Catterall, The UCLA Imagination Project, Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, UCLA, Americans for the Arts Monograph, January 1998).
Has a measurable impact on at-risk youth in deterring delinquent behavior and truancy problems while also increasing overall academic performance among those youth engaged in after school and summer arts programs targeted toward delinquency prevention (YouthARTS Development Project, 1996, U.S. Department of Justice, National Endowment for the Arts, and Americans for the Arts).
The National Universal Design for Learning Task Force states the benefits of UDL:
*UDL improves educational outcomes for ALL students by ensuring meaningful access to the curriculum and accurate skill and knowledge assessment. In addition UDL complements existing school reform initiatives.
*Provide multiple and flexible methods of presentation to give students with diverse learning styles various ways of acquiring information and knowledge.
*Provide multiple and flexible means of expression to provide diverse students with alternatives for demonstrating what they have learned, and
*Provide multiple and flexible means of engagement to tap into diverse learners' interests, challenge them appropriately, and motivate them to learn (CAST, hosted by The Advocacy Institute, 2009.

Ultimately UDL and the arts together offer a way of pursuing social justice in our classrooms by opening up possibilities for providing teaching, learning and assessment in multi-modalities. The environment created by an art studio that embraces UDL to teach all disciplines would offer every student access to the general curriculum and fair assessment methods. It further would offer pro-social benefits of peer instruction and opportunities for students with disabilities and students who have been marginalized because they cannot attend school because of a disability or circumstances to participate fully through technology. It is up to the teachers to move the current discourse in education away from top down mandates of high stakes testing that marginalize some students towards systemic change which is student-centric addressing the learning styles and needs of all students. UDL and the way students learn in the art studio may hold the key to a level educational playing field!

So I ask you as educators to ponder the following questions:

In the current educational climate in the United States, which focuses on high stake testing, what are your thoughts on UDL and the art studio?

Do you think there is a possible bond between the arts and UDL?

What is the role of the educator, student, school administrators, legislators in embracing such systemic change as adopting UDL and arts based practice as the norm?

What challenges do we face in an attempt at such change?

Do you have a story to share about UDL and arts based practice in your school that would add to the discussion.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on UDL and the arts.

Dr. Christine Morano Magee

References:

Americans for the Arts (2009) The arts ask for more.

http://www.americansforthearts.org/Public_Awareness/artsed_facts/001.asp

Bridgeland, J. M., DiIulio, Jr. J., Burke Morison, K. (2006). The silent

epidemic: Perspectives of high school dropouts. A report by Civic Enterprises in association with Peter D. Hart Research Associates and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Retrieved on July 1, 2009 from http://www.civicenterprises.net/pdfs/thesilentepidemic3-06.pdf

Dori, Y. J., Belcher, J. Bessette, M, Danziger, M., Mckinney, A. and Hult, E. (2003). Technology for active learning. Materials Today, 6(12) 44–49. Retrieved on July 1, 2009 from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6X1J-4B12X84-W&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=7cf10cbfa6610aa6f73d6b50bdaca5c2

Gardner, H. (1993). Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences (10th Anniversary Ed.) NY: Basic Books.

Kuh, G. (2007). What student engagement data tell us about college

readiness. Peer Review, 9(1), 4-8.

Means, B., & Knapp, M.S. (1991). Introduction: Rethinking teaching

for disadvantaged students. In B. Means, C. Chelemer, and M.S. Knapp (Eds.), Teaching advanced skills to at-risk students: Views from research and practice. San Francisco:Jossey-Bass.

National Universal Design for Learning Task Force (2009). Universal

design for learning: The facts for educators. The Advocacy Institute. Retrieved on July 1, 2009 from http://www.advocacyinstitute.org/UDL/Educatorfaqs.shtml

Sharan, S. & Tan I.G.C. (2008). Organizing Schools for Productive

Learning. Springer Science . Retrieved on July 1, 2009 from http://www.springerlink.com/content/m882n00358074526/

Arts and Universal Design for Learning

2010-07-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

“I'm a great believer that any tool that enhances communication has profound effects in terms of how people can learn from each other, and how they can achieve the kind of freedoms that they're interested in” (Bill Gates).

Once again, I have the pleasure of being a guest online lecturer for a Universal Design for Learning course hosted by The George Washington University in Washington, DC. I would like to share with you the mini-lecture on the arts and Universal Design for Learning that I posted during the online discussion. I hope that this information will continue to spark ideas and conversation.

A book that made a profound impact upon my life was Howard Gardner’s, Theory of Multiple Intelligences. I read it and thought …he understands what it is to be an artist…he understands that there are multiple view points and they can all be valued..he understands that honoring multiple intelligences will lead to a full picture of a topic as informed by a confluence of the intelligences of multiple learners. I found his ideas liberating in my art studio allowing my elementary and middle school students to bring their sensitivity their unique way of knowing something to each project. Collaboratively we decided to drastically move away from uniform outcomes, students were encouraged to create from their hearts, what they saw, how they saw, how they felt and experienced their world. Below are paintings of “The Essence of a Bicycle” painted by fifth grade students.

The Essence of a Bicycle

As a lifelong artist and elementary and middle school art teacher I took it for granted that the integration of tools for learning and learning itself were so intertwined that they created transparent processes in the studio. For example, one could see the progress by watching the student mix colors, use brushes, start with a blank canvas and gradually create a painting, which connected their internal thoughts with the external world. Four years ago I took a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) course. I realized that there was a synergy between the art studio and UDL and I began exploring ways to embed the use of technology both as a teaching and learning tool and a modality of expression into my art classes. What developed was a practice in my art studio where students were free to use the computer, scanner and printer as touchstones of innovation to explore and gather information by visiting various websites, to plan and create artwork and even sound-scapes. This technology provided content, inspiration and a platform for creating. Even video games, many of which have negative reputations, were used to spark discussion about art technology and censorship. Technology in my view pushes the boundaries of learning in studio beyond the walls! It offers paperless, instantaneous communication, access to information, artistic creative capabilities once thought unimaginable, virtual realities, a new language of knowing and a platform for educating that asks us to re-examine the traditional modes of teaching and learning. An example of art and technology used for teaching physics is found in the visual applets created at MIT for use in thier freshmen physics studio. They are beautiful to look at and create artistic images of what is scientific truth but is invisible to our eyes. Art and technology marry to make visible the invisible!! I have linked to
“The Falling Ring with Finite Resistance". What a beautiful work of art and valuable teaching tool!

Perhaps a confluence of technology and the arts may offer great promise in helping to solve the dropout epidemic in our country. Much educational research has been done on the reason high school students are dropping out"(Bridgeland, DiIlulio, & Burke Morison, 2006). Reasons cited for dropping out include that school lacks relevance to a student’s life and real world challenges, that no one takes a personal interest in the student and that it is too hard to attend school and deal with issues of life outside of school. Further, student engagement research has illuminated what is needed to keep students engaged in school (Sharan, S. & Tan, I.G.C. 2008). Student engagement as defined by Sharan and Tan goes beyond “motivation to learn” it must take into account “student interest, attachment to school achievement motivation, self-regulated learning, commitment to learning, and/or the investment of energy in learning in general” (p. 41). Further supporting this definition studies have shown that students who were placed at risk by circumstance became engaged in school through collaborative group project-based learning where the teacher was actively engaged with the students and the students felt a personal connection to their teacher (Kuh, 2007; Means & Knapp, 1991).

Universal Design for Learning offers foundational tenets for truly egalitarian education where no one is marginalized by being labeled as having “special needs or exceptional needs” rather, UDL widens the circle so that every learner is considered unique and has a full compliment of accommodations offered to them to support a holistic educational experience. Accommodations become invisible, embedded in the classroom and integrated into the way we teach and learn. In this same way the art studio classroom allows project based learning and portfolio assessment to be the norm. Students work collaboratively and the teacher becomes a facilitator or guide. Both models move away from lock step “one size fits all” curriculum and instruction mode to a classroom which allows the student to take control of their learning by integrating rich and varied tools that allow for multiple ways of showing knowledge. The studio and UDL embedded technology break down the barrier between teacher and student by making the teacher a facilitator and guide while the student takes active control of their learning. As posted of the Arts Ask for more website the benefits of arts education are listed:

-The arts make a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child and have been proven to help level the "learning field" across socio-economic boundaries
(Involvement in the Arts and Success in Secondary School, James S. Catterall, The UCLA Imagination Project, Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, UCLA, Americans for the Arts Monograph, January 1998).
Has a measurable impact on at-risk youth in deterring delinquent behavior and truancy problems while also increasing overall academic performance among those youth engaged in after school and summer arts programs targeted toward delinquency prevention (YouthARTS Development Project, 1996, U.S. Department of Justice, National Endowment for the Arts, and Americans for the Arts).
The National Universal Design for Learning Task Force states the benefits of UDL:
*UDL improves educational outcomes for ALL students by ensuring meaningful access to the curriculum and accurate skill and knowledge assessment. In addition UDL complements existing school reform initiatives.
*Provide multiple and flexible methods of presentation to give students with diverse learning styles various ways of acquiring information and knowledge.
*Provide multiple and flexible means of expression to provide diverse students with alternatives for demonstrating what they have learned, and
*Provide multiple and flexible means of engagement to tap into diverse learners' interests, challenge them appropriately, and motivate them to learn (CAST, hosted by The Advocacy Institute, 2009.

Ultimately UDL and the arts together offer a way of pursuing social justice in our classrooms by opening up possibilities for providing teaching, learning and assessment in multi-modalities. The environment created by an art studio that embraces UDL to teach all disciplines would offer every student access to the general curriculum and fair assessment methods. It further would offer pro-social benefits of peer instruction and opportunities for students with disabilities and students who have been marginalized because they cannot attend school because of a disability or circumstances to participate fully through technology. It is up to the teachers to move the current discourse in education away from top down mandates of high stakes testing that marginalize some students towards systemic change which is student-centric addressing the learning styles and needs of all students. UDL and the way students learn in the art studio may hold the key to a level educational playing field!

So I ask you as educators to ponder the following questions:

In the current educational climate in the United States, which focuses on high stake testing, what are your thoughts on UDL and the art studio?

Do you think there is a possible bond between the arts and UDL?

What is the role of the educator, student, school administrators, legislators in embracing such systemic change as adopting UDL and arts based practice as the norm?

What challenges do we face in an attempt at such change?

Do you have a story to share about UDL and arts based practice in your school that would add to the discussion.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on UDL and the arts.

Dr. Christine Morano Magee

References:

Americans for the Arts (2009) The arts ask for more.

http://www.americansforthearts.org/Public_Awareness/artsed_facts/001.asp

Bridgeland, J. M., DiIulio, Jr. J., Burke Morison, K. (2006). The silent

epidemic: Perspectives of high school dropouts. A report by Civic Enterprises in association with Peter D. Hart Research Associates and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Retrieved on July 1, 2009 from http://www.civicenterprises.net/pdfs/thesilentepidemic3-06.pdf

Dori, Y. J., Belcher, J. Bessette, M, Danziger, M., Mckinney, A. and Hult, E. (2003). Technology for active learning. Materials Today, 6(12) 44–49. Retrieved on July 1, 2009 from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6X1J-4B12X84-W&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=7cf10cbfa6610aa6f73d6b50bdaca5c2

Gardner, H. (1993). Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences (10th Anniversary Ed.) NY: Basic Books.

Kuh, G. (2007). What student engagement data tell us about college

readiness. Peer Review, 9(1), 4-8.

Means, B., & Knapp, M.S. (1991). Introduction: Rethinking teaching

for disadvantaged students. In B. Means, C. Chelemer, and M.S. Knapp (Eds.), Teaching advanced skills to at-risk students: Views from research and practice. San Francisco:Jossey-Bass.

National Universal Design for Learning Task Force (2009). Universal

design for learning: The facts for educators. The Advocacy Institute. Retrieved on July 1, 2009 from http://www.advocacyinstitute.org/UDL/Educatorfaqs.shtml

Sharan, S. & Tan I.G.C. (2008). Organizing Schools for Productive

Learning. Springer Science . Retrieved on July 1, 2009 from http://www.springerlink.com/content/m882n00358074526/

Shift Happens: Education 3.0

2010-05-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

Focus on Health Care Should not Eclipse Focus on Education

2009-12-14T05:53:00.000-08:00

Focus on Health Care Should not Eclipse Focus on Education

Of course the health of a society should be a universal concern of any nation. But I am concerned that the nation is so focused on health care right now, on debating legislation and combating H1N1 that we are losing time. The education debate seems stalled. Spending time worrying about H1N1 is not going to do anything to change the situation… education and preventative courses of action will. There always will be natural and man-made disasters that grab the headlines and tug at the heart of humanity diverting our focus from the ongoing issues. We cannot let important issues slip off the desk because a pressing issue has surfaced. In times of instant communication we must be principled and reasoned in our responses, global in our reference and in the end, do what is just and right for the greater good of humankind. I am afraid that a knee jerk reaction to the news allows the most crucial issue to slip out of sight….and that issue is education. In the end game education will prove to be humanity’s saving grace. In 2002, the Clarence J. Gamble Professor of Economics and Demography at Harvard University, David Bloom, eloquently outlined the importance of higher education in the time of a rapidly moving globalized society:

First, higher education is essential to promoting sustainable human
development and economic growth. It is no longer a luxury that only rich
countries can afford, but an absolute necessity for all countries, and
especially for poor countries.

Second, the pressures of globalization make it urgent that we devote
substantially more resources to the tertiary education sector, and that we
also reform it at both the level of individual institutions and the system as
a whole.

Third, good ideas are not enough – focusing on implementation is at least as
important as policy design. The harsh realities of taking an idea to the field
and bringing it to scale must be considered in the design of policy (Bloom,
2002).

Professor Bloom’s points are important and should be heeded. Higher education is imperative for the future. Yet there is another concern that needs to be addressed- the number of children who are not being educated at all. UNICEF published the following statistics, revealing that globally millions of children are not even receiving a primary education.

Numbers of primary-school-age children not in school (in millions)

Sub- Saharan Africa Boys 21.6 Girls 23.8 Total 45.4
Middle East and North Africa Boys 3.7 Girls 5.1 Total 8.8
South Asia Boys 18.7 Girls 23.6 Total 42.3
East Asia and Pacific Boys 5.2 Girls 4.9 Total 10.0
Latin America and Caribbean Boys 1.8 Girls 1.5 Total 3.3
Central and Eastern Europe,
theCommonwealth of IndependentStates
and the Baltic States Boys 1.3 Girls 1.6 Total 2.9
Industrialized Countries Boys 1.4 Girls 1.2 Total 2.6
World Boys 53.8 Girls 61.6 Total 115.4

Source: UNICEF/UNESCO Institute for Statistics 2001/2002

How can it be that we are not educating in a time when we can twitter and tweet, have streaming video teleconferences in board rooms which connect people thousands of miles away, and know the importance of education? Yes, poverty is at the heart of the issue. People need the essentials, food, clothing and shelter. Also global health needs must be addressed. But if we as a global community cannot see that education needs to be a constant focus we will truly be lost.

The number of uneducated global citizens is staggering. Yet there are solutions! The World Bank points out that combining a focus on health as well as education fosters economic well-being:

Improving Delivery of Education and Health Services – The developing
countries that have gained the most from integrating into the world economy
have shown impressive gains in primary education and infant mortality. This
suggests that many countries have made investments in education and health
services that enable the poor to benefit from growth(World Bank 2003.

All school districts and educators should embrace the challenge to educate globally! As the world gets smaller and we are confronted with not just the problems that touch our neighborhood but that touch our world I ask teachers to reach out to children who are marginalized and beyond our school boundaries. Let us take distance education, which is becoming a norm now in higher education, and let us make it a way to reach children who are presently outside of the academic circle. Collaboration is key. For the New Year let us make education a constant priority, an integral component of global initiatives in health care and anti-poverty legislation. An educated population is an empowered population that can help solve the world’s problems! Happy Holidays!

References:

Bloom, D. E. (2002). Mastering globalization: From ideas to action on higher education reform. Globazation: What Issues are at Stake for Universites? Quebec, Canada: UniversiteLeval.

UNESCO Institute for Statistics(2001/2002).
http://www.uis.unesco.org

The World Bank (2003). Globalization, growth, and poverty : building an inclusive world economy, Volume 1, Report 23519 http://econ.worldbank.org

Children Going to School Hungry

2009-09-08T17:01:00.000-07:00

Everywhere we turn in September there are reminders that school is back in session. School buses shuttle children, back to school night postings are in the local paper and on billboards in front of schools and the neighborhood playgrounds are quieter. September also sparks media focus on school topics. There have been numerous articles on how the struggling economy has curtailed back to school spending and has caused many school systems to lay off teachers and scale back programming. Within the new economic struggles that our nation is facing there is one important issue that needs to be underscored and it trumps the lack of back to school spending, program cuts and even teacher lay offs, it is the growing number of children who are going to school hungry. Here is an example: One may think of Maine as a state with picturesque waterfront vacation cabins, and traditional cedarshake and shuttered houses in quaint fishing villages... Yet there is another snapshot of Maine, as reported by Bill Shore in the Kennebek Journal, that is not so pretty. “One in five Maine children lives in households facing hunger. Only 44 percent of children in Maine receive the free school breakfast for which they are eligible, and only 15.5 percent get summer meals when schools are closed. Between 2000 and 2005, Maine had the highest percentage growth rate of hungry people in the United States. More than one in eight Mainers uses food stamps”(2009).

As I conducted research for this article I realized that the scenario of children being hungry is a common one today in the US. It also became evident that hunger crosses ethnic, gender and geographic lines. Amanda Greene, in the Star News reveals that there are a startling 24.1 percent of children under five in North Carolina who are not receiving the proper nutrition. This article also contains an interactive map of the US showing state by state "food insecurity" statistics for children under five. The findings are alarming! The Share Our Strength: No Kid Hungry organization is attempting to combat childhood hunger, they explain three ways that a community can help combat hunger in children. Teachers and schools are an obvious touchstone for both awareness and providing services. Teachers and schools can play a significant role by 1)increasing access to programs, 2)strengthening community ties and resources for these children, and 3)improving families knowledge about the availability of food programs and offering nutrition education. This organization also points out that "The reality is that more than 12.4 million children in America—that’s one in six—are at risk of hunger. And it’s likely that these children will endure lifelong consequences as a result of having limited access to nutritious foods." As individuals we should look to help our local food banks by donating funds or food and volunteering where we can. A hungry child cannot concentrate- schools should concentrate their efforts on eradicating this problem! Let's all do what we can.

The Sad Ending of Reading Rainbow

2009-08-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

My thirty one year old son, who is the founder of The Millions, a literary website, sent me an email lamenting that PBS has canceled Reading Rainbow after 26 years. As a child his love of reading and writing were sparked by weekly trips to the public library and also by watching Reading Rainbow, a show that introduced books and created excitement around those books. With LeVar Burton leading the way each episode escorted young viewers on a new adventure that took them into a different book. The show linked language to visualization and imagination! In recent years the show developed a wonderful companion website that includes an alphabetized list of book reviews, resources for parents and teachers, a young writers contest and other interesting and useful tools for teaching and learning about books.

At a time when one out of every seven adults in the US has low literacy skills and the National Council on Teachers of English Standards for the English Language Arts reflect that in order to be a fully participating member of society and the workplace citizens will need ever more powerful literacy abilities that currently escape a large majority of the US population, it is TRAGIC that Reading Rainbow is going off the air. Even though Reading Rainbow garnered twenty four Emmy awards, the network cites lack of funding as causing its demise. I am perplexed by this decision, let me see... Antiques Road Show or Reading Rainbow? What grandma's vase is worth or inspiring a child to read? Apples and oranges. But it seem that the oranges have a more compelling reason to carry on! In PBS's own words "its [Reading Rainbow's] intent was to send children to libraries looking for information about the high interest topics presented. In its 20-plus years of existence and 150 programs, Reading Rainbow has managed to maintain these goals yet become one of the top-rated television programs in classrooms for instructional purposes"(PBS 2005). Why pull the plug on a winner, why take away a show that had a positive influence on school aged children?

If you would like to see Reading Rainbow resurrected, here is a link to find your local PBS contact information
Please join me in writing, calling and emailing to let PBS know that inspiring a love of reading in young people is priceless!

For those who may not know Reading Rainbow you can view a clip from the first program in 1983 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhXcAxVYbjE

Entry dedicated to C. Max Magee.

Is Listening to an Audio Book Reading?

2009-07-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

As the lazy days of July slip into the dog days of August in Washington, DC I begin to feel the anticipation of the upcoming school year. There are many tasks that need to be done to get ready for the teaching I will be doing this fall. Also there is my professional research and writing that takes up much of my day. Yet there is something that I need to do for pleasure each day, yes- need to do…read. So for at least an hour a day I move away from my desk and find a comfy chair, put my feet up, put on my headphones and read. When I read at home I have the book in front of me while I listen. This summer I read/listened to, A Mercy by Toni Morrison, The Lakota Way by Joseph M. Marshall III, and I am in the middle of re-reading/listening to for the first time 1984 (last time I read it was in high school before 1984) by George Orwell. Audio books have become a part of my life- sometimes I do not have the book in front of me and simply listen. The impact has been stunning! Last year while commuting in my car I listened to the 900 pages of Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand, a tome I always intended to read which I don’t think I would have had the stamina or time to read without the assistance of listening. I also listened to The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers; it was so well read that the voices transported me to the south in the 1930’s. Listening to books has brought a new dynamic and accessibility to reading that I never knew with just printed versions. I read for pleasure more than I ever did before!

We all may agree that books on tape, for an adult who has good reading skills is fine- but what about students who are having difficulty reading?

Fifteen years ago I was advocating for a third grade student diagnosed with a visual processing disability the educational psychologist recommended audio books as an accommodation. The family was able to get all the students schoolbooks on audiotapes through Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. Both the student and his parents were excited about the audio books. The parents felt that it would make homework easier and their child would be less frustrated about school. The child always read along in the printed version of the book while listening. The parents noticed that although the child was not doing that much better in school he was happier about going to school and they had seen little successes that made a big impact on their child. The child was delighted to get through his reading assignments, which he rarely finished in the past. In a conference the classroom teacher was against the use of audio books, “This is cheating, if your son listens to the books he is not reading. Even with the audio books at home he is still not reading at grade level.” The mother asked what the child was supposed to be getting out of language arts and the teacher pulled out a chart from her notes and read, a) to improve reading skills, b) to improve vocabulary, c) to understand the structure of a story, d) to be exposed to new ideas and experiences through books e) to understand fiction and non-fiction by developing concrete and abstract thinking skills. The mother argued that listening to a book, while following along and reading, enhanced the reading experience for her son. “He used to struggle to read and now he enjoys putting on his headphones and listening.” Although that teacher and mother did not see eye to eye, her son discovered in third grade that he was a very strong auditory learner. Today, as a successful college graduate he still listens to audio books and has become an avid reader. Times have changed and most teachers would agree there are benefits to using audio books in the classroom.

I am convinced that audio books can assist students through the frustrations of the mechanics of reading and allowed them to “break through” and understand the joy of reading! Madeline L’Engle, author of children’s classics,stated the reason clearly in her own reflections on language. She illuminates the importance of language found through reading.
“The more limited our language is, the more limited we are; the more limited the literature we give to our children, the more limited their capacity to respond, and therefore, in their turn, to create. The more our vocabulary is controlled, the less we will be able to think for ourselves” (1972, p. 149).

This is why we should make books available to struggling readers who may not be able to get through them using only traditional reading methods. Audio books keep struggling readers from falling behind because they are tangled in the mechanics and may be missing the content, vocabulary building and most importantly development of active thinking skills. My opinion as an educator is that even today we need to discuss moving away from a strict definition of reading. I also believe that multi-modal reading instruction, where technology can support reading skills is important for all students especially those with disabilities.

How we achieve this in our classrooms leaves room for discussion.

Is listening to an audio book reading or a new way of reading?

Are there still teachers who resist using audio books? If so why?

Are there creative ways to use audio books in the classroom to assist all students?

Does your school library or classroom offer audio book technology for all students?

What are your feelings on audio books?

There are many free technologies available to assist teachers and parents in accessing audio books. I hope that you will find the resources and articles listed below helpful and I would love to hear your ideas about how you use audio books and what your experiences have been in using them personally and for teaching.

Resources:

Bradshaw, T., Nichols, Kelly, K. and Bauerlein M. (2004, June). Reading At Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, Research Division Report #46 Washington, DC: National Endowment for the Arts, online at http://www.nea.gov/pub/ReadingAtRisk.pdf.

Center for Applied Special Technology, CAST http://www.cast.org/products/index.html

Free Audio Books and Text: http://www.free-books.org/children.php

Koffoff, P. B. (2002). Why teachers need to be readers. Gifted Child Today, 25(2) 50-57.

L'Engle, M. (1972). A quiet circle. San Francisco: Harper & Row.

Raskind, M. H. & Higgins, E. L. (1999). Speaking to read: The effects of speech recognition technology on the reading and spelling performance of children with learning disabilities. Annals of Dyslexia, 49, 251-281.
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, 800-221-4792 (RFB&D). http://www.rfbd.org/

ReadPlease: Text to Speech Software: http://www.readplease.com/

Serafini, F. (2004). An Educator’s Guide to Utilizing Audiobooks in the
Classroom Excerpt from RHI: Reaching Reluctant Readers. New York: Random House. on line at: http://www.randomhouse.com/highschool/RHI_magazine/pdf/serafini.pdf

Education Key to Economic Future

2009-03-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a kingdom in the land of make believe that was in economic ruin. The king went to his three advisers for ideas on how to solve the problem. One adviser said, “I think we should put money into helping the shop owners because if they go out of business the face of our kingdom will look bad. We don’t want boarded up shops in our village.” Another adviser stated, “I think we should help the lords, who oversee the working of the land and the production of goods. If the lords go under, our kingdom will be sunk.” A third adviser sat for a long time and then said. “I think we need to look at the situation carefully, and not go for the quick solution, rather put together a long range plan.” The king thought this was a good idea. So the king set out with the third adviser and went from place to place listening to ordinary people in focus groups from a broad range of socio-economic backgrounds and geographic areas. After listening to the people the king realized something profound. In the town square he made a speech which started: “If we don’t put money into education there will be no kingdom in the future.” The king decided that education needed to be the first thing funded in his stimulus package and this land over time became prosperous once again.

In fairy tales anything is possible and they usually end happily ever after. For a long time in the US we have ignored making connections between the economic crisis and our neglect of secondary education in our country. With dropout rates at staggering highs, and the US lagging behind in science, math and technology education, as well as learning foreign languages- how can we be surprised that our country is on shaky economic ground? Our current administration agrees that education is crucial to economic recovery. Unlike quick bailouts, education is not a band aid put on the economic crisis it is the long term cure!

This recovery is going to require hard decisions from the government. It is interesting that we bail out failing businesses but close failing schools. Perhaps the government should create a No Child Left Behind (NCLB) for business, let us call it No Worker Left Behind (NWLB), where corporations would be required, with no loopholes, to meet adequate yearly progress, to have transparency, and full accountability for their actions. The corporation, under NWLB, would be obligated to treat each employee with respect, give them the tools they need to do their job and support them so that they can achieve to their highest personal ability.

No one should stand on the sidelines during a time of crisis, everyone should try to find a solution. This economic crisis should be a reminder to all teachers and school administrators that our task is of the highest importance to our nation: To educate students to become upstanding citizens who will use their talents to make society a better place. The news lately is filled with examples of highly educated people who decided that greed is greater than the greater good of our nation. May I suggest that the money recouped from corporate bonuses be put into education to help failing schools and... require those who are greedy in corporate America to go back to school to learn how to play well with others.

Parental Involvement in Our Schools

2008-09-28T13:13:00.000-07:00

In 1959 when I started first grade my parents visited school exactly twice that year, once to attend Back to School Night and once to visit the classroom mid-year to meet with the teacher and be given my report card. At the end of the school year without fanfare we were dismissed. There were few opportunities, if any, for parents to volunteer in schools. Research shows that when parents are involved in their children's schools, both the schools and students benefit. The attached article reviews the research and illuminates the issues. Yes, parental involvement is a wonderful thing. Children are always excited to see mommy or daddy at school for a happy reason. They are usually proud and feel special to have a parent participate in their school day. As a teacher and a specialized tutor I remember that there were always a few parents at the ready, standing in the wings, who would bake cupcakes with two hours notice or drop everything and chaperone a field trip. There were parents who would sew costumes and put together sets for school shows, help transport students, come in and share their knowledge about a hobby or occupation and some who would cook hot dogs for a sporting event or head up a raffle or bake sale for the school. There were also parents, dreaded parents, who were ever present, who were sometimes overly involved in the lives of their children. Then there were parents who I never saw, never. When I inquired about these parents I heard they were “too busy to help out.” But I also knew that many of these parents were working, had other children at home, or aging parents who they were caretakers for. I remember one mom who had cancer and a dad who worked two jobs. There was also a grandmother who was the caretaker for her second grade grandson, there were no parents around. These parents and grandparents were stretched, some financially, some by time, some by emotional stresses and family responsibilities. They were not “too busy”- they were living complex lives and were not able to participate. Perhaps it is key to the success of all schools to find empathy for the parents and guardians of our students. As educators how do we engaged parents who have limited time and resources? How do we make these parents feel a valued part of the school community? How do we show that we care about them being a part of our lives?
This is a complex issue. I do not pretend to have the answer, just some thoughts. During the spring semester I had the pleasure to observe at School within School at Peabody, a DC Public School serving Pre-K and Kindergarten students. I was amazed at the parental involvement. I watched parents mulching the garden, bringing in recyclable materials for art projects, reading to the children, cleaning and organizing supplies or just visiting for an hour. When I asked why so many parents were at the school, participating in varied activities in varied ways the lead teacher said something that was profound. “Parents want to find a way to help their children’s school, but as a school you have to look outside of the traditional ways, you have to find out when and how it can happen.” I realized in that moment, that it is about teachers and administrators looking at the parents and guardians at their schools and taking the time to figure it out. It is very easy as teachers to always call on the moms and dads who are waiting in the wings to help, it is more of a challenge to figure out ways to engage parents who may feel marginalized or that they just don’t have the time or resources to share. This is not their problem, it is ours. So I hope that with a new school year getting underway teachers and administrators will take the time to contemplate and discuss how they can bring all parents into the volunteer circle. Making the circle wider will enrich everyone!
Some resources:
Education World
The National PTA
NCLB

Look before you leap...he who hesitates is lost...The Drop Out Dilemma

2008-08-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

Look before you leap...he who hesitates is lost. These are paradoxical axioms which in different circumstances we take for granted as true. You look both ways before crossing a street or you arrive the first day of the sale so you will have the best selection to choose from, hesitate and that item you wanted may be sold out. They are both phrases of advice and each is useful, but the efficacy of this advice will only be found if the right idea is used to deal with the right situation or problems. Too often in education we are looking for the right answer instead of a poignant debate which recognizes the paradoxes which are inherent in the issue of education. There are tough questions, with multiple answers that sometimes seem at odds with one another. Should funding be increased to help failing students and failing schools or should the funding be used to bolster science and math schools for gifted students? Is it better to pool resources into regional schools or attempt to fix ailing neighborhood schools? Should we have a national curriculum with national standards or develop regionalized curricula which are germane to the issues relevant to the geographic areas they are taught in? Are voucher programs good or bad? There are multiple sides to these issues and none of these answers are clear cut. What is clear cut is that when one explores the topic of education in the United States it reveals a dichotomy: the haves and have nots. The haves go to good public schools in good neighborhoods where parents are able to be involved and students are able to attend school without worrying about more than doing their homework, participating in school activities, perhaps working at a part time job for extra spending money and making sure they are on top of the college application process. I don't want to stereo type, I know there are students in this demographic who face problems but it is different if you are a "have not." The have nots find multiple tendrils coiling around their educational process. Issues of poverty and marginalization of students who already live in a world of struggle. As a nation we tend to be myopic, lumping all high school drop outs into the same pool, the truant trouble makers who are doing so poorly they don't make it....and once they are out of the system they are off the grid, they become invisible. We offered them a free education and they failed... we can easily blame them. But let us look before we leap into being callous as a nation to those who fail. We don't seem to see the drop out as a student who has to work to help support their family or has to live in a number of different towns each year because his family does seasonal work or as someone who has no electricity on at home. A majority of students who drop out do not find school relevant to their lives. They are students who live in poverty, who have little guidance and little hope. They need help, and we as educators need to find our voices in order to help them. A third of all high school students who start high school in the U.S. do not graduate. A third! We need to do something. So I hope you will read The Silent Epidemic and One Third of A Nation, both of these reports present the realities of this terrible situation. As educators we need to look before we leap into funding schemes which provide band-aid solutions instead of cures for the drop out epidemic. At the same time we need to not hesitate in finding solutions, time is running out, the longer we hesitate the more students we will lose.

Happy Father's Day: Caring for Fathers Who Don't Care

2008-06-15T06:44:00.001-07:00

Today is Father's Day in the United States a day of celebrating fatherhood with back yard barbecues, home made cards, and gifts that say in some way "thank you dad." My dad was the youngest of five boys in a family of first generation Americans. He and his brothers fought in World War II for a country that they barely knew and upon returning home began to live the American Dream. They worked hard, married and had families. My dad worked from nine to five, coached little league, barbecued on Sundays in the back yard, never cooked in the kitchen, never ironed a shirt, was revered as the bread winner of the family. Roles for the parent's of baby boomers were clearly defined, many moms emulated the wives on Father Knows Best or the Donna Reed Show. They put on make-up and their aprons before their husbands arrived home and took pride in cooking the best pot roast on the block.

Fast forward to today. Roles in the family are no longer dictated by gender which is a consequence of women working for equality in a traditionally male dominated society. This is good. Dad can cook a pot roast as well as iron a shirt and change a diaper. There is a high divorce rate in our country, yet many families manage to cope with divorce and both father and mother remain active in raising their children. But today, Father's Day, also reveals for many households a sadness, a missing link, a gap in the family. Statistics show that in the United States one third of children are born to unmarried parents and a majority of these children will not live in a household with a father present (Western & McLanahan, 2000). The burden of this statistic is exacerbated by the fact that only a fraction of these births were by choice and that a large majority of single parents are women whose income is below the poverty level. Living without dad around is difficult and many single mothers are marginalized by their lack of child support from missing fathers and limited options for childcare. The ticket out of this problem is found in providing resources, services and education for single moms who live in poverty.

But what about the dads? As a society have we given up? Do we accept the terms "dead beat" and "absent" as adjectives describing a large number of estranged fathers? Is there any hope or solution to the fractured family which has become accepted as norm? This problem is not easy to discuss. It is charged with anger by many women and children who relate their feelings about the absent father. The answer must start early, with the education of our young. Further, the answer lies in our ability as a nation to care about those who are marginalized and also to make caring the core of our educational curricula. The word care here does not refer to an act of condescension, a care giver and a care taker, rather, in teaching our children from their first moments of understanding that caring is a reciprocal relationship and should be a part of everything they do in life and every decision they make. If you have not heard of Nel Noddings and her well developed theory of care and caring exploring it can edify the way one understands life and the importance of caring. For many of us the idea of caring is a natural one. The question than becomes how can people who were never cared for themselves learn to care? As educators we should feel the burden of the answer. Doing research and finding programs and avenues to share with our schools and elected officials. As educators we can become advocates both for the students we teach and their parents. There are many programs but we need to look for them. One such program offers teachers tools to teach parenting education, another offers a model of parenting classes for male inmate. I am sure none of them offer a panacea for this epidemic but they do offer glimmers of hope. As educators we must look at the whole child and embrace the challenges that they face as part of what we need to educate ourselves and them about. Caring, especially for those issues which are uncomfortable to care about, may be the key to change. Happy Father's Day.

Art as Experience

2008-06-12T09:13:00.000-07:00

The arts and learning. There are many academic articles that point out the advantages of the arts, yet few have been able to prove a direct link between art education and higher test scores. Due to the nature of quantitative and qualitative research, which can not get inside of someones brain and explore if it was the art class they had that year or which helped them get higher test scores in math and reading we may never get a definitive answer. But what is known is that history is put into context through the inventions and creations of a given era. In a broad sense through art. When historical time lines are studied it is wars and what was conquered that are marked and in between are inventions and artistic achievements. Western culture has taken art history and created a studied discipline. In reality art history, which in the broad sense includes, creative discovery, invention and architecture is a key element in the nature of humankind and therefore not a discipline but a phenomenon of being. One can argue rightly that geography, medicine and raw materials are what produces mega powers or wipes out entire races (Guns, Germs and Steel, Jared Diamond). What endures is the writing, the structures, the art. What man creates is his legacy and what we grab onto for understanding of the past. So my argument for art in school is that it is not a subject, it is, as John Dewey brilliantly wrote in 1934, experience. In his book Art as Experience he eloquently explores how art is life. Here is a paragraph on architecture: "...Buildings, among all art objects, come the nearest to expressing the stability and endurance of existence. They are to mountains, what music is to the sea. Because of its inherent power to endure, architecture records and celebrates more than any other art the generic features of our common human life" (p.230). So do we need art in our schools? Yes. Yes in the broadest definition of art, as human experience, as who we are and in how we can make sense of our world and create avenues to higher levels of understanding.

New Year, New Hope

2007-12-30T17:38:00.000-08:00

It has been a few years since I decided I would create a blog. I decided that the care and feeding of a blog site would be too costly to my doctoral studies. I am now ABD and I regret not documenting the journey and realize now that it would have been important not just to chronicle my own progress as an educator but also to illuminate the issues which are being grappled with in the field of higher education. I apologize.

I am now a few years older and ABD (all but dissertation) embarking on a research project which will look at alternative types of classrooms as holding promise for high school students who have been placed at risk through their circumstance or environment. If the research goes well I will pursue a pilot study, hopefully in an urban public school.

What I have realized over the last few years is that our stature as a powerhouse of innovation globally is still continuing to wane. So what as educators can we do? It is important that teachers recognize that they are on the front line of change. Not immediate change, but the type of change that takes place over time. Each student one encounters is a potential agent of change in their community and the world. How often as teachers do we just want to make it to Friday, or just get the paperwork done, or just get those final grades and reports over with? I read a wonderful book by Linda Lambert, shockingly it is not new, it is entitled Who Will Save Our Schools:
Teacher as Constructivist Leaders. This book,written in 1997, outlines how teachers can become leaders within the hierarchy of education and how imperative it is that teachers rise to this challenge. Ten years have past since this book was written. The drop out rate in the U.S. for high school students is at 30 percent. The solution will not be found in legislation, the solution will be found in teachers. Teachers should be empowered by school systems to create an environment that fosters learning for each and every student. Teachers should have the voice to demand the resources they need to make each classroom a comfortable, safe learning environment. Finally, teachers should be the first voices heard in the school reform movement.So as a New Year begins let all teachers realize how important it is to make our voices heard. It is an election year, let us look at the heart of each candidate and see if they have the well being of their student constituents within. Vote thoughtfully, voice opinions loudly, read Linda Lambert's book. Happy New Year! Thanks for reading and please recommend any other teacher empowerment books which you have found helpful!

Educating for the Unknown

2005-10-30T17:50:00.000-08:00

It is imperative that teachers in the United States pay attention to the parochial attitude of our public education system. While we are worried about our student's passing standardized tests so that they and we will not be deemed as failing, the world is bounding ahead of us. The innovation and excitement of educational movements in the 1960's and 1970's in the US were eclipsed by a lack of a cohesive structure and unity in the educational field to implement these ideas within a framework of accountability. Now, under NCLB, we fall victim to accountability without innovation and without a voice. It is easy to blame the government for this predicament, perhaps some serious soul searching is in order- Teachers should not be swept along by tides of government, and rhetoric from organizers, rather they should be thinking and implementing innovative ways of facilitating learning for students who face the unknown. On 9/11 most teachers were in their classrooms getting ready to face a new day, and indeed it was not just a new day, but a new world, one in which teachers and students must be prepared to face the unknown. The challenge is to look upon the classroom not simply as a place where teachers go to work and students go to learn, rather it should be an experiment ground, where each day students can explore ideas, create products, create problems and learn how to solve them in a safe and comfortable environment. Perhaps it is time to look beyond our shores and boarders to other cultures and other countries for ideas on pedagogy. Perhaps it is time to listen to other people-- including the voices of our students as to what needs to be studied and learned. I recommend, if you have not read it, Howard Gardner's, Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Some disagree with his ideas; I feel if we do not expand the definition of intelligence in this country many students will be lost and eventually we will be lost as a nation.