tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post2243997138016176235..comments2024-03-22T08:16:45.553-06:00Comments on The Fischbowl: 180 Days?Karl Fischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121548023409279686noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-64497957978532226282011-10-17T19:08:20.334-06:002011-10-17T19:08:20.334-06:00We have the conversation all the time in our schoo...We have the conversation all the time in our school about how much time is lost out of the classroom. I think the best example is the 3 complete days we just spent for high stakes testing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06317206975550481938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-80372913703500712632011-03-01T18:38:59.486-07:002011-03-01T18:38:59.486-07:00It is an absolute tragedy that educators must pick...It is an absolute tragedy that educators must pick and choose what material students must learn versus what students should learn because the unfortunate reality is that what they must learn-- for achievement tests and the like-- does not always match what students would benefit most from learning. The sad fact that teachers' salaries may soon be based on students' performances on tests will not help alleviate this problem.Coachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18300858545835719406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-56555434936738107412008-03-04T08:07:00.000-07:002008-03-04T08:07:00.000-07:00In my opinion, it is a much better idea to use the...In my opinion, it is a much better idea to use the 180 days of school more wisely, than to create a longer school year, like some people propose. Many children are in school from the time they are born, (daycare), up until their mid-twenties. What we, as teachers, need to do is find a way to make learning more enjoyable.roskrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04968404928558831100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-31661622272395360492007-05-12T06:57:00.000-06:002007-05-12T06:57:00.000-06:00We do know that assessment/testing is at the heart...We do know that assessment/testing is at the heart of learning; it is part of the instruction produced by/in a school.<BR/><BR/>As to the utility of standardised tests, I believe it is not so much the concept as its implementation that needs to be looked at. A <I>standardised</I> test by definition is one that caters to <I>each and every</I> learner..it is (meant) to be designed with utmost research and care that reflects the diversity and variety of learners and styles. The absence of standardisation by the authorities is surely no reason to throw the very valuable concept out? The authorities ought to be thrown out, I would say.<BR/><BR/>Padmanabha Rao<BR/>IndiaUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10206653462011802325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-24032248265349068462007-04-14T15:34:00.000-06:002007-04-14T15:34:00.000-06:00In response to your presentation, I emphasize that...In response to your presentation, I emphasize that the time standardized tesing takes away from authentic, worthwhile curricula delivery time is amazing<BR/><BR/>In Pennsylvania, we've been adding more and more to our standardized testing program the PSSA. We are now up to testing about 50 days over the K-12 student's career, testing in Reading, Math, Science, and Writing; and Social Studies and Art are on their way. Add to that the test-prep that schools are finding necessary to meet AYP, the distraction from scope and sequence, and students are losing at least a full year of instructions over the course of their formal education. This is in addition to the four years (60 days/year X 12 years) that you note. That's equivalent not even spending a day in high school.<BR/><BR/>Parents, teachers, and students are dumbfounded to learn how much time is lost in standardized testing. Perhaps fortunately, it's a much easier argument to make than trying to explain how standardized tests are poor ways to measure and encourage student learning.<BR/><BR/>In a 1997 interview on PBS NewsHour, William Goodling, then Chairman of Education and Workforce Committee, said "you don't fatten cattle by weighing them. You don't speed up a car by putting in one more speedometer. You don't help children learn by offering one more test." <BR/><BR/>Indeed you waste their time. <BR/>--Charles Youngs, Pennsylvania<BR/><BR/>Refer to http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/july-dec97/test_9-8.html.ceyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05572748639516387710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-81055917806306404272007-04-14T15:32:00.000-06:002007-04-14T15:32:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.ceyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05572748639516387710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-65649295308737166972007-04-14T06:43:00.000-06:002007-04-14T06:43:00.000-06:00While I entirely agree with the fact that many day...While I entirely agree with the fact that many days "disappear" from the instructional calendar without any teaching consideration of where the time is going (start background: Judy Collins, "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?"), I think the bigger questions are twofold: What is the definition of "instructional?" (subquestions: Is test review not instructional? What about learning to plan your academic path? etc. Are lessons in school cummunity (pep rallies???)instructional? <BR/><BR/>More important is the second question: What opportunites that do not occur within the confines of the classroom are we missing as "instructional" time? Does the teacher have to be in the same space/time with the student for instruction to occur? What about the student who spends three hours exploring a concept on the web as a result of a challenge made in "class"? IF ONLY the education process could harness some of the time that is not "ours" and use it for "instruction," who cares about assemblies? Of course, then we have the issues of access and accountability...<BR/><BR/>--A thought for Saturday morning from someone who left the minute-counting after 27 years and now works 24/7 "from home." (Def of "home"? Do I mean home page or domicile?). <I>I am still surprised that it doesn't take exactly 3 minutes to change activities and move to the next room(!)But that's another story.</I>chshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03807340029247968428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-28113907670468228712007-04-13T19:42:00.000-06:002007-04-13T19:42:00.000-06:00Yes...it is very important. I will view the power ...Yes...it is very important. I will view the power point shortly but the whole question of time , how we use it ...lesson planning and expectations for daily activity in a 2.0 classroom...need to be discussed more.<BR/>I have a related post on my blog and a slightly different one on LeaderTalk both of which ask about new models:<BR/>- for formal observations<BR/>- for lesson planning, <BR/>- for using our time <BR/>As an administrator, if I am supposed to be a curriculum leader, I need new tools and new expectations for how time is used and curriculum is explored.Barbara Barreda K-8 Administrator, Tech integration advocate, Going 1:1 with netbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07535523713482852906noreply@blogger.com