August 9, 2009 – 11:07 am
Lewin reports that “Textbooks have not gone the way of the scroll yet, but many educators say that it will not be long before they are replaced by digital versions — or supplanted altogether by lessons assembled from the wealth of free courseware, educational games, videos and projects on the Web.”
This is interesting in many ways. For one thing, it underscores the necessity of having teachers who understand their subjects well. “Flexbooks” could greatly increase the importance of the teachers relative to state boards and legislatures.
By Tony Whitson
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Also posted in Education, Intellectual and Academic Freedom, Louisiana, Politics of Education, Science, Teacher Education, Teachers, blog, curriculum planning and development, e-learning, history, media, textbooks
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Bill Ayers will be on BookTV (CSPAN-2) from 8:30-9:40 am Eastern DAYLIGHT Time.
The BookTV page for this program says:
William (Bill) Ayers talks about two books he co-edited on the problems facing city schools, students, and teachers. “City Kids, City Teachers” is an updated edition of a book first published ten years ago. “City Kids, City Schools” [...]
August 24, 2008 – 9:53 am
Amy Harom has a great piece in the August 23, 2008 New York Times on a Florida teacher engaged in teaching evolutionary life science to a high school class that includes religiously committed skeptical students. The article is unusual in looking at the issues as matters of curriculum, requiring knowledgeable responses by educators, and not [...]
By Tony Whitson
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Also posted in Disciplines, Education, Education Law & Policy, Evolution, Religion, Science, Standards & Testing, Teachers, blog, creationism, jaw
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Something from Mara Sapon-Shevin that I think is worth sharing (posted here with her permission):
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008
From: Mara Sapon-Shevin
To: Tony Whitson
Hi Tony, Yes, I know this story and tell it as about responsive, differentiated instruction, although “tactful teaching” is a nice reframing! I talk about the swim instructor knowing (and all that implies) [...]
January 6, 2007 – 8:42 pm
Mike is asking about the role of teachers’ unions in education reforms … Another relevant source of examples, it seems to me, would be the role of unions in districts where “lesson study” has been implemented. Any real “lesson study” effort requires real time and other resources. In union-organized school districts, it seems to me commitment and support from both the District and the Union would be absolutely necessary.
