Lesson 6
For this lesson I had to navigate to the web site provided for this lesson. I then explored the web site and chose TWO Alfie Kohn articles that interested me. I had a read of the articles and answered the questions below for each article i chose. This lesson required me to think of two research questions.
Article 1 - "Well, Duh!” — Ten Obvious Truths That We Shouldn’t Be ignoring
Why did you select this article to read? In other words, what compelled you to read this article?
I selected ““Well, Duh!” — Ten Obvious Truths That We Shouldn’t Be ignoring” article because it seemed interesting. I think it would be interesting to learn about the obvious truths that we shouldn’t be ignoring because these truths are obviously important. I wanted to know why they were getting ignored. I read the first paragraph and it made me want to go further into the article. “The field of education bubbles over with controversies. It’s not unusual for intelligent people of good will to disagree passionately about what should happen in schools. But there are certain precepts that aren’t debatable, that just about anyone would have to acknowledge are true” – Alfie Kohn.
http://www.alfiekohn.org/article/well-duh-ten-obvious-truths-shouldnt-ignoring/
Describe the primary points that were made by the author.
The primary points made in this article were the ten examples of the truths in school that shouldn’t be ignored. For example, the first point made by the author is “Much of the material students are required to memorize is soon forgotten”. This point is made clear by the author that this point as been used by everyone at some part of their lives during school. The author states that even after memorising a list of facts and definitions for a month or even a few days we probably couldn’t remember them if our lives depended on it.
Another point being made is on “Just knowing a lot of facts doesn’t mean you’re smart”. The author states that for the students who manage to remember some of the material in class were not able to put together these parts of random knowledge. The author thinks that applying them in inventive and persuasive ways to real life situations is the way forward.
Indicate if you agree or disagree with the author's points. Why or why not?
Firstly, I do agree with the authors first point on memorizing information is soon forgotten. I remember when I was in High School I would have a test coming up and I would write down all the notes I had been given then I would try and memorize them the day before the test. Then the next day my memory was fresh and I could still remember my notes from the day before. I believe that this was only my short memory being used because I couldn’t remember those notes now even if I tried.
The second point the author used about knowing facts doesn’t make you smart. I partly agree with the author. Sometimes the little random knowledge you know well usually comes in handy at some point in your life. However, that knowledge might not be important knowledge that you need to get through life.
Summary
This article was interesting to read about because it gave loads of interesting points about what the school industry already knows about but they don’t do anything about it. I realised a few of these point when I was going through school because I realised that once I tried to memorize something it would be there for a short period of time but then I couldn’t remember it a month later. Another thing I realized going through school would be that just because lessons are harder doesn’t mean they are better for us as students. I think it is pointless in giving students lessons that are too easy but I also think it is pointless in giving students lessons that are too hard because we just won’t learn anything.
Research Question
How should teachers help students prepare for tests?
Research Analysis
On “8 ways to prepare your child for standardised tests” tells us that it important for all students to pass these standardised tests because this test is what determines the students to move up a grade or not. Firstly, the website states that if the students stays on top of their homework then they are more likely to pass. The reason being that slow and steady progress has been proven to help progress. Another fact the website states is that reading with the students regularly will expand their vocabulary. After reading with the student the website says that asking questions is a good way to help the student understand what they has just read.
Research Summary
I thought that this website was an interesting website. It gave short explanations on how to help a student pass standardized tests. I know that if I stay on top of homework then I am more likely to pass that test because I am gradually doing it, I’m not cramming all the homework in and once. I also think that reading more increasing the vocabulary. However, I think reading is boring. To make reading fun teachers should make a game for the student to play whilst reading.
Reference
https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/partnering-with-childs-school/tests-standards/8-ways-to-prepare-your-child-for-standardized-tests#slide-3
Article 2 - "rethinking homework
Why did you select this article to read? In other words, what compelled you to read this article?
I selected the article “rethinking homework” because I think that teachers give students too much homework or some teachers don’t give enough homework. It’s never in between too little or too less. I wanted to see what Alfie Kohn had to say about homework. I think it would be interesting to learn more about.
Describe the primary points that were made by the author.
Alfie Kohn makes loads of point in this article. The first point he makes is “the negative effects of homework are well known”. He explains that sometimes homework is too much for the student and it can make the student lose interest in the subject. Another point Kohn makes is “the positive effects on homework are largely mythical”. He explains how it has been proven that homework does not build any character for the students. The third point Kohn makes is “more homework is being pilled on children despite the absence of its value”. This point states that the teachers should stop giving the students homework if it does not help them. The teacher should come up with better ways to help the students learn than giving them loads of homework to complete.
Indicate if you agree or disagree with the author's points. Why or why not?
I mostly agree with Kohn’s article on rethinking homework. I remember when I was in High School and I would get given homework, homework and more homework when my friend in the other class would get none. I didn’t think this was fair because my friend would have more time to herself after working hard at school. My friend also had more time to study and prepare for a test when I had one night to do that because all of the other nights I spend doing homework. My friend would also get high grades in that class when I would just pass and no more. This kind of proves that Kohn is partly right about his third point he was trying to prove.
Summary
I think this article was very interesting. It made me think of when I was at school and some teachers would give me loads of homework and other teachers wouldn’t give me any. It is weird because when you think back at is you realise that you either did the homework which was a complete waste of time or you didn’t do the homework and it didn’t miss out on anything important. I think that teachers only give out homework to give the student some responsibility.
Research Question
Is homework a waste of time?
Research Analysis
Debate.org says that 74% say yes homework for students is a waste of time and 26% of the debate say no it isn’t a waste of time. The 26% say that homework is not a waste of time because the students are spending their free time doing something knowledgeable instead of the students spending all of their free time playing video games. They say even though homework is a pain in the butt it can help the student remember what they did in class. The students can go home and research more about it. However, the 74% says that homework is a waste of time simply because it is stressful. It also spoils our social lives and stops us from going out with our friends on the weekends. They also think that it will put the students off learning altogether. The reason being because the students have spent all day at school thinking when they get home they can relax and have some time by themselves. Well when they get home from school they then find out that they have a lot of homework to do. The students need some alone time.
Research Summary
In my opinion Debate.org is a great resource to use because it gives you loads of other people’s opinions. Debate.org made me change my mind a little about teachers giving students homework and how it isn’t exactly a complete waste of time. I think it just depends on how much homework the teacher actually gives the students. For example, if it is just a 10 minute job to do with what they went over in class I think it wouldn’t be such a waste. This would help the student recap on what they went over in class and they could look more into it if they wanted to or if they didn’t fully understand it in class time. However, if the teacher is to give homework that would take a couple of hours to do I think that needs to be done in class time. It would probably get done quicker when there is a teacher in the same room to help you.
Reference
http://www.debate.org/opinions/is-homework-a-waste-of-time