And the answer, imo, isn't just to move back to traditional individual paper assessments. Kids want to do *meaningful* real-world stuff, if that involves paper, great! It might also require power tools, teamwork, field trips, and visits from experts. It MIGHT even involve computers! - ThreadSky

covingtonedu.bsky.social • 50 days ago

And the answer, imo, isn't just to move back to traditional individual paper assessments. Kids want to do *meaningful* real-world stuff, if that involves paper, great! It might also require power tools, teamwork, field trips, and visits from experts. It MIGHT even involve computers!

Reposted from Nick Covington

What would you change about school?

"Hands-on, learn from my peers and stuff instead of just computers."

Comments

covingtonedu.bsky.social•50 days ago

What kids are tired of is "doing school" on computer.

The "doing school" part is the key, not necessarily the computer part. 😬

covingtonedu.bsky.social•50 days ago

The focus should be on how educational technologies alienate and isolate or connect and extend. The former was analog for decades before it became digital. A return to "vinyl" isn't a panacea either.

impactology.bsky.social•50 days ago

Exactly, current edtech is quite hellish

spam-meharderpapa.bsky.social•48 days ago

The "On the computer part" is pretty awesome if you have a job. I would say there isn't enough of it for people who missed 4 golden years immediately after high school.

pammoran1.bsky.social•49 days ago

goes back to a discovery we made w middle schlrs when we created mechatronics labs for them- they got to make stuff both practical and whimsical using old and new tech from hammers, saws & drills to arduinos, sewing machines, 3-D printers- kids like active processes in learning experiences

nancyflanagan.bsky.social•49 days ago

Middle school band teacher here, confirming all of the above. Put a musical instrument in a kid’s hands, teach just a few basic skills, then let kids experiment and create. Too often performing arts classes focus on perfecting reproduction not new sounds.

cosbulldog.bsky.social•50 days ago

But the Fallen Place tells me all the time that everything I do is wrong because they don’t sit in rows and everything isn’t paper/pencil

dankearney.bsky.social•50 days ago

Nick, I couldn’t agree more, particularly the experts and field trips.

It’s fascinating that different stakeholders see devices (esp their ubiquity) as a problem. This definitely reflects what I see. Ss quickly tire of screens, parents are wary of them. Yes screens are “real world”…to a point.

covingtonedu.bsky.social•50 days ago

Exactly. And I doubt kids would be upset about using the computer to learn about narrative, color theory, character design, and storyboarding from Pixar & Riot Games artists and use those skills to make a rough animatic of a story from the life of a community elder, for example.

covingtonedu.bsky.social•50 days ago

And that's exactly what a unit built around a tool like Story Xperiential would accomplish. You could thrn host your own student-led film festival showcasing all of the work and animatics directly to parents & community members.

https://youtu.be/AzypZps2FvU?si=repZUen4NRqo2SeZ

covingtonedu.bsky.social•50 days ago

Adults work meaningfully in remote contexts and with technological tools every single day, there's no reason kids can't either.

eastsidegadfly.bsky.social•50 days ago

Having a debate abt the merits of “gifted” programs and was told about an amazing multidisciplinary small group project from a gifted class - why do kids have to prove they are good at doing boring worksheets before being rewarded with engaging lessons.

teachermaggie.bsky.social•49 days ago

Yes! Like Storyline. https://www.storyline.org

carlrosin.bsky.social•50 days ago

I want to figure out s way to do this with mine: https://apple.news/A51AaXZQZTXKnhwSBKEkw6Q

covingtonedu.bsky.social•50 days ago

This would be an awesome project for sure!

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