Our assignment for this week was to listen to Sir Ken Robinson's speech about revolutionizing learning. He focused on how educational institutes should not just be changed around a little bit, but completely changed. After listening to his speech, we are to reflect on this video and to answer these response questions:
- What would you pursue or study if you had unlimited time and resources?
If I had unlimited time, I would want to study the psychology of young children. I am very interested in how specific events affect how a child develops. I also find it interesting how kids respond differently to things that happen in their life. I would love to have a career in that sort of thing, and to help the kids who may have a harder time adjusting to new circumstances. I would also love to discover how people can help change the effects that events may have on the children.
- Which has more influence, Aptitude or Attitude, and Why?
I believe that a person's attitude is more influential of where they will end up in the long run. A person could have a high IQ and a lot of potential, but not have the drive to put those talents to good use. If someone doesn't have the desire to use their talents and to go far in life, then it won't happen.
- Do you think that our current grading system needs to be abolished? What alternative do you recommend?
I think that our grading system should be based more on how we get our points across. The way math, science, and social studies are graded can't really be changed because those involve cold, hard facts. In math, if you get the wrong answer, it is because you didn't follow the formula correctly, that can't be changed. In science, life happens the way it does and you have to be able to understand those processes. In social studies, a president was president in specific years, and that can't be changed. However, in language arts, teachers shouldn't focus so much on if the student correctly uses MLA style or if they miss a comma or two. Teachers should focus more on if the student understands the question, and if they are able to explain their thoughts with valid proof from whatever work they are referencing. In the real world, when the student isn't writing essays to explain their thoughts, they will have to use their words and if they can't do that, they won't go very far.
- Some of the HMP class goals are: to help students develop time management skills, foster a sense of independence and accountability, and real life problem solving. This class requires a lot of student motivation since you are not meeting with a teacher on a daily basis. What areas of improvement or areas of personal growth has this class brought to your attention (time management, procrastination, self advocacy, computer skills, writing or communicating deficits, etc.)?
I have definitely learned through this experience how to communicate with others. I have learned that to be efficient, you need to have more than one way of getting in touch. If an emergency comes up and I am not near a computer, I need to be able to call my mentor and let them know that I won't be able to come in. Also, I have learned how to balance my mentorship and my crazy school and swim calendar to my best ability, of course, I have some improving to do, but I'm getting there! Finally, I have learned the VALUE of communication. If I never spoke with the women I mentor with, I wouldn't have the same experience. Not only have I gotten to see a little bit of what a nurse does, but these wonderful women have taught me life lessons that I will never forget. If I had just done what I was told to do, and not tried to get to know them all, I wouldn't have learned the value of a tight family-like atmosphere in the work place.
