My Inquiry
into the
Ecology of Education
As you can see I am exploring facets of my work and of the ecology of
learning to locate a topic of research and scholarship. I'm very serious
with the idea of the "razing the school" to raise learning. However this
large undertaking requires a very detailed and systematic
study. On a smaller scale, I practice Cyber
English, which is my trinity. The theory of it is constructivist and
the practice is student/learner centered. Community involvement in the
education of its citizens is crucial and the Internet allows this theory
to be practiced via telementoring, which
is one of the most powerful aspects of the wired class. And the matter of
assessment as the tool which
provides the veracity of such an undertaking is a gnawing annoying part of
education which just won't go away. It is sort of like the "ends
justifying the means." I hate the current obsession of standards in this
country. It is not grounded in pedagogy. Assessment
is correct but the current direction and mindless dependency upon them
is short sighted and wrong headed. If assessment is to assist education
and ultimately the young child in our schools, it shouldn't be high stress
nor so poorly designed. The current standards movement is a political
agenda without any pedagogical grounding and as such damaging and
harmful to education. It does not reflect the acknowledged theory of education
nor does it imitate the best practices. I wish to negotiate the various
aspects of this ticklish topic and provide a technologically based option.
It will be grounded in pedagogy and consider the needs of the scholars and
their education. I must always remind myself that schools are for the kids
and not for teachers, politicians, or anyone else.
All of this has something to do with the ecology of learning. I will
need to explore this phrase, define it, as I develop my scholarship.
What is the ecology of education?
How will this knowledge improve education?
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© Ted Nellen 1999
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