Comments on: 3 Provoking Films About Curriculum Change

By: sinegen

sinegen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:12:43 +0000

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[...]3 Provoking Films About Curriculum Change | edte.ch[...]…

By: Qr Code

Qr Code — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 06:02:07 +0000

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[...]3 Provoking Films About Curriculum Change | edte.ch[...]…

By: Rita may laine

Rita may laine — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:10:38 +0000

I watched the talk of charles leadbetter and liked what he explained about the curriculum being an integrated course of academic studies. It sounded so inspirational. Let there be more creativity inside the classroom. Let out of the box ideas come to fore!

By: tomgbarrett

tomgbarrett — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:51:35 +0000

Of course removing support or immediately being less helpful needs careful thought. I think children need to gradually develop better skills to thrive in such an environment. Developing patient problem solvers would require a patient and gradual reduction in “crutch” style support, so that children have the broader skill base and confidence to work more independently.

By: oliverquinlan

oliverquinlan — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:43:54 +0000

I agree, I think most of Dan's principles could have a huge impact if brought across to discussions of the primary curriculum. 'Patient problem solving', 'What can you do with this' and ' Be less helpful' are powerful ideas, which need teasing out to apply to younger children. Since watching that video I am always checking mybteaching for ways I can be 'less helpful'. Will certainly be teasing out these ideas in my own planning for next year.

By: tomgbarrett

tomgbarrett — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:34:49 +0000

Thanks Kevin – I hope that the gradual development of our curriculum will take advantage of the “perfect opportunity”. My initial thoughts were to use Leadbeater's talk but then I explored a little wider. I think it provides a clear message about the structure we want.

I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

By: tomgbarrett

tomgbarrett — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:31:29 +0000

I agree, the fact that Dan was a classroom teacher provides a resonance in his talk that the others won't have. However it is harder to see the wider application of his ideas to, say the primary curriculum. Leadbeater on reflection is more broadly applicable as it talks of the whole curriculum.

By: tomgbarrett

tomgbarrett — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:27:31 +0000

Thankyou, it is good to hear you find some of my own writing inspiring. The practical, real stories are always the most important to me too.

However, as you say, I think the Leadbeater talk is the most accessible, it provides enough thought provoking points to engage staff.

By: tomgbarrett

tomgbarrett — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:21:48 +0000

Hi Oliver thanks for taking the time to comment, I have already had a look at your blog for your thoughts on negotiated projects and I will try to delve deeper.

I think that you are right about the Leadbeater video, that and the Meyer one are certainly the most relevant. I think Dan provides an alternative subject view on the same possible change. It would be good to take the time to further extract a wider theory based around his thoughts on patient problem solvers.

By: José Picardo

José Picardo — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:28:19 +0000

Hi Tom,

I think the talks from Leadbeater and Robinson are undoubtedly inspiring and they do denounce the elephant-in-the-room situation that we find ourselves in terms of education policy.

Robinson in particular is very amusing to watch - I'd recommend his books too - but, as I think you've picked up on in your post, his denunciations are sadly not accompanied by real-life suggestions of how his revolution could be achieved in practice. Nice rhetoric but little in terms of course of action. In my opinion, evolution is much better and achievable in this context than revolution.

Dan Meyer's talk is the one with which any teacher anywhere can immediately connect instantly, perhaps because he has actually been a classroom teacher. In addition to that, Dan is clearly an intelligent guy and has that wonderfully rare ability of simplifying the complex so it becomes clear for the rest of us to see and hits us like a punch to the face. For those reasons, I'd opt for him.

Having said that, all three talks are excellent and anyone of them would serve to inspire and promote change.