U.S. News' best nursing homes - 2013

U.S. News' best nursing homes - 2013

The BIG Picture

The BIG Picture: Education is Everyone’s Business

A reflection written by: Melissa Miranda

After reading the book entitled, The BIG Picture: Education is Everyone’s Business written by Dennis Littky with Samantha Grabelle, I am left with an array of feelings: sadness, hope, and excitement to name a few.  Littky clearly states his position on the nation’s education system and offers insight into a new model of learning and teaching, as well as a look at the needs of today’s students.

Throughout the book, I couldn’t help but wonder what school would have been like for me if Littky’s model of individualized learning existed rather than the institutional learning model that I was exposed to. I agree with Littky; and, I believe that only when we individualize education, are we truly implementing strategies to reach the goal of “no student left behind.”  Littky’s views on learning, in general, are so simple yet extraordinary at the same time.  He explains that it is what people do with the information that they are given that truly create learning – and that “do” is different for each individual.  Learning by memorizing is ineffective because students rarely remember the information they memorized after they’ve taken the test.  Learning is truly achieved when students receive information that they then take and do something with – when they use it, discuss it, and reflect back on it for example.

This model of learning also supports the sharing of “useful” information and reduces the amount of useless information.  A good example in the book was Psychologist, Robert J. Sternberg, with the following quotation related to “real-world success” versus studying in college:

“I have now been a psychologist for 21 years, and one thing of which I am certain is that I have never – not even once – had to do in the profession what I needed to do to get an A in the introductory course, as well as in some of the other courses. In particular, I never had to memorize a book or lecture.  If I can’t remember something, I just look it up…”

I couldn’t agree more with the gap between what is learned in the classroom versus the experience of working in the real world.  I, too, experienced this.  For example, what I needed to learn to pass a computer class in school was very different than what I needed to know how to do with the computer when I started my very first, full-time office position.  I recognized the discrepancy immediately; and, I will never forget the fear I felt when I had to figure out how to learn the computer program in order to do my job.  As the years passed and I became a computer program resource for other staff, the first thing I’d say when someone needed help was, “I know it seems intimidating at first – especially since you are trying to get work done; but, I promise, it is easier than you think and we can figure it out together.”  It seemed to put everybody at ease.  Basically, I was trying to establish that it’s alright to look up the answer when there is something you don’t know! 

In Littky’s book, he identifies how our traditional educational experience is filled with the right and wrong way to do something.  That model doesn’t allow students the freedom to explore and find the best way for them – or to find an even better way than what is being taught.   I can only imagine how many students would have graduated from high school with Littky’s model versus the traditional model.  This in no way means that students would find school easier – just more interesting and meaningful.  In fact, the individualized model can be even more challenging.  Students are placed in situations of doing the learning.  Teachers (or Advisors as Littky prefers to call them) are challenged with learning who their students are and helping them identify project work (internships) that best supports their learning experience.  I can’t think of a better way of gathering “evidence” of learning than that.  In fact, wouldn’t we also be supporting real-world experience at the same time? 

Now, I can certainly understand that today’s teachers might cringe at the idea of an entirely new model of teaching.In fact, Littky refers to a quote that was painted on a Met advisor’s truck by his students:

“Teaching is Listening, Learning is Talking.”

I had to read this quote several times.  It was tricky to understand and goes against the kind of learning we are all used to.  Littky’s individualized model of learning requires encourages teachers to know each student and help connect them with the learning objectives in a new way – a way that aligns with the students’ interests.  At first glance, this could seem like an overwhelming task for a teacher.  After all, wouldn’t it take weeks or even months for a teacher to learn about her students? Littky’s approach places ownership of the learning not only the teacher, but also on the student.  The student must communicate their passion, their story, and their abilities.  The teacher must listen and will help them work on projects that relate to their passion, personalize her approach based on their home life, and encourage them to do things far greater than they thought they had the ability to do.  Through this personal relationship with a teacher, our students are a significant “player” in their educational experience.  Together, with their advisor and other students – they become an educational team!  

Llittky expands on the benefits of a personalized relationship between students and their teachers/advisors.  He also describes the importance of parents and the community.  Parents, who know their children best, can provide a direct link between learning at school, learning through internships, and learning at home.   When local businesses, professionals, and neighbors get involved in education, students benefit through internship opportunities, community service, and supportive educational events. 

Littky ends the book with a call to action.  Even though Littky and others with similar beliefs around education and individualized learning have been sharing their ideas, it will take more people standing up and challenging the old system to begin to create the new one.  Students today are not the same as students from 50 years ago.  The world has changed and continues to change.  Education should change also.  I will end this reflection with one last quote from Littky’s book, which conveys these sentiments:

”We are now at a point where we must educate our children in what no one knew yesterday, and prepare out schools for what no one knows yet.” – Margaret Mead

A Town Torn Apart - Reflection

I've never watched a movie about someone I actually know.  It is an amazing story about an innovative approach to education, challenging the "norm", and standing up for what you believe in.  I don't know that I'd ever have the courage that Dennis Littkey had to switch things up, which stirred people up the way he did in Winchester, NH some years ago.

Who'd think that a beautiful, small town would struggle with so many disengaged, destructive teenagers.  How fortunate they were to have this out-of-towner choose to settle there.  How fortunate they became when he challenged the teachers and recharged the students, getting them to actually "do" something that created a learning experience like none other.

When I was a child, I remember teachers and grown ups saying I could be anything I wanted when I grew up.  When I grew up, I remember thinking that they forgot to mention all the hard work and support it truly takes to become anything I wanted.  Dennis Littkey impacts this statement by creating a learning environment of doing something.  Doing something new, or doing something you love, or both.  When you are a person who does, you create change and you grow.  Everyone knows how to lose weight and get fit, but why don't we "do" the things to accomplish it.  Why do so many people have beliefs and opinions about important matters in the community or in the country, yet don't "do" anything about it.  I believe there are many talented people out there, who don't share their gifts with the rest of the world.  Perhaps, if as small children, we learn by doing, we will create a new nation of intelligent, educated, creators of change. 

I strongly believe in this model of learning and hope that many more schools begin to implement elements that trigger learning in kids like never before.

Final Exhibition: Narrative (3-5 Pages)

Narrative (3 - 5 Pages)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwUD2OHktY78clRON2NRWFRlajQ/edit

Final Exhibition: Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BwUD2OHktY78cXRtQ2pwQ0l2a2M

Final Exhibition: Presentation

Final Exhibition: Presentation
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BwUD2OHktY78ZDFRa0UtMEp0dEU

Foreword to Final Exhibition

Most people, if given the choice, would choose to age in place. That means they would remain in their homes, taking care of themselves for the duration of their life.  What we know is that there are a few elements that must exist in order for that to happen: 1) one must have a home, 2) one must be in fairly good health, and 3) one must have access to the services they need.  Additionally, today’s 65-year olds have different needs and expectations than those who turned 65, 30 years ago. 

Housing and community development researchers have linked stable housing to education, health, and employment.  Many supports are put in place to support families and children living in low-income neighborhoods.  Children living in poverty have more stress, less resources, and unstable housing, which results in a disadvantage when it comes to learning, focusing, and growing. Putting supports in place such as early learning centers, health clinics, parenting supports, after-school supports and activities, gives children a better chance at being healthier and successful in school. 

Consider the other end of the spectrum - our community’s elders.  Elders, in general, are considered a vulnerable population.  With families living in different geographical locations more and more, elders tend to be without family support nearby.  They tend to have increased health issues to cope with.  Many become socially isolated, which leads to a decline in their health due to depression; and, many don’t seek primary care causing unaddressed health issues to worsen.  Considering that stable housing was one of the three elements to aging in place, these issues are chronically worse for homeless elders.  Elders face the reality that they may need to access elder housing options or long-term care at some point.

Now, I’m not trying to paint a glim picture of elder-hood. Certainly, income factors and supports can significantly impact the challenges an elder faces.  However, regardless of means, all elders need the three elements named earlier in order to age in place: stable housing, fairly good health, and access to services. 

Consider, now, another vulnerable community of elders: lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) elders.  Although there is no concrete way to determine the exact number of LGBT elders in the US, the census estimates about three million Americans are LGBT and about 1.5 million of them are LGBT elders.  The number of LGBT adults is expected to grow to eight million by 2030. What we know is that being LGBT in earlier decades was socially unaccepted by society.  For me, it is hard to imagine a time that being LGBT was considered a mental illness and even a crime.  Elders, who are LGBT, have higher health risks than straight elders including depression, social isolation, substance abuse, physical abuse, and neglect.  Because they are likely candidates for alcohol abuse and smoking, alcoholism and diseases associated with smoking are increased.

When they were growing up, many LGBT elders had to separate from their families because of their sexuality.  Although some were forced to live a straight life, having a spouse and children, many LGBT elders never had children.  For these reasons an LGBT elder’s support social network is generally small.  And because many spent their lives “in the closet” so to speak, they’ve become even more socially isolated as they’ve aged.  Many shy away from health care and are more likely not take advantage of other services - in fear of discrimination perhaps. 

There is an important need to support this aging population.  As LGBT elders age in place, there is an urgent need to help the industry more effectively coordinate health, housing and social services to ensure that these older adults can age safely and independently in their homes.  We know that affordable housing with services is an effective strategy for keeping older adults living independently. Researchers have also proven that services delivered through affordable housing can prevent unnecessary hospitalizations or prematurely placement in higher and more expensive levels of care. 

Today is a new day!  Why not envision a world where all older adults, regardless of income, or sexual orientation, will have the choice to age in place in their communities with the appropriate supports and services.