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
