Interesting Reading

In the recent issue of Maclean's magazine it discusses high school students and PISA results.Canada had done quite well in this assessment. Why do students struggle in University when they should be strong academically according to these assessments? According to the article the results do not include differences that are statistically significant, the egalitarian system in Canada and our high performers do not score as high as the high performers from other countries. It is promising that some universities are now watching students closer to identify struggling students and help those in need. In B.C. students must write an English 12 exit exam. Finally, many students and their parents in North America fear high school math courses and choose easier courses or don't take math at all to ensure higher entrance marks for university. "In Hong Kong it would be unthinkable to not do mathematics in Grade 12."

Parent Teacher Interviews

We completed our first round of interviews. Does that ever sound like product! parents were asking questions about improving marks but seemed genuinely interested in how to improve marks. It seems like parents are interested in process if it will improve the product. Teachers also changed their process for interviews. The teachers called each individual family inviting them to the interviews. Our attendance more than doubled from last year! One teacher mentioned how they say across from a paret for the first time. The student is in grade 11. The teacher has taught over 28 years. Did it really only take a phone call to make this happen? This shows how we have to keep trying to involve parents and not give up when things don't work.

Process, Product, and Praxis

I have included this example in my class project. In Construction class students learn to properly measure and cut pieces of wood. With the proper pieces and learning skills regarding finishing a product is built. Praxis is identified when students are excited about using tools for the first time, students gaining a sense of belonging to the school because they are successful in a class which they have never before experienced.

Perspectives on Curriculum

In class we discussed the roots of curriculum and how we look at the roles of teachers and students. I met with a group of teachers in my school to discuss "isms" and where they see the curriculum, themselves and the students. Every single teacher saw curriculum from a different ism compared to their role.

We also looked at the "daunting" task of working your way through the curriculum guide. There are very different perspectives on how the curriculum is viewed from a teacher in her second year of teaching compared to a teaching of 20+ years of experience. Departmental exams are intimidating for teachers to ensure coverage of all objectives. If it is so important or non accredited teachers to cover all objectives, how do we ensure accredited teachers also cover all objectives?

Videos and Resources

How are we using curriculum today? What are we hoping for ous students in the future?



I found this video and like the message. As educators we need to think about what students do on a daily basis. Through class discussions we recognize the importance of technology but that alone is not enough. How can we use technology as a tool to further learning. Seeing students use technology does not prove laerning is evident but we can mesh students' "new" learning style with our "old" teaching methodology. Presently, students and teachers are not on the same page.



"Catching the Knowledge Wave" Jane Gilbert
Identifies The Knowledge Society and discusses Lyotard's search for many reasons, many truths and many knowledges. Gilbert looks at what we could do differently "we need a new way of thinking about what we teach and why we teach it, a new way of thinking about the traditional disciplines that underpin the school curriculum."

"Toward a sensible school-to-work system" Bob Williams
This article looks at the skills needed for the world in the future.

"The Employability Skills Profile" Kurtis Kitagawa

Generic skills that employers look for when hiring and developing current employees.


"Competing models for public education" Robert Freeman
Cultural model of education compared to an industrial model. What we do is not always what we are.