This weekend I stumbled upon Joe Bower and his blog. The man is doing some mind altering educational reforms within his classroom walls in Canada. He has some amazing ideas and methodologies that will create a neuron party inside your head.
Are you ready for this?
You had better sit down...
Joe Bower wants us to abolish grading! That's right - abolish grading... period. Talk about reform.
Now pedagogy that calls for the removal of the grading system from education may at first seem - oh, I don't know... insane! But, if you give Mr. Bower's site a read - he will dazzle you with some food for thought. For those who read this blog, you know I am beginning a journey of research with the 50 Point Project. But this abolition of grading is just blowing the doors off of my concept - man oh man!
He forces us to rethink assessment...
When assessment becomes more about covering your own ass in fear of being held accountable and less about student learning, we fail our children in more ways than we would like to ever admit.
Now I am not saying that I agree with Joe's work or his philosophy, nor am I saying that I do not. What I do know is that Joe has inspired me to have more of the tough conversations with my colleagues this upcoming school year.
We are the leaders of tomorrow's schools and if we do not have these tough conversations, who will?
Without these conversations, public education will continue on the path of the status quo. Thanks to Joe Bower and other reformers in the movement - thanks so much. Thanks so much for forcing me to have these tough conversations that will make me a better educator.
More (conversations) to come...
Mike Meechin, M. Ed.
mike.meechin@gmail.com
twitter.com/innovateed
For more information about Mike Meechin and Innovate Education, LLC. professional development please visit: www.innovateedu.org
Posts
1 comments:
Reflecting upon one's beliefs can be a very productive use of time, and I can think of no better time to do so than when we have come to mindlessly accept something as a given truth.
When questions are no longer answered because questions are no longer being asked is the best time to pause and ask these uncomfortable questions.
Post a Comment