Discussion and Recommendations
Are we gearing education to the fast track?
Learning driven by:
- consumer wanting things quick and fast
- industry - get it done! Too efficient not always effective
Not for all learners
We as a society have the "quick" mindset
We need time to "Process"
Difference between training and educating
End up with a nation of job holders, but no critical thinking skills
Value in learners having the opportunity to earn from one another often requires time
We as teachers are losing some "control" over directing our students
Concepts and skills are both needed
Classes based on "seat" time in our system
How accountable are we in assessing our students?
Consumer metaphor (give them what they want) breaks down when we are only delivering "chicken macnuggets" and forget our basic goal of educating students to be able to think, apply, and seek knowledge as part of a value system
The students may not know what they need - it is our job to know this. We have a lifetime of learning on which we base this paradigm.
(This in response to the question: how do we know that we are right?)
We are the experts in content, the student knows what his/her leaning style is and how they need instruction to be presented.
We need to be able to let industry know that not all students will acquire the required competencies within the "seat" time allowed; we need to quantify competencies.
"What do educators need to do to guarantee 90% competencies?"
How are we accommodating divergent learning styles?
Not every student will have a computer, but every student needs access to one.
Western Governor's University - our competition
Is part of the problem that we attempt to be "all things " and we end up Mediocre?
Placement needs revision, we don't have initial assessment tools which effectively evaluate student abilities
Students are often set up for failure
Students don't always want to be where they should be (placement)
How can skills be more integrated into content, particularly vocational, courses?
Learning communities important.
What is the role of values teaching?
The most important skill employees can have is "communication" abilities.
Our society's bottom line is "money" FTSE is the bottom line
We work so hard at retention without questioning how they were retained.
What can we do? Integrated classes, accommodate "learning styles," not be resistent to change, recognize the importance of advisement
We need to educate advisors, especially concerning awareness of learner needs.
Faculty needs help in adapting learning styles
Physical plants are not set up for innovation; they are set up for lecture.
How are faculty measured for successful innovation?
We need some standard models for assessment.
We need to share them so we don't all have to reinvent the wheel
What Next?
Recognize that we can't be all things to all people.
Constantly evaluate what I think is important to be learned in the classes I teach.
As a district, we need to identify the approach and tools to assess a learner when they first contact the institution. We need to assess prior learning, learning styles, personal career goals, short/long term goals, and financial need. Based on the assessment results, the learner should be connected to the appropriate resources, courses, faculty, advisors, etc. I would be willing to co-chair a group on this issue. (Pat Honzay)
Question new delivery methods and contribute to their soundness.
Maintain reasonable but uncompromising standards of quality educational services delivery and continue to expect students to strive to meet a level of performance that reflects genuine improvement in each individual while exceeding minimal master of content areas.
Connie Rainey and Bonnie Ehmann need to follow-up on developing and implementing a one unit computer course integrated with an English course.
