Flipping School
Fall approaches and thoughts of returning to school. Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) is planning to implement a hybrid model of remote and in-school learning but parents are worried...teachers are worried...
We simply can't do it as we've always done it but we need to get back to life. We have to think outside the box on this one. That has always been my philosophy when it comes to learning. We don't have to be together in one building to learn. We don't have to ship students to one location. Let's flip this thing and send learning out to the students!
How it works
Rather than ship kids in to the schools with buses, teachers can go out to teach at neighborhood venues where social distancing can be maintained with small groups, places like community centers, skate parks, adult learning centers like Read Write in Moriarty.
This plan can work well as part of the overall APS plan to mix online and in-person learning opportunities. I'm just adding another component. We can even continue using school buildings for those kids in the immediate area. This plan could address many issues we face regarding school and could even create jobs and learning opportunities for parents and others in the neighborhoods served.
Working parents count on schools to take care of their kids while the parents are at work. This is a huge concern to many. If we put in neighborhood learning communities, those adults who already provide daycare privately can do it as part of APS and get professional development opportunities/experience that could lead to their certification as a teacher assistant or similar. Jobs could actually be created as this system is put in place.
I can also see more learning about our communities taking place, too. I listen to a radio show every morning. I like the deejays. One is getting his degree in education and wants to teach. I pitched to him the idea that he become a traveling teacher who visits neighborhood schools across the state and teaches something good. I suggested he report weekly to his deejay partners on their show and that I blog about it all, of course.
We can tap into learning opportunities that are offered in our communities. Urban farms like Big Jim Farms in Albuquerque offer kids farming programs where they learn about composting, planting, and growing; and they make a lunch out of farm fresh food.
Neighbors can become teachers as well, showing students what they do for a living, for example. Carpenters, plumbers, computer techs...students can learn real-life stuff that makes sense to them.
And the teachers, who right now fearfully face a coronavirus start to the new school year -- if teachers took what they do out to their students, worked with smaller groups, enjoyed the outdoors more, I truly believe they would love teaching more or maybe for the first time. Some might not but they can be the teachers who stay in the traditional school buildings to teach. It can be a win for everyone. The idea is to teach to smaller groups and maintain social distancing, right?
That's my idea and I think it's a darn good one that deserves consideration. But it's just a start. Let's talk about it! Let me know what you think.
Until next time.
We simply can't do it as we've always done it but we need to get back to life. We have to think outside the box on this one. That has always been my philosophy when it comes to learning. We don't have to be together in one building to learn. We don't have to ship students to one location. Let's flip this thing and send learning out to the students!
How it works
Rather than ship kids in to the schools with buses, teachers can go out to teach at neighborhood venues where social distancing can be maintained with small groups, places like community centers, skate parks, adult learning centers like Read Write in Moriarty.
This plan can work well as part of the overall APS plan to mix online and in-person learning opportunities. I'm just adding another component. We can even continue using school buildings for those kids in the immediate area. This plan could address many issues we face regarding school and could even create jobs and learning opportunities for parents and others in the neighborhoods served.
Working parents count on schools to take care of their kids while the parents are at work. This is a huge concern to many. If we put in neighborhood learning communities, those adults who already provide daycare privately can do it as part of APS and get professional development opportunities/experience that could lead to their certification as a teacher assistant or similar. Jobs could actually be created as this system is put in place.
I can also see more learning about our communities taking place, too. I listen to a radio show every morning. I like the deejays. One is getting his degree in education and wants to teach. I pitched to him the idea that he become a traveling teacher who visits neighborhood schools across the state and teaches something good. I suggested he report weekly to his deejay partners on their show and that I blog about it all, of course.
We can tap into learning opportunities that are offered in our communities. Urban farms like Big Jim Farms in Albuquerque offer kids farming programs where they learn about composting, planting, and growing; and they make a lunch out of farm fresh food.
Neighbors can become teachers as well, showing students what they do for a living, for example. Carpenters, plumbers, computer techs...students can learn real-life stuff that makes sense to them.
And the teachers, who right now fearfully face a coronavirus start to the new school year -- if teachers took what they do out to their students, worked with smaller groups, enjoyed the outdoors more, I truly believe they would love teaching more or maybe for the first time. Some might not but they can be the teachers who stay in the traditional school buildings to teach. It can be a win for everyone. The idea is to teach to smaller groups and maintain social distancing, right?
That's my idea and I think it's a darn good one that deserves consideration. But it's just a start. Let's talk about it! Let me know what you think.
Until next time.
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