Chapter 10 Reflection-Rethinking Education

"We grew up with the idea that learning means taking courses in school.  As we argued throughout the this book, the identification of education with schooling is slowly unraveling, as new technologies move learning outside of the school's walls." (page 129)

I think that it is a good thing learning is moving outside the walls of the school.  We want students to be actively learning all the time.  The internet has made this possible.  The more that our students learn the more well rounded that they will be and the more knowledge they will possess.  The internet allows any student to go home and research what they learned about in class today if they are really interested in it.  It also allows students to spend more time researching what they are interested in, since there are many topics covered in school and the teacher can't possibly go into lots detail about everything that students learn.

"Pushing students to take more control of their learning..." (page 132)

I think that independent study is a good way for students to take control of their learning in high school.  Independent study allows the student to set their own pace and to have a chance to get passionate about their interests.  I still believe that there needs to be guidance from the teacher who in charge of the independent study course, since some students could take advantage of it.  I think that every student should have a chance to do an independent study course.  They will take more ownership since they are the ones in charge of the learning for the independent study course.

"In terms of mathematics, technology can carry out all of the algorithms that students spend so much time learning in school." (page 134)

As a mathematics minor I know the importance of not letting your calculator do all the work for you.  Students need to understand the math before they just start typing numbers into a formula on a calculator   Once students under stand how to do the problem by hand, then they would be allowed to just type the numbers into the formula on their calculator.  Calculators are a great tool for students to use, but they do need to be taught how to use them properly other wise students will no longer be able to calculate basic math problems in their head since the calculator would be doing all of the work for them.