TED Community » Jason Wolfe

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• A reply on Conversation: In education, Finland is usually at the top & the USA near the bottom, but what is the middle or upper middle doing?

  May 14 2013: Hi Anna
  
  Sorry for the late reply. I have had a busy few weeks.
  
  I may have been a little excited about the system in NZ, and a tad sarcastic, when I labeled their system as utopia. Utopia is perhaps not the right word at all as it is perfection and if there is anything I have learned from jumping into a career in education is that it is very much a 'now' thing and always changing (not to mention looking down on what was considered the right thing in previous generations).
  
  Maybe not utopia, but a great system for me is getting the parents involved with the education system, from hiring and firing to partial curriculum development is great. As a parent and a teacher this sounds both wonderful and terrible, but I think with the right system it could be great. That's why I am curious about NZ's system...Also, in my perfect system, there is a focus on environmental education, limited standardized testing (none if possible), a lot of group work. Finally, I think tying education to things outside of education is important...keeping it real and grounded in what is happening outside of school.
  
  Obviously, I could elaborate a lot, but I think that gives a decent overview of what my thoughts are.
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  A reply on Conversation: In education, Finland is usually at the top & the USA near the bottom, but what is the middle or upper middle doing?

  Apr 26 2013: Thanks for your elaborate reply Anna. You make some great points.
  
  I am at a conference now about language learning and just learned a lot about the New Zealand education system that is totally decentralized and the parents of the kids at the school take an active role, i.e., form a board of directors that dictates most of the school's policy, including hiring and firing as well as parts of the curriculum. Sounds like education utopia and I am excited to learn more.
  
  My Ryan appears to jump to conclusions...at least two time in this post anyways. I am also confused by his first reply.

• A reply on Conversation: In education, Finland is usually at the top & the USA near the bottom, but what is the middle or upper middle doing?

  Apr 25 2013: That sounds very interesting. I am definitely much more interested in the input than the output.
  
  Thanks for sharing.

• A reply on Conversation: In education, Finland is usually at the top & the USA near the bottom, but what is the middle or upper middle doing?

  Apr 24 2013: Oh I see...when I say middle I don't mean 50% or middle of the road. I am a teacher and definitely give more than that and expect more than that.
  
  If you look at the OECD chart (see the links posted by Fritzie and myself earlier in the thread) there are lot of countries in the middle, and there doesn't seem to be that many 'points' separating them.
  
  My concern is that we always here about the top and the bottom, we do like to celebrate extremes, but not much about the middle (I think this is a good middle) and I was hoping someone could share a few ideas from there about what is working for them.
  
  Jason

• A reply on Conversation: In education, Finland is usually at the top & the USA near the bottom, but what is the middle or upper middle doing?

  Apr 24 2013: Jim you have completely lost me here...the proof? Are you talking to me or TED? Confused...
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  A reply on Conversation: In education, Finland is usually at the top & the USA near the bottom, but what is the middle or upper middle doing?

  Apr 24 2013: Hi Jim
  
  I don't think you have been censored by anyone but I do not see how the running story you shared answers my question.
  
  I am looking for education examples from the middle. We here a lot about the best and the worst but not much about the middle.
  
  Jason

• A reply on Conversation: In education, Finland is usually at the top & the USA near the bottom, but what is the middle or upper middle doing?

  Apr 22 2013: Hi Jim
  
  I live in Japan, where most schools are geared towards entrance exams and thus rote skills and memorization are very much at the forefront. When you memorize for a test, there is a lot of cramming and long term doesn't really come into the picture.
  
  I am wondering how you would define "think for yourself" and its role in education. I am curious.
  
  Jason

• A comment on Conversation: In education, Finland is usually at the top & the USA near the bottom, but what is the middle or upper middle doing?

  Apr 22 2013: Hi Fritzie,
  
  Thanks for your response and this link. I quickly skimmed it, but I have seen these numbers before.
  
  Rereading my question, I think I should have been clearer. I mean education as a whole, including both as a profession, cultural acceptance, as well as student learning.
  
  Two articles about 'problems' with the American Education system have come across my news feed recently. They are:
  
  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/09/teacher-resignation-letter-gerald-conti_n_3046595.html
  
  and
  
  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/randy-turner/a-warning-to-young-people_b_3033304.html
  
  Meanwhile, during the last few months Pasi Sahlberg keeps coming back in to my circles (I even bought his book Finnish Lessons http://www.amazon.com/Finnish-Lessons-Educational-Change-Finland/dp/1470826151
  
  http://www.cbc.ca/thesundayedition/shows/2013/02/17/finnish-schools/
  
  and
  
  http://www.stevehargadon.com/2013/04/thursday-interview-success-stories-from.html
  
  In regards to your PISA rankings from the OECD, I am not all that convinced that giving 500,000 15 tear-old students around the world the same test in reading, science and math really measures education and long-term skills. The difference of the top and bottom do not seem too drastic as well. Although I don't like this measure I do like this picture ranking the countries more http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/dec/07/world-education-rankings-maths-science-reading
  
  Did I make my question clearer?

• A reply on Conversation: What is the best way to use a TEDx event to motivate teachers to be more creative, entertaining, innovative, enthralling, etc.?

  Oct 24 2012: Great advice.
  
  This year I am hoping to have someone teach us how to replace the inside of a toilet, or fix a leaky faucet.
  
  Last year we wanted to have someone show them how to install a window, but ran out of time. But you are right, teaching is for learning, and if they can learn something new, then the event is a success.
  
  Thanks for your reply!
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  A reply on Conversation: What is the best way to use a TEDx event to motivate teachers to be more creative, entertaining, innovative, enthralling, etc.?

  Oct 24 2012: I agree with you on the frugal part, but I slip down the slippery slope joviality too often and see what you mean. Something to improve on!
  
  I will try to get that tissue lesson in...we have some serious hay fever seasons here in Japan so it will be useful!
  
  Thanks for that advice.