It's been said numerous times, that we are preparing students for "the Real World". Obviously, school is designed to prepare students for their life outside of school, but how much does the dualistic approach to school of being "not real" and outside being "real" affect student's motivation for what they are learning in school. If they do not see it as being useful in "the Real World" is it worth learning?
This January I was amazed to see the Victoria High School R&B Band perform. For their professionalism, talent, and passion, I was astounded to find out they were an extra-curricular band of high school students, putting on one of the best shows I'd ever seen. This band has kept students who would have dropped out of school because it had no valuable use for them, in school. This is how their web site describes them:
The Vic High R&B Performance Band operates within the Victoria High School Music Program. Auditions for the band are open to any students in Grades 9 through 12 who sing or play the trumpet, saxophone, trombone, electric bass, electric guitar, or drum kit. You do not need to be a student at Vic High to audition for the band.
In 1992, Eric Emde began to develop the concept of an R&B band for inclusion in the Victoria High School music curriculum to replace the stage band which had been the educational standard for over 25 years. As music director for the school, Emde wanted to create a course that would fit with the school's mandate of programs designed for job readiness. In keeping with shifts in the music industry, Emde understood that this repertoire would be more in keeping with current values in the workplace.
Since then, over 500 students have participated in this extra-curricular school band program. Many of them have gone on to successful careers in the music industry, and credit the Vic High R&B Band program for providing them with the discipline, training and on-stage experience it takes to launch
successful careers after high school.
http://www.sd61.bc.ca/vichigh/band/index.htm
Looking at "chapter 12", and our fears of rote classrooms, how can we create this "real world" experience in the classroom, or extra curricular activities in our own subject? This is what both scares and excites me as a teacher.
2 comments:
In regards to "if they don't see it as being useful in the real world, is it worth learning", I think that for some of the students, the answer can still be yes. I'm going to share some of my geekiness here: when I took math classes in high school, I enjoyed them immensely, especially if they were challenging. I didn't feel this way because I thought the material would be useful, I did it because I enjoyed learning math. The same goes for some of my other subjects, but more in regard to how the teacher taught the course. I had this great teacher in English, and I really enjoyed her classes. Not because I had the slightest interest in English and what it could do for me in the real world, but because I loved participating in her classes.
On the other side, if that love of learning a subject, or teacher whose teaching style is enjoyable, isn't there or doesn't work for someone, then yes (and this is a major yes), I think that connecting the subject material to the "real world" can be paramount. For my subject of Chemistry, I'd really like to help establish this connection by incorporating "real world" applications of chemistry, including environmental processes into my classes. And I hope to keep myself open to other ideas as well.
i went to Vic High and my girlfriend at the time sang for the band. There was a real community. There was some serious relationship building going on as well. Students learned to compromise with each other as competition was heavy (even viscous somtimes) for the lead vocals of certain songs. Hard work and dedication in both morning and afternoon practices as well as weekend gigs. All these are life time skills that are necessary for adults to function in the working world. People relations are a far more important skill set to have then any academic knowledge.
Post a Comment