mission instruction: look back…look here…look between…look beyond julie machnaik, november...

MISSION INSTRUCTION:Look back…Look here…Look between…Look beyond

Julie Machnaik, November 2007

DeconstructReconstructSelf-ConstructInstruct

But…do NOT self-destruct!

Assignment 1: Background Review

Look Back

What are our views of instruction in the schools of yesterday?

“I am beginning to understand the historical constructions…”

Student Teacher

Construction of ….

1924

1964

Construction of School……

1979

1999

2003

Assignment 2:

Look Here & Look Between

What are our views of instruction in schools of today?What has changed/not changed throughout the decades?

“Historical constructs still with us?? This is where the Mission Possible assignment intensifies…”

4:00 A.M. SPLAT! Another analogy saves the day…

4:00 A.M. SPLAT!Here comes another analogy…

GPS Global Positioning System

Instruction GPS System


Features:

• set course, single destination, right way

• path defined, determined by outside force

• no nonsense “common sense” route

• route summary provided with step by step, linear

• take a wrong turn, rerouted back on track

• controlled by satellites


• driver

• vehicle driven

• road conditions

• roadblocks, detours

• unpredictable weather

Factors not considered:

Connection to Instruction?

• lesson plans, objectives - set course, destination predetermined, linear

• students will know, do and be like…“common sense” route (SWBAT)

• doesn’t take into account different needs, interests, abilities, backgrounds

• one ‘regular’ or ‘right’ way to reach destination

• if you take an incorrect turn, satellites (discourses) will reroute/guide/assist & PERSIST/INSIST you back on track

• If you’re not secure in your way or your choice, you will succumb to the pressures

• Drivers become dependent on GPS for direction• Begin to blindly trust and accept direction(s)

without question• Diversity is a liability - stay on the main road,

know your place, pay attention to directions and all will reach same destination

• Learning is in a classroom setting

• GPS is all of the regulative discourses within each satellite system (curriculum, administrators, parents, colleagues, students)

• As context changes, the satellites (regulative discourses) may change but always exist

GPS Model: Technical-rational Instruction

Education viewed as a technical problem and teachers transmit fixed curriculum designed for the greatest number of students (Vibert & Shields, 2003).

Teaching is a technical exercise where teachers transmit packages of knowledge to others in a technical delivery system (Parker, 1997).

“The industrial revolution invented a way of thinking about productivity that is still with us” (Eisner, 2005, p. 16).

Interpretive/Student-Centered

GPS Plus Global Positioning System Plus

GPS PLUS Features:

Engaged (or busy?) traveller - Activities, games, books, DVD player, iPods

Single destination with traveller input Directions are animated and motivational Arrive at the destination but have

diversions along the way Common Sense route ‘with heart’ Learning through play - Playroom

Diversity is still a liability but it now can be overcome with care, love and respect in a classroom environment that engages the child to be a more active, responsible learner

Still says…stay on the main road, but we’ll take better care of you and keep you busy, happy, engaged, entertained

Same route, same destination, more enjoyable trip

GPS PLUS: Interpretive/student-centered instruction

Edelsky (1999) reminds us that progressive education may simply be a “kinder, gentler way to maintain systems of dominance” (p. 152).

Kumashiro (2004) states, “Common sense often makes it easy to continue teaching and learning in ways that allow the oppressions already in play to continue to play out unchallenged in our schools and society” (p. XXIV).

As Foucault (1979) states, “Whenever one is dealing with a multiplicity of individuals on whom a task or a particular form of behavior must be imposed, the panoptic schema may be used” (p. 205).

Assignment 3:

Look Beyond

Think beyond…what would happen if GPS stood for Global Possibility SystemsGlobal Possibility Systems?

GPS FutureGlobal Possibilities System

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

What are the possibilities? What could this look like?

Enable multiple routes to varied destinations based on need and interest

Acknowledge different drivers, different passengers

Who are you traveling with? What are their needs? Interests? Backgrounds?

Directions are open-ended, interactive involving choice and priorities

Choose your own adventure!

“Context is the window to understanding”

Every step you take opens options to a new world of possibilities

You don’t know what is possible until you take the next step

Learning occurs in a ‘learning space’



Features:

• Imagination

• Improvisation

• Creativity

• Hopefulness

• Thoughtfulness

• Caring, respectful



Satellites Focus on:

• Critical Consciousness

• Ask troubling questions

• Problematize how any approach to teaching is partial (Kumashiro, 2004, p. 15)

• Being aware of the multiple satellites that track, guide, yet still control

• Freeing individuals

• Diversity as being an asset!



A site of uncertainty, a site of possibilities and hope… ~Aoki~

“Our task is to look for new images, even if they cannot be put into the structures of today”

~Huebner~

Deconstruct Deconstruct

Deconstruct Deconstruct

Reconstruct Reconstruct

Reconstruct Reconstruct

Reconstruct

Today’s Mission is Complete…For Now…

This message will self-destruct in 30 seconds…

Self-construct Self-construct

Self-construct Self-construct

Self-construct

mission instruction: look back…look here…look between…look beyond julie machnaik, november...

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