Talk:20/20 Vision for 2020 Challenges





Comment
Tamara Williams- UAB Fall 2008 EDT 630

I enjoyed reading the article about having 20/20 Vision for 2020. I firmly believe that if you fail to plan you plan to fail. Simply stated, if our educational system is to be all it can be and adequately prepare our students to be productive members of a global society, it is imperative that we as educators look at things for what they are and adjust our paradigms accordingly.

In the article, the author discussed how the kindergarten class of 1994 and the kindergarten class of 2007 are beginning things from a different perspective due to the many scientific and technological advances that have taken place in the span of 13 years. For example in 1994, internet and email were very primitive, and the thought of taking a picture with a cell phone was unheard of. Fast forward to 2007 in which internet and email are relied upon very heavily in all capacities of society and cell phones not only take pictures, but also are capable of checking the very email and internet that was obsolete 13 years ago.

The part of the article that spoke most to me were the three points the author suggested that we as educators heed if we are to see and prepare our students for 2020 clearly and effectively.

Point #1- Be optimistic. I agree that instead of No Child Left Behind, it should be a mandate and attitude that "Every Child Learns". The negative connotation suggested by the word "no" and the passive look at the past with "behind". makes it be not as optimistic an endeavor as it was supposed to be.

Point#2- Be scientific. Many of the cultural problems that we face as a society have emerged from the major technological and scientific advances that have been made. In our society, far too few people have the scientific and technological knowledge and where-with-all to work on fields related to this. As a result, too many people in our society are locked out of these realms. I agree that schools must do a much better job of preparing students to become informed citizens when it comes to genetics, neurosciences, global climate changes, and computer technology.

Point #3- As the world becomes one large global village, it is imperative that we as citizens and nations learn how to effectively and peacefully coexist with others who may not look like or believe as we do individually or collectively. According to the author, the ability to collaborate as a means to search for solutions to the problems we are facing is quintessential. Indeed, schools must help students develop social and democratic skills. We all must learn how to disagree without being disagreeable. We must also remember that "two heads are better than one" when it comes to the integration of ideas in the decision-making process. In the words of John Dewey- " Schools should be collaborative in nature and should demonstrate ad teach social knowledge and skills that citizens need in a democracy.

Comment 2 May 2008
As I sit and reflect on the technological advances I have seen throughout my twenty-five years of life, I can hardly imagine where technology will have advanced by the year 2020. During my life, I have seen computers virtually extinct typewriters. Today, communication is no longer limited to “snail mall” or land line telephones. Cell phones can be seen in the hands of almost any person, regardless of their age, socioeconomic status, or nationality. E-mail and text-messaging is keeping the world connected, as well.

“Students who begin kindergarten this fall will graduate from high school thirteen years from now, in the spring of 2020. At that point they'll become voters, and so will need 20/20 vision about the nature of the complex 2020 natural and electronic worlds they'll inhabit, and about the challenges our society will then confront. Helping 2007 kindergarteners attain 2020 20/20 vision during 13 years of school is compounded by the reality that it's almost impossible to predict now what their adult world will be like.” (Dr. Sylwester)

As an educator, it is imperative as I confront the advances of year 2020 I am optimistic, scientific, and democratic in order to prepare my students for the challenges they will face.

I agree with Dr. Sylwester No Child Left Behind, which currently defines public K-12 education, has been negatively stated, rather it could be said Every Child Learns. Educators and parents need to look forward to the future with a new positive outlook. This will help diminish the pessimism many currently feel about education.

Secondly, as an educator it is imperative I understand the massive advances that has been made in science and technology in recent years. I must transmit this knowledge to my students to prevent raising another generation of voters who are uninformed on socially important issues related to genetics, neuroscience, global climate changes, and computer technology. If educators don’t rise to this challenge, then what will be the opinion of our future voters? Finally, school is the only institution in our society in which young children interact for 13 years with many hundreds of non-kin at a similar developmental stage.

“A result of the current standards and assessment focus is the test—driven drive for efficient individual performance. It's achieved at the expense of social interaction and group decision-making that are central to the development of democratic skills. We've discovered during the past several years how important it is for our culture to understand and negotiate with other cultures.” (Dr. Sylwester)

Again, as an educator it is imperative I explicitly teach my students the social and democratic skills to become productive citizens in our society.

In conclusion, it is imperative as I confront the advances of year 2020 I am optimistic, scientific, and democratic in order to prepare my students for their challenges they will face. If parents and educators do not demand a 21st century education for 21st century students, then who will?

Comment by David Moursund
Bob Sylwester and I are part of a group of retired University of Oregon College of Education faculty who regularly get together for lunch on Tuesdays.

Bob is about ten years older than me. His continued academic acumen and good sense of humor provide a model leading me into my future.

When I had a chance to read his 20/20 Vision for 2020 Challenge article, I was very impressed. For me, it provides a good way top attempt to visualize the future and to guide educators as they work to educate children for the future.