“Anti-Teaching: Confronting the Crisis of  Significance” by Michael Wesch


I enjoyed this reading for its many positive points on education.  I also felt insightful after reading it because there were many useful ideas presented that we as educators can implement in the classroom.  Wesch's overall argument is a good one.  He writes, "The problem with education today is the problem of significance itself.  Students-our most important critics- are struggling to find meaning and significance in the education." (pg.5)  This quote gave me an a-ha moment because it tied everything together for me.  The institution of education that we have at the moment clearly needs reform.  While I realize standardized testing is here to stay for the moment, there are other things that educators can do in the classroom to give students experiences that offer personal meaning.  It reminded me of Johnson by the way he practices what he preaches in the classroom.  Both of these writers provide a classroom that is "democratic" and reflects on their students' needs.  Wesch wants his students to ask meaningful questions and strives to provide an environment that allows them to think outside the box.  This is important for students to make connections to the world around them in their own terms.  I believe that is when a student is truly interested and "gets it". 

I immediately watched "A Vision of Students Today".  It started off eerie with the song playing and empty classroom.  It then became jaw dropping as students were shown and started raising their notebooks with the alarming facts on the realities of being at this state college.  I felt very fortunate because this was not my experience as an undergraduate at RIC.  The most I had in a classroom was 30 and all my professors knew my name after two weeks.  It was sad to read the information the students surveyed on themselves such as the debt they will be in, money spent on text books not read, and the lack of sleep they get.  It was clear that the students related more to the technological world than the reality right in front them. It is scary that these students were getting very little out of some of the classes they were in. Some of these students will be in debt from taking some classes they get very little out of.  That in itself is alarming.  The link for "A Vision of Students Today" is below. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o 


Another quote from the article that I found interesting was as follows: "As for myself, I have increasingly focused less on simply trying to convey good information and more on inspiring good questions. It struck me that all learning begins with a good question, and if we are ultimately trying to create “active lifelong learners” with“critical thinking skills” and an ability to “think outside the box” it might be best to start by getting students to ask better questions."(pg.6)  This quote stuck out to me because I have been reflecting lately on all the key terms and teacher jargon that go around as best practices but which ones are truly implemented to help all learners.  If we as teachers want our students to think critically it will have to be on the students terms and experiences, not what some "experts" think.  It had me thinking about how teachers can become more involved with curriculum writing and how what is important for our students should be brought to the table when considering curriculum reform.  I don't know if curriculum reform will happen anytime soon but we can start in our own classrooms.  I believe it is important for educators to realize it is a changing world and to find ways to connect with their students if the curriculum doesn't reflect what is important. 

It is important for students to have a purpose for their own education and to take ownership of it.  Wesch writes, "when students recognize their own importance in helping to shape the future of this increasingly global, interconnected society, the significance problem fades away."(pg.7)  I think that human beings like to have a mission so to speak and a reason for doing something.  I think Wesch is claiming that when students are given a mission or personal reason for doing something, they will take the challenge.  One aspect to a global, interconnected world is the use of technology in the classroom.  I think any teaching tool is good when used in a way that the students will find meaning and truly learn.  I am still not clear on Wesch's standpoint on using technology but based on his article and video, I think that he would be for it if students found meaning in it.  I added a link for a very well-written article on technology in the classroom.