Rethink: Chapter 5

There are a variety of different education outlets that I wasn't aware of until reading this book. Actually, I suppose I knew about them but didn't really acknowledge how powerful they actually are. Prior to this chapter we had been looking at pro technology vs. anti technology, and how the American school system needs to change to accommodate the future needs of today's youth. But after reading chapter 5, I feel that that's exactly what is happening in the United States, as well as worldwide. Granted homeschooling is nothing new, but it's becoming increasingly popular, with the use of many online sources to assist both parents and their children/students. While I've never seen a learning center before, I've seen commercials for them as well as have heard about their benefits. I think it's great that if students have needs that aren't being addressed at school, they can get them met elsewhere. I can relate to distance learning as I took an online class in high school and I'm taking one right now. I feel a major pitfall with distance learning is that when you aren't in a classroom setting, it allows students to not do their work.  I remember watching PBS all the time when I was a little kid; I loved it! I think many of those programs are great because they really do teach children something. I understand that video games can aid in the thinking process, but since most games don't have a reflection portion, integrating video games into an educational setting would definitely require some background research.

With all these different facets of education, I feel it would be incorrect to say that our schooling system hasn't changed. It has reinvented itself. Maybe not to the degree that enthusiasts wish, but clearly schooling is no longer taking place in just the classroom. I think we can all recall hearing the saying "college isn't for everybody", and I think that's true. But maybe, the classroom way of learning isn't for everybody either. I think as a future teacher it's not only my job to educate my students, but recognize what works best for them; and it just may be that that won't be in the confines of a school. With all these different outlets and ways of learning, why not allow students to venture to something else if that works best for them?