ED526b- Learning and Assessment in Secondary Math
Unit 5- Assignment 5.7
Robert Stock
In this assignment I chose to take part in the web discussion “It Takes a Village” which was presented by Greg Whitby. The forum was held on the Elluminate web facility at 7:30, 8/12/2010. The topic of discussion was contemporary learning which is based on a variety of unconventional teaching strategies. It is the vision of Mr. Whitby to radically alter the way in which instruction is provided for students in the Australian school system. His belief is that students should be free to choose where, when, and how they acquire knowledge within the framework of the educational system. By shifting the onus for learning from the teacher to the student the hope is that student engagement will improve and learning outcomes will be enhanced. Although I am unfamiliar with the public school system of Australia I believe that there are several caveats to this utopian vision. In this country students do not have a choice whether or not to participate in the educational process. They are required by law to attend school. This fact alone creates a completely different dynamic within the classroom. Certainly for students who appreciate their educational opportunities and who are eager to increase their understanding this pedagogy could prove highly successful.
Changes come slowly to any area of human endeavor and that is not necessarily a bad thing. Ever since the inception of public education there has been ongoing debate as to how this system should be operated. What may work for one group may not meet the needs of another. Cultures vary from school to school and from classroom to classroom. As an employee of a public school system I am obligated to work within the framework of my school district and to uphold the policies and regulations that have been set forth by the powers that be. Change will come, of that I am certain. My hope is that we will be receptive to change when it is in the best interest of our students and that we will resist change when it is motivated by less altruistic motives.
Bobbo1's Blog 
The law in Australia (as well as in most industrial countries, except for Germany) does not require school attendance; it mandates education. One notable example of the difference between the two is homeschooling.
I am watching out for less altruistic motives, as well – there are quite a few horror stories cropping up every month, from online universities aggressively getting their students in debt to forcible magnet school closings for political reasons.