East Central High School Bookclub

What have you discovered about yourself by reading chapter 4 and 5?  How will these discoveries change the way you view creativity and learning?

Describe 3 things you discovered by reading these two chapters that enlightened you.  Based on these discoveries, can you intentionally change anything you do differently in your practice of education?

On page 89, Wagner states that 65 percent of students who enter community college must take a remedial course.  On page 103, in a study conducted by the National Governors Association, 300 college professors state the following:

• 70 percent say students do not comprehend complex reading material
• 66 percent of professors say students cannot think analytically
• 65 percent of say students lack appropriate work and study habits
• 62 percent say students write poorly
• 59 percent say that students do not know how to do research
• 55 percent say students can’t apply what they’ve learned to solve problems

David Conley lists the core “habits of mind” that lead to college success.  He states, “intellectual openess, inquisitiveness, interpretation, precision and accuracy, and problem solving.” More importantly, Conley lists the most important academic skill is “writing and research,” and the least important is “knowledge of content.”

Studies like these show time and time again that we must change the way we do school.  So, in your opinion, why do we still do school the same way as 90 years ago?  Why are we failing to adequately prepare our students for college?  And, does our current accountability system inhibit or facilitate  college readiness?

Pick one of the two to discuss:

1. On page 52, Pink discusses the changing way that medical schools are training its new doctors.  Schools are now using narrative medicine, art, spirituality, and overnight hospital stays (to create empathy towards patients).  In your opinion, could teacher preparatory institutions model this approach?  Do you feel that we and or you could benefit from practicing high concept and high touch ways of thinking?  Would it make us more effective educators?

2. When you read about EQ vs IQ, do you feel that we at times measure the wrong thing as educators? When 4 – 10 percent of our career success is determined by our IQ and colleges are using SAT scores to measure academic success. Could education be emphasizing IQ more than EQ? Read the following link and give us your thoughts about Sternberg’s “Rainbow Project.”

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/aug2006/id20060803_891819.htm

Discuss a significant finding in chapter 2 that intrigued you.

In chapter 2, Tony Wagner discusses how he worked with teacher leaders and administrators to define what “excellent teaching” looked like. (p. 56)  How would you define excellent teaching and what would the evidence be that “excellent teaching,” was occuring.

Tony Wagner discusses 7 survival skills needed by today’s learner.  Which of these 7 would you consider to be the most critical?  Support your thought.  How can you as an educator influence greater focus on that survival skill?

Towards the end of the chapter, Pink continues a discussion on R-Directed thinking and L-Directed thinking.  What type of thinker (L or R) do you feel best describes you?  Why do you consider yourself to be that type of thinker? Do schools push one side of thinking over the other?