From: Erich Martel
\nSent: Sunday, November 25, 2018
\nTo: ‘mediarelations@npr.org’<\/p>\n
Dear Ari Shapiro and Individualized Learning (and Project Based Learning) Podcast Producers,<\/p>\n
I want to make three points re “Individualized Learning” and all claims pertaining to education:<\/p>\n
1) Always look for independent research.<\/p>\n
Putting Students on the Path to Learning: The Case for Fully Guided Instruction:\u00a0 http:\/\/www.aft.org\/pdfs\/americaneducator\/spring2012\/Clark.pdf<\/p>\n
Why minimal guidance during instruction does not work: An analysis of the failure of constructivist, discovery, problem-based, experiential, and inquiry-based teaching<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.cogtech.usc.edu\/publications\/kirschner_Sweller_Clark.pdf<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.bie.org\/object\/document\/a_review_of_research_on_project_based_lea
\nrning<\/p>\n
Google neuroscientist Dan Willingham (UVA) and look at his series of articles, “Ask the cognitive scientist” in the quarterly American Educator: https:\/\/www.aft.org\/ae\/author-index#quicktabs-authors=4\u00a0\u00a0 (scroll down to Willingham)<\/p>\n
2) Beware of educational programs described in euphemistic, feel-good language<\/p>\n
A good example is “individualized learning”; it’s isolated computer driven learning. You should never employ a euphemism without explaining what it means in unvarnished, objective terms. Look up E.D. Hirsch’s jargon generator.<\/p>\n
3) I was shocked to hear Chan and Zuckerberg quoted as education experts.<\/p>\n
You have no reason to trust what they say about their facebook empire. There is even less reason to trust them on the subject of education:<\/p>\n
See: Dale Russakoff, “The Prize: Who’s In Charge of America’s Schools?” which describes Zuckerberg’s $100M failed initiative in the Newark NJ public schools.<\/p>\n
You already know a great deal about facebook’s role in the 2016 elections. The UK Parliament has just discovered even more evidence of Z’s irresponsibility:
\nhttps:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/technology\/2018\/nov\/24\/mps-seize-cache-facebook-
\ninternal-papers<\/p>\n
I like NPR and many of its programs. I am, however, sick of hearing foundation ads on NPR that make claims (Walton, Edutopia, etc., etc.) that are not supported by independent research.<\/p>\n
Erich Martel, Retired Washington, DC high school history teacher (1969-2011)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
From: Erich Martel Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2018 To: ‘mediarelations@npr.org’ Dear Ari Shapiro and Individualized Learning (and Project Based Learning) Podcast Producers, I want to make three points re “Individualized Learning” and all claims pertaining to education: 1) Always look … Continue reading