#edchat Archive
#Edchat is a hashtag, a movement—it is a weekly organized Twitter discussion of educators and people interested in education that meet virtually from all over the world. #Edchat serves as a conversation thread on Twitter and is also used for organized weekly discussions.
Tuesday October 25, 2016
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Welcome to . Topic: If we had the ability to create mandated elective courses for High School seniors what should be included?
WELCOME to Topic: If we had the ability to create mandated elective courses for High School seniors what should be included?
7 PM Topic: If we had the ability to create mandated elective courses for High School seniors what should be included?
WELCOME to Topic: If we had the ability to create mandated elective courses for... by
Our Topic: If we had the ability to create mandated elective courses for High School seniors what should be included?
First thought that comes to mind: a course on budgeting and time management.
I worry about more "mandates" but of course I'd like to see a civics course offered in exchange for voting at age 17!
Thank you for joining as we discuss elective courses for HS seniors...
“Building Deeper Connections” w Mara Grujanac of has begun at . Primary sources align w CCSS, C3 & more
NOW join Topic: If we had the ability to create mandated elective courses for High School seniors what should be included?
Some kind of Capstone project that includes research, creative of something, presentation to an audience, etc.
Independent Study would be great for students. Let them create the courses and collab with others.
Hi Joyce thanks for joining as we discuss elective courses for HS seniors...
Love to see less "mandated" but courses such as "financial security/opportunity" and "vision and pathways."
First thought to my mind is relationship building. This is the foundation to any successful person or organization.
Maybe there should be some sort of life skills class? How to fill out tax forms, buy vehicles, loans, etc? https://t.co/HCRwvgYsNl
7 PM Topic: If we had the ability to create mandated elective courses for High School seniors what should be included?
well Shawn... sign me up for those courses!
I would suggest a course on Critical Thinking. It is an essential skill for success.
Hi Maria thanks for joining as we discuss elective courses for HS seniors...
Letting students pursue their interests would be helpful as they prepare to go to college or the job market.
Mandated electives ... two things that should never go together
Thanks for joining as we discuss elective courses for HS seniors...
Want to create an "Essential Non-fiction" course. "Must reads"? 7 Habits, The Talent Code, Outliers, others?
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*Not really
My thoughts, though. Would that be beneficial for students going into a trade? https://t.co/sMWt8s9acj
Some kind of Capstone project that includes research, creative of something, presentation to an audience, etc.
tomwhitby: Please refrain from using the hashtag for the next hour as the chat takes place, unless you are active in the chat.
tomwhitby: 7 PM Topic: If we had the ability to create mandated elective courses for High School seniors what should be included?
tomwhitby: RT weisburghm: Coming Up on Interactive 000Dave marygolfer1 FredEnde TomWhitby … https://t.co/kJsF0WYuqL
tomwhitby: Our Topic: If we had the ability to create mandated elective courses for High School seniors what should be included?
tomwhitby: I would suggest a course on Critical Thinking. It is an essential skill for success.
A series of 3 week internships across trades & desk jobs.
Yet--shouldn't that be embedded in courses from K and up?
10 week courses could be very helpful in a senior's academic year.
The problem with mandates is that they mandate the electives away ... do kids even have time for electives?
Students designing a course would require research skills and still allow them to explore and learn at their pace.
ha mandated elective (an oxymoron?)
Perhaps it should just be a "required course" vs. elective
Interesting points about students of color, our education system, & how they deal with racism https://t.co/u8FoRAQa40
Hip Hop has been a direct response, a reaction, a coping strategy, & an answer to the forces of racism and prejudice in our country
Hi thanks for joining as we discuss elective courses for HS seniors... jump in
I agree, Maureen. What do you think about financial knowledge classes, like how to do taxes?
thanks so much for that. Filtering helps.
I like the 3-week idea, nice time span for senior year extra/choice learning.
Now in progress Topic: If we had the ability to create mandated elective courses for High School seniors what should be included?
Electives should be about exploration ... we need to give kids time to explore without mandated standards
How about a "passion program" class that allows students to dig deep into what interests them. They drive the course and learning.
What is the name of the lower elementary version of goodreads? Anyone?
I think a class on Financial Literacy would be so important! As well as a class on Digital Literacy.
Check out 's idea for promoting a positive classroom climate! We love the video format, too! … https://t.co/liQD0VDtvq
October is national bully awareness month. What are you doing in your class to make a difference?
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Even Uni students hate collab. What kind of setting do you think would encourage collab in an ind study elective?
How might we race decimal fealty in the 21st Century?
That too often depends on what teachers kids had. Many kids fall thru the cracks. Concentrated refreshers may be helpful
Electives are about choice. Once you mandate them, choice is gone. Students need more choice in school, not less.
that would be amazing. . We offer co-op placements for credit in grade 12 in Ontario.
A course every student should have to take: exploring the concept of "other" in literature
. financial literacy is required in MO. I think it is fun to actually teach.
Possibly, best matched w/Ss taxes and a model of a more complex tax form.
IB programs incorporate this.
that is an issue as too many academics are focused on bell-2-bell learning that we forget time to think is important
I agree! As a math teacher, I try to integrate it throughout the year and my students always love it.
- If like minded students found a topic interesting, they could explore together. Not required, but a nice option.
Yes, my first thought was financial literacy, but digital literacy would be second on the list
True. I think if critical thinking is connected to a meaningful topic. This year it could have been the election.
agreed we need to make learning constant and time the variable. It's backwards now.
Excellent point.. the entire "mandated elective" rubbed me wrong. How about a list of POTENTIAL electives?
Irony ... educators who complain about not having enough time because of mandates chatting about mandating electives.
Internship classes are great as part of senior year--real word work/research so helpful to Ss.
I'm creating a pop culture course that ss can select instead of a traditional English course. That count??
Ontario is developing financial literacy curriculum. Int/sr level
https://t.co/eN9teI0MUA Thanks @ nobleknits2: CinimonEd IB programs incorporate this.
IB programs incorporate this.
I'm not a big fan of mandates, bigger fan of choice.
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Great idea. Have several elective "groups" on different topics (STEM/Lang/Arts/etc.) and let a student choose a group
. it's amazing to see how applicable the information is and right away.
- True, but the AP path is not for all students and tends to be rigid. More open design for student might be better.
we have cut the daydream factor out of learning ...
my 7/8 students don't mind collab if they can do it asynchronously.
Not in secondary ed. Do they have some sort of financial class as an elective?
Again I'd like to see digital literacy matched to meaningful research/topics.
I'd create a course called, Innovation with the Brain in Mind. In this course Ss would use brain facts that switch on innovations.
Probably wasn’t the best word choice. :)
It's still English, just an application of it in a different context. Adjust content and assessments accordingly
Yes! We are currently doing a stock market project where they invest money into stocks throughout the year. They love it!
Service work can be very powerful in this regard--Ss getting together to make terrific change/contribution.
mine are working on a banking unit. Checkbook registers, checks, deposit slips, and bank reconciliations.
MANDATED ELECTIVE courses is that an oxymoron?
tomwhitby: 10 week courses could be very helpful in a senior's academic year.
tomwhitby: That too often depends on what teachers kids had. Many kids fall thru the cracks. Concentrated refreshers may be helpful …
If they’re going into a trade, they still need to know how to present themselves & research methods & products.
- Yes! More choice equals more opportunities to learn. Grade 12 is a nice year to explore!
Good point! How would you do this?
this needs to be K-12. Senior year is too late, I think.
I've often thought that Ss could travel to a diff place and just explore place, learn, read, write.
Thanks. If it works, I want to expand the idea. Post colonial; gender studies; classic lit etc.
slap a kid in an "academy" and watch their electives disappear ... focus on career not electives
How to read a textbook chapter... I see so many students get overwhelmed with 50pg reading assignments. They give up entirely.
Could be a performance-based project…
Elective COURSES or elective experiences? I think the latter, what about you?
I am using the https://t.co/ncLfLcNX8Q . It is amazing! It's a local and national competition with teaching resources.
Idea came to me one day in Boston. . .thinking Ss could live in SD for few months, experience diff place.
It would be cool if all seniors took a semester long "Passion Project" class... where Ss did original problem solving presentations.
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This could include time for daydream, reading, writing, playing, creating, music. . .
but it is what is happening ... word choice or not it is reality ... electives are gone for most students
agreed! And add to that min-lessons on skimming and scanning
Again interest is important--I've learned to do this through a desire to know in order to make good change.
Often times we want kids to conform. We need to allow them to be who they are and explore their passion.
I think a performance-based project would be something that would provide opportunities for all Ss to be successful
Love this! Career exploration is so applicable to the future.
my Grade 8 son finds this incredibly stressful. Just another lens.
EXCELLENT idea! We’re doing it in our middle sch & kids are very motivated.
Agree--we need to help Ss become who it is they desire to be.
in Ontario, Grade 12 is often crunch year. 3 maths/3 sciences not unusual.
Imagine giving students one hour a day to explore their passions or sit and audit other classes.
Hm.as Elem, I think too much focus on "career" instead of "explore", even at my level. If no exploration, how to choose?
Yes! Let them out of the classroom; real experience. Maybe field trips to hospitals/schools/etc looking @ careers?
Came up w/SD idea because Boston so crowded-it would be cool for Ss to experience a less densely populated area.
Came up w/SD idea because Boston so crowded-it would be cool for Ss to experience a less densely populated area.
And quite ss driven. So bring in graphic novels, a lot of readings about pop culture, critical viewing and readings...
electives should be happy time. time to create and build memories. I remember melting metal in my elective
I would love to see some practical courses added back to HS: financial literacy; maintenance; career explorations, etc.
When Ss have the chance to work, contribute, they learn so much.
best high school course ever was history from point of view of "other"; women, first nations,
Agree because their world is going to have doors and experiences we can't even imagine.
Ts, if ur old way isn't working...y not explore something new?
I sooooo agree! Everything has to have an academic learning purpose now. Bring the fun back!
this is part of IB as well.
I like this, but it will be a student-by-student endeavor as every Ss is at diff place with what they want/need/desire.
Thinking electives could be the creative arm of "academic" classes
mandated elective for seniors? Personal Finance and Independent Living
SO cool to get different perspectives bc it validates ss experiences, viewpoints, understandings.
It's not an elective if it's mandated; however soft skills needed desperately!
With over 60% of Elem. s's taking jobs that haven't been invented - we need to allow creativity, CT, and innovation
What if students led electives that others could take? Share their knowledge/passion with their Edu community.
A course on civil law might be an interesting senior elective exploring legal things that effect us in everyday life.
I was a VoTec kid ... electricity ... algebra in action
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And the meaning--meaning/investment builds confidence, capacity, vision, camaraderie.
Again, let's not mandate, some need, some don't need.
Students need courses that build soft skills — opportunities to collaborate &communicate.
- Yes. Giving them that freedom will require a change in culture.
Choice is so much better than mandated--then if needed we can coach Ss in that direction.
Ontario students do a mandatory 1/2 credit in careers in Grade 10. My kiddo loves it.
mentioned in I melted metal for a shop project while in science we just talked about it
Best student experiences have been them teaching others. If they can teach it, they know it!
Yes the freedom to think, explore, wonder, feel, dream, choose, debate. . . .love it.
Yes, opportunities--there are so many places where young people would be welcome contributors. My classroom is one :)
tomwhitby: A course on civil law might be an interesting senior elective exploring legal things that effect us in everyday life.
Mandate a minimum number, but offer many choices to meet the mandate. w/o a mandate some will choose none.
Ss often don't know what STEM careers exist: Data Analytics? Queuing Theory? Digital Signal Processing? Systems Admin...
Visited a school in MA where HS Ss teach science to nearby elem Ss--awesome!
In Florida we have state mandated end of course tests ... for electives ... talk about killing the creative vibe.
for all Seniors would be great. Why limit it to grade 12. All HS students should get an hour/day.
They spend 4 years working hard. Give them a elective based on research on interests/goals/careers. Enjoyable, & encourages research
wish there was more scheduling room for blurring of academic/votech lines.
Little girl in my class helped coordinate the school composting effort this week--amazing opp to grow "soft skills."
True and I've heard that many companies welcome Ss involvement, offer speakers. Very important exposure.
Thinking of offering a class in teaching. Grow your own program to help elevate teacher shortage and gain interest in profession
Agree--tests are not a positive ending for this kind of experience. Project, article, report, artifact better.
Agree--tests are not a positive ending for this kind of experience. Project, article, report, artifact better.
That's key! Helping Ss discover and develop their passions ignites teachers not just students
many teachers doing this in elem.
we talk about college/career ready but we really mean just college at least that is what actions prove
Love it. Get them in the community while exploring careers. Elective choice volunteer work; hospitals, shelters, schools
We could really use more help at elem--HS students very valuable in this regard.
Only 45.5% of graduates enroll directly in education after graduation says
Yet, there are some great youth development programs that prepare for work too.
Mandated course Has to be Food Tech. Food is what brings every other subject together to make sense. Maths, English, Science.
Right. College isn't always accessible. Need education on local work and other career finding
This would help all Ss be healthy, environmentally friendly course idea too.
Interesting idea! I think even the aspects of healthy living and eating would be important life skills.
No time in HS math for speakers, but job shadowing helps. Connecting thought processes helps
I know Sara--I was just extending the idea to choice over mandated. Thanks for your ideas.
In my district, we have EOC tests in art, music, PE....FOR FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS! Grrrr..... https://t.co/ZXmUiK4sFx
In Florida we have state mandated end of course tests ... for electives ... talk about killing the creative vibe.
many situations ...elective = Art,PE, Music, Chorus ... what happens if you don't fit in that box
I would like to see an elective that teaches students how to manage their money.
So many factors involved. . .depends on context, Ss choice/voice, other commitments. . .
Would promote health too. Too many college students can't shop and cook. Busy schedules + no good meals = troubled Ss
There are lots of "boxes" out there--help Ss find one in school or outside.
and younger ... shutting down learning to record monologues for drama kids
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There could be online choices too such as writing a blog, making movies, online movies/shows. . .
Could.not.agree.more. Not everyone is going to college, and that's OK! https://t.co/NfE6lfCGIn
we talk about college/career ready but we really mean just college at least that is what actions prove
Why not allow seniors to develop their own ideas for elective courses. Registration would determine what goes & what is cut.
Like the ideas of giving Ss info/routines/connections to living a good life as you suggest.
tomwhitby: Mandate a minimum number, but offer many choices to meet the mandate. w/o a mandate some will choose none. lookforsun Mr…
"Educators can't be silent supporters. Let students know you support them. It can save lives."
So ridiculous. For my Ss especially (ELs), take a course where all can excel, and create an opportunity for failure
Sorta like a Genuis Hour class! That would be totally cool! https://t.co/nhQv9uEJAZ
How about a "passion program" class that allows students to dig deep into what interests them. They drive the course and learning.
An interesting elective course for seniors might be what to expect from a married relationship and family.
heck ... try finding a creative writing class for a kid ... finding a kid's passion ... just talk
One of the issues I am finding with upper school is the need for all courses to be judged equally. Not all courses are the same!
Practical courses need to be judged on the practical application of learning, not how well a student writes about learning.
In MA HS Ss can take courses at local U & they have creative writing,also online creative writing
Great idea! I think a lot of the elective courses that would be beneficial are ones that provide them real life skills.
Would be important to include gay families, too. Tackle a bit of LGBT awareness as well as family issues for all.
Relationships and Family--nice, remember those classes where Ss had to care for a "baby" for a week or so.
A cultural exploration elective. Prepare them to enter universities and work places with much higher diversity and more interaction
Do any schools do ‘practical life skills’ courses in upper school? How to build stuff. Fix stuff? Home repairs, etc. Prep for life?
In my fav hs class she let me choose the literature. It encourages cooperation and eagerness. They feel good having input
. This would also be a perfect opp for media specialists to work one on one w/kids more often.
Often other groups offer courses such as this--Unitarian Church has terrific, inclusive course.
People don't buy WHAT you have, they buy WHY you do it. -
Tremendous insight.
How about a class that focuses only on process and not on product. The journey produces the learning. End=New Beginning
Would be great if that were included field trips, great books. . .
Ss can often SEE the end goal, but have trouble even starting. Teach them different methods for reaching the end
Strategic process is so important, and seemingly so unknown --important for solving probs, working together.
It's all about the core; effective teaching practices pave the way for effective intervention processes. https://t.co/M1kfxbQ8hM
When we focus on Tier 1 instruction, there becomes less & less of a need for Tier 2 & 3 interventions.… https://t.co/urELFOq0dT
Yes--local news is often looking for Ss reporters to cover events.
tomwhitby: An interesting elective course for seniors might be what to expect from a married relationship and family.
I've spoken to many Ss & many (Not All) indicate that their senior year is deliberately easy. Are we as edus missing an opportunity
I love all your practical course ideas. I'm living alone for the first time and don't know basic repairs for my home.
Agreed! it starts w leadership giving freedom to innovate w/o focus on grades but on a climate for meaningful learning
This could work into meaningful PBL effort where Ss design paths, use good process to meaningfully learn/act
Yes, too much focus on "correct answer" has stalled learning process
Perhaps "relevant answers" is better word in this changing world than "correct answers"
Can we get legislators on board with "relevant answers"? Maybe then we would reduce amount of testing
SS learn more with hands on work anyway. It would introduce them to new methods of working as well as giving them skills
How about an ungraded course with only feedback?
Great idea. If budget cut, first thing to go. If no test, how to know T taught and Ss learned? (dripping sarcasm)
As comes to a close I'd like to thank our team of moderators & and all who participated.
Let's focus on the process of getting to a correct answer. That's what builds a life long learner.
Agreed-- a great multiskill course. PBL, discussion, planning, research etc., in and out of classrooms.
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Thanks Tom, Nancy, Mark, and so many participants--lots of great ideas shared!
I would have loved that course in high school :)
Snr Yr shouldn't be hard, but it should be fulfilling and busy. Preparation for adulthood; volunteering, working together
"Not everything that can be counted counts, & not everything that counts can be counted. A Einstein
If you had an empty room in your school and some money, what would you do with it?
Great conversation tonight. Make sure to follow your new connected ed friends to keep the conversation going.
My other favorite quote of yours, "you don't fatten lambs by weighing them"
tomwhitby: As comes to a close I'd like to thank our team of moderators blairteach ShiftParadigm & lookforsun and all who participa…
Thank you, for another great tonight!
what would that look like? 😉
Did you see my last reply? Didn't have rm for the hashtag. :-)
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Thank you friends! It was my first one, I had a great time. Wonderful conversation. I'll see you all next week.
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Sorta like a Genuis Hour class! That would be totally cool! https://t.co/nhQv9uEJAZ
How about a "passion program" class that allows students to dig deep into what interests them. They drive the course and learning.
When it comes to creating assessments, many teachers are not confident. We're trying to change that! https://t.co/1SNAKQubrE
