Standards in education?
English teachers working in public institutions should
direct their academic work in accordance with the standards that the government
has established for these institutions, which are mandatory in the area plans. However,
when we read these standards do not seem to be connected with the real problems
of our community. Initially they seem to be fantastic which should work great
with students, but at the same time it is easy to identify that they do not fit
easily into our working environment, many of them are out of context. In my
opinion, whenever I read these documents about standards I think they have been
developed in another country for another society very different from ours. In
other words, it seems that the government does not know the real problems that
most students have in schools as far as learning a second language is concerned.
In conclusion:
- 1- Do the standards help us build better teaching?
- 2- Is it positive to standardize education in schools?
- 3- Do you believe that by standardizing education the
government aims to improve the educational level in institutions or is it
another procedure to control the work of the teacher?
I agree with you Julian... However could you imagine the process of teaching without any standard to follow??? The thing is that as you stated... the gubernamental standards are basically out of real eduactional context, specially when talking about public institutions... I consider we as teachers have the enough pedagogical and academic preparation to try to make a balance among the standards and what we really consider is appropriate to teach for our students... Since I believe that in the teaching process, we cannot only take into consideration what the guidelines suggests, but to make a needs analysis to understand better what our students need, want and lack... based on that we could have a more clear perspective to prepare our classes, strategies and evaluations...
ResponderEliminarTaking into consideration the teacher´s comments about ethics, we have as professional in teaching English, sometimes we see this term from a subjective point of view. I think that we must be balanced with this issue. Obviously, considering some information provided by the different documents deliverd by teacher, we must have a neutral position related to some Ethical problems which are involved in our institutions.
ResponderEliminarI agree with the teacher with relation to that standards are not designed to be applied in our educational context, but, I consider that that is our homework, it means we must adapt those standards to the needs of our institutions. We must be aware that these standards were framed for native contexts to the English language and not for context that assumes this language as a foreign language. That is why we have to play with these ones in putting into practice.
ResponderEliminarAccording to the teacher´s questions stated in this discussion related to the standards, these ones can be considered as a horizon to frame our teaching process in our institutions, it means to have a path to follow towards improvement of the teaching and learning processes in the Colombian context.
ResponderEliminarIn the second question I would agree that Colombia Education was standarized if our Educative Enters had a great knowledge with the relation to the learning and acquisition of English as second lenguage, if the situation were of this way, I would tatollay agree, but we as future teachers that will be taking these processes in our educative practices, We have to address these standards to the needs that our educational communities and learners have, from these perspectives I think we can contribute a grain of sand to the strengthening of the processes of this language in our territory.
Answering the third question, from my point of view, I believe that the goverment has adopted these standards as a guide to lead and guarantee the teaching and learning processes of a optimal way. Obviously, neglecting the needs of our educational institutions in the appropriation of teaching and learning of this second language.
Talking aboud standards, ¿is anyone familiar with the concept of "Basic Learning Rights" and how do they link with the standards?
ResponderEliminarIt is a real fact the requirement of standards in public schools. They must be developed in the planning of all teachers from our country. Even though, as the professor said, they were “fantastic” at the beginning. Even though, it is necessary to establish a certain measure or standardized competences due the diversity of culture and community dynamics. In other words, the government has to ensure that learners from Amazonas and La Guajira; Chocó and Cúcuta and pupils from all over Colombia have an equal access to the knowledge no matter the geographic place where they are located. For that reason, every single school (public or private) has to create by participation the PEI (Educational institution project). In that Project an institution is free to establish its needs on education, subjects and cultural background that affect an authentic community. In short, standards are relevant in terms of equality. However, it is very important to adapt the governmental requirements to the specific conditions of the learners. In some cases is positive to standardize education to improve the educational level and it is not always “another procedure of control teachers” because students have the basic right about education to access to the world of knowledge, culture and technology which is mandatory to accomplish by all ethic teacher.
ResponderEliminar