Education Reformation

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: John Ames Birch <amesbirch403@gmail.com> Date: Tue., Oct. 12, 2021, 1:30 a.m. Subject: Education Reformation (Opinion) To: <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>, <chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca>, <dujarric@un.org>, <aclupreferences@aclu.org>, <antonio.ferrari@un.org>, <actso@naacpnet.org>, <assistance@liberal.ca>, <anthony.rota.c1@parl.gc.ca>, <askus@novascotia.ca>, <ASH@hhs.gov>, <america@aljazeera.net>, <bcrowfoot@ammsa.com>, <brienne.prusak@newyork.msf.org>, <bernard.choi@boeing.com>, <carolyn.bennett@parl.gc.ca>, <calgary@globalnews.ca>, <cnn.feedback@cnn.com>, <chinaembpress_us@mfa.gov.cn>, <cbcpr@cbc.ca>, <dir_enq@cso.gov.hk>, <drun@un.int>, <drtheresa.tam@canada.ca>, <edmonton@globalnews.ca>, <eonline@bellmedia.ca>, <FoxNationCustomerCare@fox.com>, <Francois-Philippe.Champagne@parl.gc.ca>, <gov.pressoffice@alaska.gov>, <gladcanada.info@gmail.com>, <GlobalBarrie@globalnews.ca>, <GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca>, <haqf@un.org>, <haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk>, <info@ccla.org>, <info@rttv.ru>, <info@abcfp.ca>, <info@ansi.org>, <info@bnn.com>, <jagmeet.singh@parl.gc.ca>, <Erin.OToole@parl.gc.ca>, <annamie.paul@greenparty.ca>, <kdundar@hdn.com.tr>, <km_ir@kindermorgan.com>, <krishana.polite@nc.gov>, <legacy_bombardier_capital@aero.bombardier.com>, <media@aclu.com>, <msnbctvinfo@nbcuni.com>, <mediarelations@aa.com>, <media@aircanada.ca>, <newsonline@ctv.ca>, <newstips@globaltv.com>, <newschannel@ctv.ca>, <news@connexionfrance.com>, <news@skynews.com>, <news@thelocal.se>, <osd.pentagonpressbadges@mail.mil>, <omc-bcm@hc-sc.gc.ca>, <premier@gov.nl.ca>, <premier@gov.ab.ca>, <premier@gov.bc.ca>, <premier@gov.sk.ca>, <report@aiusa.org>, <reportit@kxan.com>, <rapidresponse@we-worldwide.com>, <tips@thetexan.news>, <tonews@cbc.ca>, <themayor@calgary.ca>, <taiwannewseditor@gmail.com>, <taviv@international.gc.ca>, <tesfanews@gmail.com>, <turksandcaicosislandspr@jwadepr.com>, <ViewerContactCalgary@globalnews.ca>, <ViewerContactToronto@globalnews.ca>, <Vincent.A.Steves@abc.com>, <washingtonbureau@naacpnet.org>, <w5@ctv.ca>, <weekend@cbsnews.com>, <yves-francois.blanchet@parl.gc.ca>, <YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk>, <YDChin@rcclapac.com>, <omafra.media@ontario.ca>, <avi.yufest@ontario.ca>, <jack.sullivan@ontario.ca>, <%20minister.edu@ontario.ca>, <%20Alexander.Giordano2@ontario.ca>, <education.minister@gov.ab.ca>, <nicole.williams@gov.ab.ca>, <nicole.sparrow@gov.ab.ca>, <mackenzie.blyth@gov.ab.ca>, <mgendron@cpa-acp.ca>, <hon.bardish.chagger@canada.ca>, <ahmed.hussen@parl.gc.ca>, <programming@wncn.com>, <marc.garneau@parl.gc.ca>, <minister.edu@gov.sk.ca>, <EDUC.Minister@gov.bc.ca>, <minedu@leg.gov.mb.ca>, <stephen.lecce@pc.ola.org>, <relationsmedias@education.gouv.qc.ca>, <Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca>, <educmin@novascotia.ca>, <Educ-DM@novascotia.ca>, <education@gov.nl.ca>, <ecepublicaffairs@gov.nt.ca>, <Rj_simpson@gov.nt.ca>, <dm.education@yukon.ca>, <info.edu@gov.nu.ca>, <emily@merakicsi.ca>, <edpubs@edpubs.ed.gov>

Hey Everyone, I have been reading about new curriculums in the coming months and some people are concerned that they are not robust enough. As such I was thinking of ways to help with new education options and a new paradigm to follow. In my humble opinion we need to move towards a more digital learning landscape that will give the teacher analytics and options for new topics. As such I propose the following options for all grades: 1.Each student will be assigned a tablet that is linked to the teachers in an adhoc connection. This will allow the teacher to control the material displayed on each tablet and ensure that no outside connections can be made. The teachers computer would be linked to the schools and would provide digital lesson plans and activities that the teacher can drag and drop onto any tablet they need. This would also allow her to get analytics on strengths and weaknesses and customize their lesson plans depending on which chosen "Side Studies" and "Side Languages" the student and parents have chosen. If the teacher finds that a student is struggling with a certain topic she will receive a number of suggested lesson plans as an alert on that student's profile. She can then drag and drop them into the students mailbox for completion. Once the student has completed the lesson the grade is automatically uploaded into the students profile so it can be added to their overall mark. 2. Side Studies - I've written about this prior however, the teacher would meet with the student and parents each year and discuss the students' likes and assign 3 side studies that would help them discover more about future career opportunities. Throughout the year the student, teachers and parents can change these depending on what the student enjoys and propose new studies in place of the dropped subject. They would also choose 3 languages to study and learn throughout their school career. English, French and a language of their choice in Canada and English, Spanish and a language of their choice in the States. Each week an hour would be allotted for independent study periods that will allow the student 30 mins for their side study topic and 30 mins for their language topic. The teacher would upload the students' choices onto their profile and each week would be given school board approved choices to give the student to work on. This will also allow the teacher to send videos and clips directly to the students to watch directly from the tablet and then a follow up quiz could be given to cement the knowledge learned. This digital teaching landscape will help teachers to know at a glance the strengths and weaknesses of each student and amend the learning plan accordingly. This will also help the teacher to grade the work and give the teacher the ability to help the student through more learning or mentorship. Furthermore, this will allow the teacher to create lesson plans that once approved can be uploaded to the national database to be used as part of the curriculum which gives teachers more input. I was also thinking that we look into more resources and programs that will help the student learn digitally. They have apps that help with reading, math and other concepts that are fun and functional. 3. Furthermore, while we upgrade to a digital infrastructure we cannot overlook the importance of "Earth Skills". These "Earth Skills" would be hands-on courses that teach the students survival skills, how to sew, how to farm and preserve food as well as water filtration techniques. This class would also help them to identify natural plants that can be eaten or used as medicine as well as what natural foods to avoid. 4. Empathy Classes - These would be courses designed to teach the student empathy and understanding as well as how to build critical skills that will be needed in the future. These would allow the person to understand others struggles and create a connection to activism and outreach. They would also highlight the human rights work throughout our history and teach its importance to democracy and government. 5. Diversity Classes - These classes would be used to highlight and educate the students on the different cultures and peoples within our world. This will allow us to craft a generation of our people that know and understand each other and their customs to avoid disagreements or fear of the unknown. Each year you can have students from other cultures or identities speak to the class and answer questions about their culture in an open and honest way to combat prejudice and assumptions. This I feel would go a long way to helping us integrate into a cohesive society and this level of understanding in theory will help bring more peace and stability in our world. 6. School Breakfast and Lunch programs - This is a program that will provide each student a good breakfast and lunch as part of their education. Each school would set aside a portion of their land to grow crops to teach the students "Earth Skills" and to help offset costs for the school lunch program. Studies have shown that students who eat a good breakfast and lunch are more prepared to learn and retain the knowledge learned. This will also help struggling families who suffer from food insecurity. Education has to become a complete picture of the person. To truly educate a person you must uplift the mind, body and soul. Parents should be able to turn to their school and gain assistance and resources so that the families of students can be supported. They can institute food drives for local families and organize vouchers for donations and food banks to ensure that each student is supported at home and in school. I would also have them meet with a school counsellor once a month to discuss their overall health and to help them with any problems or concerns that may arise. This can be done remotely through the school adhoc system to allow the counsellor more time for each student and ensures that they can type confidentially. The counsellor can send a meeting invite to create a chat room and then this is uploaded to the students secure page that is encrypted. The counsellor would also be able to look at the students record and know what strengths or weaknesses they can help with. 7. Teacher Chat rooms and student lounges - Given the new age we live in and the digital landscape before us we need to have student communications that will allow them to socialize without leaving their desk. This can be used to help each other with projects and ideas and can be blocked during tests. Furthermore, a teacher resource room will allow teachers from all over the continent to share ideas and tactics that work to better help each student succeed. This will also help student teachers and substitutes gain assistance or guidance and the digital landscape will help substitute teachers stay up to date on lesson plans. A teacher would be able to email the lesson plan to the substitute teacher and they can load up the classroom profile and enact the teachers directives for each of their students. I would propose that we create a new desk in the future that has a built-in display so that the desk becomes the students workstation both physically and digitally. They would have the requisite places to store their craft supplies and writing instruments but it would allow an integrated computer to prevent them from being lost or damaged. I also think we need to replace all chalkboards with digital displays that allow the teacher to craft their own lesson plans on the board. This can then be sent directly to the students laptops and then forwarded to the school board for universal approval. Finally, in building the next generation of schools I propose a redesign that will allow the school to be more prepared for pandemics and emergencies. In my opinion each school should have more ventilation in each classroom, viral filter screens on all vents and air intakes as well. These buildings should start using solar panels on each school to save on the utility costs and ensure more funds for the school lunch program. They should also include water filtration on all faucets as well as more space in classrooms and hallways. I also feel that each classroom should have its own set of washrooms for the class to use that will help during any future pandemics. This will allow the class to socially distance themselves from other classes and hopefully reduce future transmission of viral contagions. I would also start a school cleaning program where the students help to keep their classrooms and washrooms clean. This will help with janitorial costs and help teach the student about cleanliness, to which parents will be overjoyed. I feel that the above options would be beneficial to helping students and teachers navigate the digital world and create more opportunities at the same time. As such if we can review the above options in relation to all students it would be greatly appreciated. Stay Safe, Stay Sanitized and Stay Supportive, John Ames Birch @johneames2