Sweden returns to using textbooks

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Again Europe is ahead on education. If only Randi Weingarten would immigrate and even things out.

It's wild how such a pernicious person manages to hold such an important position in the US education establishment. No surprise that she doesn't actually have kids herself (to my knowledge). Free to make horrible decisions without any concern for the consequences. A purely self-interested political actor wreaking havoc on a generation of children and the nation's future.

I've never seen someone so deeply hated by so many Republicans.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randi_Weingarten

I love her.

Republicans by and large hate Jews, so it fits

Ha. There was a small chance people would have believed this before Oct 7th, but now we all know who the real haters are.
Weingarten single handedly crushed a generation of children. We will never forget

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County’s lower tier high schools often do not have adequate text books or supposed digital access for all of their students. It makes a big difference.

Separately, there’s abundant research indicating a hand -brain connection that increases learning. Tablets, etc. Do not provide this. There’s way too much computer use in elementary classrooms. There’s also way too much curriculum pushed down to younger children. We’ve created a rush on anxiety disorders and and other real problems bc we don’t let children develop normally.

Slowing things down with books instead of dancing cartoons and flashing colors will help with the absorption of material.

In DC but so agree with this. The reliance on videos for learning as young as PK and K is disturbing. Yes, a YouTube video with an ABC song that you can play over will teach kids their ABCs yes. It will also acclimate them to learning everything via a video. Just sing your freaking ABCs like we used to. Use books and cards and write on a board. TALK to kids. It might take longer in the short run but it might save them from total screen addiction in the long run, which seems worth it to me.

Agree. People who don’t see the issue with video are 150% naive. Beyond naive.

It's a learning tool. All in moderation. But, textbooks in schools are helpful but two very different issues.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand. Why does it have to be one or the other. Obviously textbooks should be essential, but supplement and expand on the textbook with some stuff pulled from online that might be beneficial in explaining a concept better

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please can we do the same?

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/11/sweden-says-back-to-basics-schooling-works-on-paper

The return to more traditional ways of learning is a response to politicians and experts questioning whether Sweden’s hyper-digitalised approach to education, including the introduction of tablets in nursery schools, had led to a decline in basic skills.

I'd expect a sharp decline in literacy since they're now catering to the ludites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please can we do the same?

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/11/sweden-says-back-to-basics-schooling-works-on-paper

The return to more traditional ways of learning is a response to politicians and experts questioning whether Sweden’s hyper-digitalised approach to education, including the introduction of tablets in nursery schools, had led to a decline in basic skills.

I'd expect a sharp decline in literacy since they're now catering to the ludites.

When was the last time you looked at a text written 50 or 100+ years ago? Luddites are highly literate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please can we do the same?

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/11/sweden-says-back-to-basics-schooling-works-on-paper

The return to more traditional ways of learning is a response to politicians and experts questioning whether Sweden’s hyper-digitalised approach to education, including the introduction of tablets in nursery schools, had led to a decline in basic skills.

I'd expect a sharp decline in literacy since they're now catering to the ludites.

When was the last time you looked at a text written 50 or 100+ years ago? Luddites are highly literate.

Especially when it comes to knowledge of flat earth theoriy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand. Why does it have to be one or the other. Obviously textbooks should be essential, but supplement and expand on the textbook with some stuff pulled from online that might be beneficial in explaining a concept better

It shouldn't be one or the other but the reality is that school systems have been making the choice to eliminate print materials in favor of digital resources. Not just digital texts but apps/games in lieu of worksheets and written assignments, videos instead of live instruction.

If schools were just using technology to support and expand learning, I don't think you'd see as much push back. The problem is that there are kids who literally don't know what to do when provided with a written math problem, because they are so used to doing math via an app on a tablet. Kids aren't doing as much writing across the board, because so much of their instruction is on tablets (but also not learning to type, go figure), which impacts overall literacy since being able to clearly articular ideas in writing (and not just answer questions about a text via an app) is an important part of literacy.

It also just makes kids lazy. It would be different if the tech used in schools was more like the tech they might use as adults. But most often they are using programs that were designed by educational app designers that create closed systems that rob kids of opportunities to get curious, creative, and proactive. A reading app that will give you the definition of any word if you click on sounds cool, but does it teach kids what to do if they run into a word in a book or on a form or in a job application they don't understand? No, it teaches them no skills except how to click and scroll.

Technology isn't evil but the way we're using it in schools is really alarming. A total reset with a return to textbooks is needed, so we can then introduce technology in intelligent ways instead of just handing over the education system to app developers, which is what we are doing now.

[Anonymous]

In Italy my nephews in elementary school have textbooks for every subject, written on nice paper, with engaging content and beautiful illustrations. Teachers can pick the textbooks they like and quality is great across the board.. I am so sad about the status of education here.. worksheets and content are such low quality, dry and boring. I feel bad for my kids.

[Anonymous]

I would much rather give a child a new Scientific America article on a topic than a science textbook. The former is likely much more current and covers recent advances and developments. Similarly, a recent broadsheet newspaper article is likely a much better resource than a corresponding social science textbook.

It’s about balance. The internet is a gold mine of information when guided by a skilled teacher.

And guess what? Online articles can be printed out and handed out as a hard copy if you are worried about screen time.

[Anonymous]

Before you are even able to appreciate a research paper you need to have some basic knowledge and culture, you know..

Such little common sense... The best education research probably happens in this country with pathetic results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I would much rather give a child a new Scientific America article on a topic than a science textbook. The former is likely much more current and covers recent advances and developments. Similarly, a recent broadsheet newspaper article is likely a much better resource than a corresponding social science textbook.

It’s about balance. The internet is a gold mine of information when guided by a skilled teacher.

And guess what? Online articles can be printed out and handed out as a hard copy if you are worried about screen time.

I disagree that the most current = better. Some things really should stand the test of time before they are accepted, and taught, as fact.

[Anonymous]

So you are arguing that studying SCIENCE doesn’t benefit from having the newest and most up to date information? Please don’t say you work in medicine. I don’t want a lobotomy instead of anti depressants!

Also would you teach the Palestine / Israel conflict without references to 2023s flare up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: So you are arguing that studying SCIENCE doesn’t benefit from having the newest and most up to date information? Please don’t say you work in medicine. I don’t want a lobotomy instead of anti depressants!

Also would you teach the Palestine / Israel conflict without references to 2023s flare up?

I do not work in medicine, and I am unaware of any medical textbooks that advocate lobotomy. However, you really should study more about what is known (and more importantly, unknown) about anti depressants and how they are prescribed if you want to use this as your example. The entire field of psychiatry leans more towards the hand-wavy “we don’t know why this works but we’re getting results we want so it must be good” versus evidence-based medicine side of the curve…

And using textbooks as the basis for a course of study does not preclude discussing current events or new studies or discoveries. I am not sure why you would make that leap.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Singapore still uses paper textbooks and lots of paper worksheets. Teaching style there is very traditional. Their PISA scores are far far higher than the US and have been for many years.

I don’t believe this is true. Singapore is a global leader in applied technology and are investing in it for schools.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/moe-education-ministry-technology-learning-spaces-industry-partnerships-21cc-framework-3790921

My niece goes to high school in Cupertino - home of Apple in the Silicon Valley - and they use textbooks.

My niece goes to school in Florida. They also use textbooks that teach about states rights and seem to white wash history.

Are they actually omitting things or are they just not teaching CRT like you want them to?

Teaching children the Civil War was about “states rights” is omitting some things, yes.

CRT has never been taught in K-16 schools so not sure why you interjected with thar. Weird.

Cut! The line is "cRt iS OnLy tAuGhT iN LaW sChOoL." Lol. Seriously though, even NPR admitted that CRT is being taught 8n K-12 schools when the AA AP syllabus was shown to be packed with CRT scholars. NPR pivoted and said it was good that it was being taught. That aside, any school teaching that systemic racism and white privilege are real and that equity is the solution are teaching CRT.

Whatever are you prattling on about? News organizations don’t “admit” things. CRT is not taught in K-16, the end. You lead an active fantasy life, though.

Hahah what a clueless dingbat. CRT is not taught in K-16? As is commonly understood CRT is absolutely being taught in our grade schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Singapore still uses paper textbooks and lots of paper worksheets. Teaching style there is very traditional. Their PISA scores are far far higher than the US and have been for many years.

I don’t believe this is true. Singapore is a global leader in applied technology and are investing in it for schools.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/moe-education-ministry-technology-learning-spaces-industry-partnerships-21cc-framework-3790921

My niece goes to high school in Cupertino - home of Apple in the Silicon Valley - and they use textbooks.

My niece goes to school in Florida. They also use textbooks that teach about states rights and seem to white wash history.

Textbooks or not, its easy to white wash history.

What is it called when minor black historical figures are elevated to a large portion of the content, and the sins of Europeans are the main focus?

Revisionism, which is rife in our academia right now, including K-12. The Atlantic has a good article yesterday about how these schools no longer teaching students how to think, but what to think. The worst is how hypocritical they are.