Hello there.
You’ll see several different genres as you explore, which can all be found on the right side of the web page if you would prefer to navigate the table of contents rather than scroll through. The first tab on the table of contents, "Opening Remarks" will just bring you to the full page of what you're currently reading. After that there is "Interviews with Current College Students" which is a page with a couple of interviews that I conducted with peers, asking about their own experience with the education system and how it has effected them as they transitioned into college. I wanted to really start the blog with this in order to bring it down to a relatable level. Though each of the students interviewed attended different schools during their elementary and high school years, all feel that the push on results and test scores has limited their ability to actually learn in college.
If you scroll past the interviews you'll see a quote that will take you to an essay I have written. If you choose to select the next tab on the table of contents, "Is Results-Oriented Education Limiting Independent Thought" you'll be taken directly to the essay. I explore this medium by arguing that the current focus on results oriented education is limiting students’ ability to think independently, creatively, and critically outside of themselves and will ultimately stifle academic and professional success if not expanded to broaden individual ability. As the backbone of my overall argument, this essay breaks down the education system and questions why results seem more important than students’ individual and personal success.
The next post ("The Difference Between Passive and Active Learning") is a series of photos. The first two are a copy of a real assignment that demonstrates a students' capability to engage fully in the learning process. The third photo is a copy of a different assignment, somewhat "easier" and demonstrates little active engagement necessary. This is for you to compare and contrast and make your own judgments. If I've done my job correctly up until this point, you will see the lack of effort education seems to be putting forth to truly engage students in assignments any more.
The fourth and fifth pieces of this portfolio ask you to do your own thinking. In "Do Your Own Research" I've collected a series of articles and arranged them by topic. Ranging from studies on creativity in children and the importance of play time in schools to the detriment standardized testing has on high schoolers, I think it’s important that you know I’m not the be all end all on this topic. There are other ways to learn information and I encourage you to. I leave you with "Why Should My Opinion Matter", a speech on my own experience and the struggle it is every day to be a creative mind in a structured world, not knowing how to express this desire for more in a world that asks for less.
My aim is that you walk away understanding that while I may just be a student myself, I know what I’m talking about and I want YOU to know what you’re talking about. I want you to recognize that the primary method of teaching has become archaic. The world is growing, technology is growing, minds are growing—so why is the most important thing in education still just the regurgitation of facts? It doesn't make sense to me, and I hope that once you explore for yourself it will no longer make sense to you.
I hope you enjoy what I’ve worked so hard to bring you.
Thank you for your time.
The truth is just a scroll or click away.















