Bird Droppings June 5, 2011
Driving up a mountain

I was looking forward to the trip to Black Rock Mountain in North Georgia, the site of the Foxfire property and teachers class in The Foxfire Approach to teaching. My oldest son was taking the course as a piece of his master’s degree program at Piedmont College. But interestingly enough several folks from Loganville Georgia were in attendance. One teacher as we went around the room doing introductions made a comment about an interesting point for her was the first time she had ever held a snake was in my room at Loganville High School holding Stevie my ball python. Actually there is a picture of her 2003 State Champion Softball team on the wall as well.
The discussion went around the room with lead facilitators providing a frame work within which to expound or expand the conversation. Prior to leaving our house I had hit on an idea for my dissertation topic which has been eluding me for some time. Sitting in a discussion with a former student he offered the idea of that I had shown him or helped him find, the Art of Learning. As I pondered deeper into the morning this idea stuck with me and from it a topic. The Art of Learning using the Foxfire Core Practices as a palette.
When I left Mountain City and drove back to the lower lands of Walton County I felt excited about the course going on and my own epiphany this morning with the idea of learning is an art form. John Dewey’s book, Experience and Education sits t my left as I write and the past few days I have borrowed from it several times as I jotted ideas down. But it is within the community of fellow learners and teachers we find answers and again more questions to ask. I thrive on the idea of learning even though I am sure many of my high school teachers and some college professors would argue. When students want to learn and desire to learn amazing things can be accomplished.

“From the beginning, learner choice, design, and revision infuses the work teachers and learners do together.” Core Practice One from The Foxfire Core Practices

John Dewey and his thoughts run through the Foxfire Approach to Teaching with an emphasis on a democratic classroom, experience as a means of learning and student input into the process of learning. I find that this is a rather simple statement this initial core practice which along with the other nine have evolved over the past nearly fifty years of teacher interactions and discussions from literally around the world. But so often a key attribute is missed and that is that students and teachers do this undertaking together. Listening to sixteen nearly teachers and active teachers respond to why they were involved in this class provided me with a sense of maybe there are a few who get it in the world.
In education we talk about test scores which are also what is used to measure schools to federal and state guidelines. Standardized tests given to all students at the end or near end of a school term on specific subjects that are to measure what students have learned. Sadly many students could take the same test at the beginning of the term and score the same so is that really a valid measure of what is learned. Far too many teachers avoid discussing the concept of learning; they are engrossed in standards, curriculum, forms and teacher manuals on the subject. I offer learning is an art form.

“Measuring tools lead to quantification; the tools in the arts lead to qualification.” Elliot Eisner, The Arts and the Creation of Mind

Do we ever measure learning? I have been wondering this since I started back into teaching although in various different words and meanings. A simple measure would be giving a pre-test and post-test which would show where a student started and where they ended. On a far more involved scenario portfolios could be used and are in =some schools to measure learning and students growth. These would consist of gathering artifacts along the way from the student. Essays, reports, assignments, any piece of materials that is involved in the student’s educational life could be considered an artifact.

“With respect to art and its meaning I share Dewey’s view that art is a mode of human experience that in principle can be secured whenever an individual interacts with any aspect of the world.” Elliot Eisner, The Arts and the Creation of Mind

So I am wandering as after driving home and playing with my grand daughter and then trying to write my energy level has deteriorated and I must close until tomorrow but rest assured that there are sixteen future teachers who will be experiencing some interesting and enlightening ideas and concepts across this week. Please keep all in harms way on your mind and in your hearts.
namaste
bird