Why edu-cat-tion?

For the summer months of June and July, edu-cat-ion.com will repeat its “Continuous Improvement =/= Transformative Innovation” series of articles.  But first, a little more about why this site was created. Why do we need another Web site that talks about education? Why is there a picture of the space shuttle blasting off? And why is…

The Effectiveness of Teaching Strategies on Learning

In our current educational discussions of standardized testing, core curriculum, STEM, the elimination of arts education and the concern for special needs/gifted student/non-English speaking student education, not to mention the ever-changing role of the use of technology in the classroom and its impact on the learning experience, as well as societal issues such as bullying,…

But the Real Question Is, “Are You Ready To Be Helped?”

“I need help.” As a teacher, that’s something you may hear every day from your students.  In fact, it’s one of the reasons why many young adults who graduate high school aspire to be teachers.  Their learning may have been significantly impacted by a teacher, and they want to be able to offer that same…

A Quality Education at the Lowest Possible Price is Oxymoronic

Faith-based K-12 schools do miraculous things. If you don’t believe that, analyze the academic achievements of their students, and, 35 to 50 years later, see what their graduates are doing and have achieved. I am constantly amazed at what my 173 high school classmates are doing today, not to mention the three years of students…

Dear Faith-Based and Private Schools: You DON’T Want Vouchers!

For quite some time now, parents have been lobbying lawmakers to use the tax money which they pay to fund educational initiatives relative to where they want their children to be educated.  The rationale is that the public education system in some parts of this country is “broken,” since children are, in their opinion, not…

Nobody Likes the Teacher

A few years back, there were several articles that were published in the United Kingdom stating that education in that country could be in trouble because there are fewer and fewer young adults interested in entering the teaching profession. Here in the United States of America, as of last year, that’s also true.  CBS reports…

Music Education and Problem Solving

If you Google “Music Education NCLB,” you’ll find article after article decrying the cutting of music and arts programs from as far back as almost 20 years ago. Even back then, experts spoke of the positive effects of music education on scholastic performance because of its influence relative to discipline, competitiveness, achievement, creativity, and physical…

The Five Learning Styles

Back in 1956, a team of researchers led by Dr. Benjamin Bloom identified three domains of educational activity: Cognitive, Affective and Kinesthetic. Cognitive refers to the processes involved with learning that happen via the mind.  Rote memorization, scaffolding, and mnemonic devices are examples of learning involving processes which engage the mind.  It’s where knowledge “resides”…