In this episode, Ron Berger, a Senior Advisor at EL Education and a champion for educational excellence, discusses his vision for cultivating quality and character in students. He delves into the importance of craftsmanship in education, emphasizing integrity and pride in teaching. Berger shares transformative experiences that bridge traditional assessments with real-life skills, including a project connecting high school students with WWII veterans. He advocates for project-based learning and constructive critique as essential tools for enhancing student motivation and fostering a culture of excellence.
Ron Berger emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of quality, character, and citizenship to enrich student education.
Establishing clear professional boundaries is essential for teachers to manage workloads and prevent burnout in their careers.
Engaging students in real-world projects, like interviewing WWII veterans, facilitates meaningful learning experiences and enhances self-perception.
Rethinking assessment practices towards qualitative measures can provide a more holistic view of student capabilities beyond standardized testing.
Deep dives
Acknowledgment of Indigenous Lands
The podcast opens with a respectful acknowledgment of the traditional custodians of the land, specifically the Wurundjeri, Woiwurrung, and Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation. It emphasizes a commitment to recognizing the ongoing impacts of colonization and dispossession. This acknowledgment demonstrates the importance of understanding local histories and fostering respect for Indigenous cultures. Such acts of recognition create a foundation for discussions around education and social justice within the context of Australia.
Introduction of the Explicit Mathematics Program (EMP)
The Explicit Mathematics Program is introduced as a comprehensive curriculum designed for math instruction from foundation to year two. This program is developed by prominent educators in Australia and grounded in evidence-based teaching principles. The EMP includes a variety of resources, such as lesson plans, independent practice, and assessment tools, making it adaptable to various educational contexts. The mapping of the program to different Australian curricula ensures that it is widely applicable for educators across the country.
Importance of Establishing Boundaries for New Teachers
A key piece of advice shared in the podcast for new teachers is the necessity of setting clear boundaries in their professional lives. Establishing boundaries can help educators manage their workloads and maintain a healthy work-life balance. The conversation highlights that with the advent of automation, many traditional teaching roles may change, which emphasizes the need for teachers to advocate for themselves and their time. This proactive approach allows teachers to avoid burnout and focus on their passion for education.
Ron Berger's Ethic of Excellence
The podcast features Ron Berger, an influential educator known for promoting an ethic of excellence in education. Berger discusses the significance of fostering a culture of quality, character, and citizenship among students. He highlights the disconnect between conventional education and real-life measures, suggesting that education should emphasize craftsmanship and pride in one's work. Berger's message resonates with the importance of helping students recognize the value of quality outputs in their learning experiences, echoing a call for deeper engagement and motivation.
Transformative Projects in Education
Ron Berger shares an inspiring story about a high school project where students interviewed World War II veterans to create a book honoring their stories. This project motivated students who had previously struggled academically, as they were engaged in meaningful, real-world work that required collaboration, skill development, and creativity. The experience transformed their self-perception and fostered a sense of pride in their contributions. This highlights that educational projects can lead to significant growth by tapping into students' interests and perspectives.
Role of Authentic Audiences in Student Work
The concept of having an authentic audience for student projects is emphasized throughout the discussion. Engaging real-world experts as mentors or reviewers of student work can motivate students to take their projects more seriously and strive for higher standards. When students know their work will be shared with others who value it, they are more likely to put forth their best effort. This connection not only validates their efforts but also establishes a sense of purpose in their learning.
Critique Culture as a Learning Tool
The importance of establishing a constructive critique culture in classrooms is discussed, where feedback from peers is framed to be kind, specific, and helpful. Berger stresses that this culture encourages students to share their work and engage in discussions centered around improvement. Such interactions help students develop social skills alongside academic ones, while also fostering a collaborative spirit. Learning to offer and receive critique prepares students for real-world scenarios where feedback is a natural part of growth.
Rethinking Assessment Practices
The conversation addresses the need to rethink assessment practices, especially the reliance on standardized tests. Berger advocates for a shift toward qualitative assessments that emphasize personal growth and the demonstration of skills over numerical rankings. Utilizing portfolios and presentations can provide a holistic view of student capabilities, rather than reducing their potential to a single test score. This perspective aligns with the belief that assessments should support and enhance learning, rather than merely serve as gatekeeping mechanisms.
This episode we're speaking with Ron Berger. Ron was a public school teacher and master carpenter in rural Massachusetts for over 25 years and is now a well-known national and international keynote speaker focused on inspiring a commitment to quality, character, and citizenship in students. He is the Senior Advisor at EL Education, a nonprofit school improvement organization that partners with public schools and districts across America, leads professional learning, and creates open educational resources.
In this episode, Ron and I go in-depth into the idea of an ethic of excellence, and discuss, perhaps even debate, some of the ins and outs of the use of projects, assessments, and more.
