November 11…The Smartest Kids in the World, pt. 2

As we discussed, one interesting feature of this documentary is how it sought to make us rethink how we do schooling in the U.S by showing us that some of the things we take for granted could be otherwise. What is something (or are some things) that you learned about education in the U.S. from seeing schooling elsewhere. Note: this will likely come from the film, but feel free to include anything you have learned from your own experiences.

November 18…Thoughts About Documentaries…

Please blog a bit about documentaries as an art form/mode of teaching and learning. You can write about whatever you choose…some possibilities: the documentarian’s role in shaping the presentation of reality, their potential to create social change, their relationship to other forms of pop culture.

December 2…New Kid

Does it surprise you to learn that New Kid has been embroiled in a book banning controversy? Why or why not? 

December 7…Circling Back to Education’s Purposes

So where does all of this leave you with regard to how you think about schooling, education, and their purposes? Note: I am particularly interested in how/whether this course has helped you to think about where your ideas about school and education come from. 

August 26…Popculture

Was Delaney’s definition of popculture new to you? Comment on your relationship with popculture. Have you been able to find ways to bring any popculture interests into your studies?

September 2…Hollywood Goes to High School

Find something (an idea, a claim, an argument, etc.)  in Bulman Ch 1 to disagree with. Explain what it is and shy you disagree with it. Note: If you absolutely can’t find something to disagree with, feel free to write about that situation (why you can’t disagree) or simply discuss something that you found interesting in Ch. 1. 

September 9…Individualism in U.S. Culture

 What other classes have you had in which individualism was discussed? How was it talked about? Is it seen largely as a good thing or a bad thing? If you haven’t encountered it in other classes, react to what you read in the chapter.

Oct. 28...The Smartest Kids on the World Documentary

Use this space to do a little thinking/writing about what you've seen so far in The Smartest Kids in the World documentary. You can write about wha tit seems to be saying about the purposes of school, the other themes of our class, its international perspective, or the film as a piece of education and/or popculture. You also could (but are not obligated to) react to this short, highly critical review in light of what you have seen so far.  

Sept. 28...Movie #2

 How was student agency depicted in the film you watched? You might describe and react to student agency in the film or compare characters in the film and whether/what kinds of agenda they possess. Feel free to also suggest topics for discussion when we meet to discuss. 

Sept. 21...Critical Film Viewing

Share something about the film you watched that you hope to discuss in class. Reply to the comments that name your film so that all of the comments for each film are grouped together. Try to include something form what we have discussed so far in this course (e.g, purposes of school, individualism, opportunity, class and race, teacher and/or student agency, the limits of the art form, etc.).