personal overview of all the week’s content

personal overview of all the week’s content

From week one to week six, we discussed essential topics that relate to the course. After going through the six weeks, I gained knowledge in various issues, especially those that affect the minority groups such as education, health, equity, among others. To ensure that all the imparted knowledge is of benefit, I hope to reflect on the entire course discussions. In this reflection paper, I would wish to provide a personal overview of all the week’s content. Arranged in a chronological manner, this commentary contains my view on what I have learned from week one to week six.

In week one, we discussed education issues. I joined those of the argument that the current education curriculum should be changed from focusing on students’ results as the output to instilling values, morals, and skills in learners (Whitehead, 1967). After proper scrutiny of the current education curriculum, many agreed that the system should be transformed. I still think that the curriculum needs to be transformed from result-oriented to skills-oriented. Further, the teaching process and methods need to be changed to be more inclusive. A system that considers the overall life of different students is the best. With such a curriculum, people will not peg future success in life to academic excellence. At the same time, the education system will not concentrate on producing students with good grades so that they secure entry into universities. The system will promote the holistic development of students. Week one opened the platform for week two discussion that focused on the value of education in the United States. As we shared our thoughts about the value of education, I still think that the value of an education not only in the United States but across the globe has not changed. Despite the challenges in the education curriculum and the entire system, education is still a good thing.

For example, education brought about the industrialization revolution. Knowledge led to massive industrialization stopping climatic change as noted in this quote “the truth is that many things on which our future health and prosperity depend are in dire jeopardy: climate stability, the resilience and productivity of natural systems, the beauty of the natural world, and biological diversity” (Orr, pg. 7). Another critical point we realized from the discussion is that despite the benefits of education, United States education does not promote sustainable living because it focuses on solve human needs rather than how to address the prevailing environmental concerns.

After discussing curriculum transformation and the value of education, we learned about the degree of gender bias in the field of education in week three. In this argument, I maintain my stand that the current education system focuses on masculinity, whereby females appear stereotyped as less educated. Basing on the TED talk we watched in class, and I agree that the prevailing standards in the field of education are biased because they do not give equal support to male and female values. It means that the system should include both values with giving one more weight than the other (Martin, 1994). Addressing issues that came up from Brene Brown’s TED talk requires an answer to this question; how can we transform the education system to protect females from the disadvantages of gender inequality? I envision that an ideal society should have systems that promote equality. The way that males and females get treated should not be subject to prejudice or gender stereotype that leads to discrimination.

Week four provided insight into the physic numbing concept of education. After scrutiny, we discussed and realized that the current education curriculum focuses on the products and not the entire process of getting those results. I think that physical activities are an essential part of learning that should not be ignored at all costs. The learner should be given room to participate in various outdoor activities. Bai (2009) noted that learners in the current education system value high grades in subjects which they consider as success. This makes them forget to develop their physical, social, and grow holistically. I think that the current system is numb and ignores the essential part of learning. Physical education, psychological knowledge, and emotional development helps in developing holistic people and should not be overlooked. My opinion is that habitual construction that limits our thinking should be avoided by transforming our education system so that children learn to escape the trap of doing things the same way every day.

Week five focused on how learners can gain knowledge in the classroom set up. Of interest in week five were two types of intellects, which are D-mode and the slow tortoise mind (Claxton, 1997). This week I gained a lot of knowledge on how people learn in a classroom as D- minds get knowledge faster than the tortoise minds because they are not distracted. My point this week is that the education system should inclusive and takes care of both slow learners and the D-mind. I learned an essential discovery from colleagues’ response that the tortoise minds excel in society that the D-minds. They are always right in extra-curricular activities that involve physical exercise. In a nutshell, I think that a sound education system should incorporate all aspects of life and all kinds of learners. Finally, week six was more of a participation project that helped leaners think critically based on education issues. We were required to ask at least two questions per week.

Further, learners were supposed to respond to two questions from other students (Zajonc, 2006). In my case, my questions focused on how the education system can be transformed to be holistic. It focused on curriculum reforms that will make the education system more of social life-oriented than a human problem solver.

In conclusion, throughout week one to week six, I gained a lot about the education system and curriculum development.  It provided a comprehensive analysis of what a holistic education should be like. I noted that a good system should be inclusive, valuable, and covers learning in all dimensions. I can testify that at the end of the week’s discussions, a lot of education knowledge was imparted on the learners.