Do They Know? Will They Remember?
I came across this scrap of paper on the floor of the a high school last week and it had me thinking about expectations of today’s learners. Specifically the rote memorization of information, such as dates and facts. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that learners should know and remember math facts up and down and back and forth. But, in addition to being able to remember that information when needed, I know it is imperative that they understand the reason 2 + 2 = 4. Then, they also need to be able to apply the information to new situations.
This type of rote memorization, like the rote memorization of state capitals, never has the student demonstrating higher order thinking. Is it so important to remember the exact date that a war began? I know it’s important for playing Trivial Pursuit, but I’d prefer that learners were being asked to make more use of the knowledge we ask them to remember. Facts and dates are two types of information that can be accessed so readily these days. We need to allow our students the types of activities and interactions that let them build on the lower level knowledge that can be found so rapidly.
Students are capable of doing more, knowing more and working harder if we provide engaging learning experiences for them in classrooms. In fact, many students complain that school is hard when a teacher asks them to work harder than they’re used to. That is one complaint I’m willing to hear!
It’s important to know and remember information, however, focusing on the knowledge level in the upper grades is simply rote memorization with no chance for students to make connections to build conceptual knowledge and relationships. The Assessment Cyberguide for Learning Goals and Outcomes has some nice visuals and useful tools for planning higher order thinking activities. Teaching learners about higher order thinking sklls and then requiring higher level products from students will lead to the remembering and 
understanding of the lower level shown in the pyramid.
Oh, if you’re interested in memorizing the state capitals, check out this How-To at ehow.com.
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I would add to this the notion that this student’s note indicates two scary possibilities. Did someone already take this test and pass on this information to those who were still preparing for it? If that is the case, the test isn’t making much of an impression, is it. We’ve all taken this kind if spit-it-out-and-forget it exam. The scarier possibility is that the teacher actually cautioned the students to prepare for the test by knowing this information. If so, yikes. Let’s all strive to design exams that couldn’t be aced with quick access to a handheld device.
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Or, here is another, equally scary possibility: this was a discarded cheat sheet that a student used to make it through a test. No matter what the case is, the test still wasn’t making much of an impression and was obviously evaluating pretty low-level thinking skills.
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It is essential to have a perspective in life. Understanding sequential steps in the process of history allows us not to repeat the same events. Unfortunately many have not learned the common sense of this concept. Attaching dates to events allows everyone the knowledge of seeing the graduated steps that contributed to the USA and world affairs. We all have a past, but we all have a future. The ironic part of history is we continue to repeat the mistakes of the previous generations. Nothing on the computer will teach us that concept except the knowledge of discussion of these concepts and relating them to previous times in history.
Some of us are old enough that we remember the push on reading, writing and mathematic concepts in all classes (oh — history in the educational system is repeating itself). We remember the time when Science and Social Studies were reading in the content area subjects. We remember when it was essential to be able to communicate with the older generation and the need to know facts to be able to discuss the past and learn from their wisdom and maturity. We remember the fact that reading and comprehension of material is essential to have a logical, rationale thought of ideas and views and also allows us to formulate our opinions based on past experiences. We had a basic knowledge to know when someone was pulling our leg because of previous learning experiences. We are impressed with the knowledge of someone who can be successful in Jeopardy and have a balanced education. Our life was not for the now and self it is not reality TV and we don’t always have a computer available at our finger tips, nor does that allow for open communication and the flow of mutual understanding.
My concern is the students of today do not see the need of the things they are learning. They do not know how to piece life events even into decades and sometimes centuries. Our job as educators is to mold future leaders, educators, scientists, politicians and workers that don’t have to try every idea for their own knowledge base.
Knowing the dates in a situation like this is not for testing purposes, but for sequential knowledge of events in history — sounds like you might want history to repeat itiself. In fact I just helped a LS student learn the aspects of WWI by writing something very similar .
May we learn to be sequential in a globally minded world.
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God Bless Carrie! She understands society that the younger generation doesn’t. Any school district would be indebted to have such a fine educator such as she!
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In reply to Carrie ~
I appreciate your comment – one of my first from someone I don’t know personally! At first read, I thought you and I were disagreeing. However after rereading your very thoughtful comment multiple times and also rereading my post, I think we are actually in agreement.
Carrie says – My concern is the students of today do not see the need of the things they are learning. They do not know how to piece life events even into decades and sometimes centuries. –
This is, in fact, exactly my point. If teachers work harder to create connections between events from the past by encouraging deeper study of the relationships between past and present, students will be better able to place the events on a timeline and then draw conclusions of their own.
This particular scrap of notebook paper had no other writing on it – only the dates. No reference to other materials, essential questions or relationships between past and present.
Maybe I drew the wrong conclusion…I hope I did!
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In response to Woody-
Indeed, Carrie seems like a thinking educator, and this is indeed the kind of teacher we need in our schools. Unfortunately, you seem to be assessing nothing other than age, implying that the “younger generation” of teachers is incapable of understanding society. This is as dangerous as the assertion sometimes made by young people that older teachers are overripe and unable to adapt to change. Please consider that good teachers come in all varieties, including young and not-so-young. Let’s debate the real issues without making arbitrary and condescending assumptions.
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Many times the connection is simply made by establishing timelines in history and relating it to times in their lives. My father served his country in WWII. He related historical events to family history and the belief of the generations. He was very uptight when Osama Ben Laden and Saddam Hussein’s names were brought up. He remembers when Ben Laden was trained by our own military. He could relate to his children and students the necessity to know history, religion and society in the perspective of events and world affairs.
I do not think we are agreeing. I feel it is important to know fundamental dates so the world events flows smoothly in the minds of society’s youth. Lest we forget … 9/11
Many students belief the first site they find on the computer as fact. Grant it – written documentation can be inaccurate as well.
I think this piece of paper had you speculating on things that you are missing some facts that created misconceptions in your mind. As a history teacher I have a pretty good grasp on that piece of paper. Working with high school students has given me insight into learning patterns.
If I may be so nosey – What do you teach? How many children do you have in your class? Our school is under staffed in the history dept. and the demands are great. I am more than willing to give my students key opportunities to make learning relevant. Computers are just one tool in life. Communication and concern about society and interactions of world affairs are essential in the training of youth to be the future generation of leaders in the USA and the world.
I just had a issue today regarding a student who did not have a computer and he possibly could have been embarrassed to share that so he lied about a situation. Technology is great – having access for some is impossible in the realm of economical and societal issues.
Just for your thinking —–
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In regards to Aly:
I did not mean to imply that older educators are unable to adapt to change. Younger educators, however, are not staying in the field of education due to many reasons. One reason is teacher burnout from demands that are placed on them and not having support from the administrative team.
In the district where I currently teach, over 50% of new teachers leave the field within the first 5 years. Additionally, those that stay in education, typically pursue a position within administration or exit the field of education completely.
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As a tech coach and former social studies teacher, let me throw in my two cents. Memorizing those dates is definitely only hitting the understand portion of New Blooms. Knowing those dates is important, but not as important as knowing their significance. If the teacher can expand upon not only why 1914 is important, but also how the events of 1914 led to the events of 1917 and 1918, we are then talking about analysis and possibly even evaluation.
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Hmmm. I would think that it is more important for a student to remember the progression of events and how they inter-relate than the specific date of an event. For instance, which of the following do you deem more important:
1. That a student spends their time remembering the exact dates that WW1 started, the date the US entered, and the date it ended.
OR
2. Why the war started, why the US became involved, and why it ended – with a notion that the time frame was in the early 1900’s?
I’d rather students spend their time and energy on #2 than #1.
Unfortunately, I’m a good example of just this thinking:
I can remember all the linking and being verbs from 7th grade English with Mrs. Thornton: have, has, had, do, did, does, may, might, must, can, could,will, would, shall, should, be, am,is, are, was, were, being, been. (Yes, they are burned in my memory!)
However, (and I REALLY hate to admit it) but without an grammar book (or Google,) I couldn’t tell you *why* that information is relevant to me.
Although, if someone offered me a dollar for everyone I can remember, I could take you out to lunch to discuss this further!
(Ok, flame away on me — I’ve put on my fire-proof jumpsuit!)
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Ian, Dave and mkrill,
Ah – A good conversation with someone that understands. Placing the dates beside the events allows the students to see the timeline in history to be able to see the relationship of events. Many low functioning students cannot visualize the process of historical events without the dates. The ironic part is the dates are the stepping stones to be able to advance the higher level thinking skills.
The Archduke had to be assassinated first, before Europe became involved in the war. The Lusitania had to be sunk before the USA enters WWI. That is the shorten version of the history lesson. It is amazing to me when students are unable to piece details without the attached date so higher level thinking skills can be analyze and evaluated. Building the relationships of events is important to determine –“Why the war started, why the US became involved, and why it ended – with a notion that the time frame was in the early 1900’s?”
Considering why the bottom of Bloom’s Taxonomy is designed as a triangle is important in our discussion. You need a strong knowledge base to be able to comprehend information. You cannot apply, analyze or evaluate without the knowledge base, so without that framework one would not be able to create and invent solutions for world issues. Wouldn’t we all prefer being at the top of the pyramid without the finite steps in the process? We’d be a little tipsy in thought and development without a centered, well grounded foundation of knowledge.
Additional thoughts for creating a more balanced educational system.
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Hello to all:
Hey, Carrie gave us a great idea. Why don’t we meet at Bill’s on Friday night , have a good conversation, get a little tipsy and starting creating
a way to build our schools from the ground up since our administrative teams are becoming younger and dumber. We can even submit the time for Act 48
Credit.
To think the upper echelon wouldn’t know what to do with us if we were all agreeing and not arguing. Creating dramatic changes in the lives of the
youth we are teaching is what we are looking to develop.
Mkrill you can pay since you started this.
Ally, Ian, Dave, and Carrie can join us. Hope none of you are faking what you do. Wouldn’t want the top
brass to think we are starting WWIII in 2008.
Always, Woody
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Short and sweet: If a teacher is saying, “These are the dates that you need to know. Study and know them and you should do fine on the test,” then it is an issue.
Lets not assume that the dates are only being used in this way. What if the teacher informed students that should know those dates for an activity they were planning for the following day? What if that activity were analyzing economic or societal trends in relationship to world events?
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Sounds like somethings are getting personal. Kyle you are absolutely correct. I am signing off of this subject, but leaving you with an e-mail I just received that makes the need for leaders and looking back on life very real. This is by a man who has made a difference in the lives of Americans.
Hope you enjoy an appreciate the information that is provided. Leadership and understand of our past, present and future is essential to the success of our nation.
May God Bless America in whatever way we get the information to the next generation.
Note from mkrill ~ I edited out the text of the email from the commenter due to language. Here is a link to the content ~ http://www.bordersstores.com/features/feature.jsp?file=wherehavealltheleadersgone .
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