EDS 113 - Week 2

Getting New Tools for Understanding:

One of the most interesting things about my recent experiences is that I've learned new ways to understand things. The information on assessment cycles and its stakeholders have given me a more scientific, logical, and sensible way to look at the assessments. It's like someone gave me a key to the hidden processes that make the things I see happen. To be able to see the educational assessment world through a different view and connect the dots is both humbling and empowering.

In the past, I often used my gut, custom, or common sense to figure out what was going on and to help me navigate homeschool teaching (which were almost always leading to disasters, haha). Now I have the chance to look back on my experiences with more understanding and a hunger for more information. It's like someone gave me a treasure chest full of critical tools that help me deal with life's challenges with more confidence and a stronger sense of purpose.

Why Things Need to Change:

Getting new understanding tools changes you, but they also bring up an important question: Do some beliefs, ways of doing things, or even laws need to change? (I used to hate standardized set up, and even went out of my way not to use it in homeschooling). As I go deeper into my journey of learning and self-discovery, I can't help but see the contradictions and flaws that I might not have seen before.

With more and more new information and ideas, it's becoming clear that I am starting to see the need for change. Some views and actions that were once taken without question are now looked at with a critical eye. Every day I learn something new about teaching that makes me think there might be better ways to deal with the problems and possibilities I face.