Readers Survey 2008
- Readers' Survey 2008 Home
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This year's Readers' Survey was conducted at Edutopia.org March 26-April 30, 2008. Participants responded to questions in their own words, and their answers were tabulated to yield the top three to five vote getters in each category. The top responses for each question appear with voting buttons to encourage our visitors to participate further.
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Readers' Survey 2008: Top Concern of Teachers
Credit: iStockphoto
The issue of standardized testing is not merely a concern for our readers. The looming specter of high-stakes tests -- and the impact of the results -- badgers, distracts, frightens, and discourages teachers. All of that leads to the other primary concerns listed by our survey participants: time and student motivation.
Said one respondent, "Testing has replaced teaching as the number-one priority. Fear has become the motivator instead of trying to build up creative thinkers." Though they yearn to explore differentiated curricula, integrate technology into lessons, and conduct hands-on learning, teachers say they must instead concentrate on getting ready for tests and on finding ways to keep their students -- who are primarily focused on the not-so-exciting pursuit of good test scores -- engaged in learning. "How am I going to get all of this done?" asked one teacher. Another said, "The challenge now is teaching students to learn for the love of knowledge instead of for short-term goals, such as acing a test."
What do you think? Weigh in on the results.
Algebra 2 and Geometry
Submitted by Chris Fancher (not verified) on June 27, 2008 - 19:55.
Each year I am more and more disheartened by the student's willingness to fail. Apathy and the lack of motivation I see each day is sad. My students run the gamut from at risk,economically disadvantaged to wealthy and it doesn't matter where they come from.
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