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What are Real World Problems?

I Googled  "What are Real World Problems?" - the following two paragraphs are from the first article that popped up from Education Week.  Interestingly though, it brought up a STEM article despite the search containing nothing about "STEM."  
"If you want to engage students and get them excited about what they are learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classes, ask them to tackle a real-world problem. Then watch their amazement as they realize what they are learning in class actually has real-world applications.
Working on solutions to real-world problems is the heart of any STEM investigation. These solutions may include devices and designs that improve our lives, fulfill our needs or wants, and make our world better. From designing a better pen to figuring out how to assist areas lacking access to clean drinking water...."
As we try to make things better in the classroom for all, I sometimes think we are creating a greater divide. Think about it, you're sitting in a classroom worried where you're getting your next meal or if your parents can make rent or maybe you're worried about your safety in your neighborhood but the two kids next to you are researching ways to make a safer car or a shatterproof iPhone.   What are you going to do?  Your real world problems are not the same as your classmates' so rather than stand out, you fit in.   Your problems and the problems of many others don't get addressed because it's easier to do easy things and harder to accept and face the challenges you see every day.   We read and talk about countless heroes in our classrooms but how much time do we spend talking about the motivation and the courage it took to stand out?  We need to embrace and celebrate everyone's real world challenge so our students can be brave enough to face them in and outside of the classroom.

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 6, 2018 at 10:43 AM

    Great thoughts Jason. I have a cliche poster in my classroom that states, "stand up for what is right, even if you're standing alone." While this is a very simple truth that we preach and hopefully model to our students on a daily basis, it becomes easy to take the application of this truth for granted.

    For the 9 & 10 year old students in my class, it takes great maturity to look at a situation or challenge that a peer is experiencing and speak truth into that challenge or get hands-on in their assistance of the situation.

    You shed light on the elephant in the room that we as educators try to ignore at times. The challenges that students face on a daily basis will effect their academic and behavioral performance. The question then becomes, how can a students teacher and peers assistance said students by supporting them IN THE MIDST of their challenges.

    It's not a question of whether the storm will come but whether or not we can help each other withstand the storm.

    Thanks again for your thoughts!

    ReplyDelete

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