ECS 210- Week Four

Respond to the following prompt on your blog: What does it mean to be a “good” student according to the commonsense? Which students are privileged by this definition of the good student? What is made impossible to see/understand/believe because of these commonsense ideas?

According to the commonsense, being a good student is someone who sits in their chair, pays attention during class, raises their hand before asking a question, finishes their homework, shows up to school on time, participates in discussions, studies for tests in their spare time, preforms well on tests, and gives insightful presentations. Different students are privileged by this definition of the good student, most of it revolves around students who are able to fit into the implicit academic mold. Students who do not have any disabilities, who have the time and means to study and test well, prepare presentations with help. Students with the confidence to participate and ask questions. Students who have the means to get to school on time, and who have a safe place to sleep at night. This definition makes it impossible to see alternate ways of teaching and learning in the classroom. It makes it impossible to understand the difference between students and their needs that need to be met in order for them to participate in the learning process. Finally it makes it impossible to believe that there are multiple layers of learning and understanding that can represent engagement with the subject material.