Reflection: Knowledge Creation

A Quote That Made Me Think

"Knowledge equity is preserving the languages and oral traditions of our ancestors and elders." - Knowledge Equity Lab

    This quote made me think of the fundamental role that Immersion schools play in preserving not only a language but many cultures. This is one of the main factors that makes me think about the importance of supporting dual language immersion schools with the appropriate socially responsible curriculums and appropriate technological tools. Spanish Immersion schools have a high number of Hispanic families that can contribute by practicing the language and increasing cultural values. 

Learning technology must be used to integrate students, schools, families, and the community. Building knowledge can be supported by families in the school also. 

“Hispanic parents’ involvement in their children’s school activities is more influential to academic performance and educational attitudes than is teacher empowerment alone” (Rivera and Li, 2019)

 Hispanic English learners have to face so many challenges compared to other children in the school, these challenges are also reflected in our community, with the mainstream culture getting more privileges than other cultures. Based on this, El learners must be supported and included in immersion settings by acknowledging their cultural background and incorporating their families as cultural ambassadors to represent the minority language at school.

A Concept That Reasoned With Me

"The distinctive hill that education must climb has to do with the long-term future of the ones creating the knowledge. On one hand, knowledge building needs to make students more knowledgeable and competent (that is the learning effect) while on the other hand providing them with a knowledge base and conceptual tools for further knowledge building"(Tan et al., 2014)

Creating culturally responsible knowledge can contribute to building a better society. Educators must incorporate real-life examples to teach authentic lessons and help students build skills of empathy, tolerance, and respect for others' cultures and knowledge. Building material based on research and supporting students to build critical thinking and values is fundamental. Understanding that every person is different and important can enhance the construction of knowledge and strategies to implement and teach it. 

Schools need to evaluate the way how only a group of students advance in their construction of knowledge while others from less advantaged communities continue the same path as previous generations. All students are gifted and talented; therefore, programs like this do not contribute to equal education for all children. Building knowledge should be equally accessible to all. 

Questions I Have...

"Knowledge equity is intersectional. It asks, whose knowledge do we consider valid and important? 

- Knowledge Equity Lab

In a society where the mainstream culture dominates, who has the power to select whose knowledge is important? The dominant culture? If the few ones with the power can define what information should be learned in Elementary school, what resources should Immersion schools have other than a translated curriculum from the dominant culture and an Ipad? There is a need to be more inclusive and allow different cultures and families to be a part of the school system rather than delegating the power to a few hands. 

References

Rivera, H., & Li, J. (2019). Hispanic Parents’ Involvement and Teachers’ Empowerment as Pathways to Hispanic English Learners’Academic Performance. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 41(2), 214-230.

 

Tan, Seng Chee; So, Hyo Jeong; & Yeo, Jennifer. (2014). Knowledge creation in education (Springer education innovation book series). Singapore: Springer.