Cultural Tasks Essay Example for Free

Cultural Tasks Essay The main idea of postmodernism is that individuals from different cultures have diversified values, beliefs, interests and perspectives, which are not the result of natural human nature, but have been formed by human history and culture. Since at a particular time knowledge is socially constructed in different ways, it changes through time from one context to another. As a result, there is no universal truth about anything; it should rather be perceived as multiple truths about different issues and concepts, which are unique and applicable for particular situations and cultures. The current chapter discusses the principles of postmodernism as applied to educational changes offered by modern grand schemes and programs. According to postmodernists, the best way to achieve changes is to combine collaborative and individual efforts. Though, since changes are usually unpredictable, there is no guarantee whether those efforts and actions can lead to real success and progress. Moreover the perception of the progress differs among nations and cultures: while one culture can consider change as positive leading to progress, the other might consider such change as negative or undesired. If to apply postmodernism ideas toward the educational programs and changes they can bring, it is possible to state that there is little guarantee that contemporary grand schemes and programs such as No Child Left Behind can bring positive change to schools and educational changes. On the contrary, the changes within the school premises are usually caused and influenced by the local context, which might include the school culture, the environment of the community the school is located and other aspects. To determine what can bring educational change might require certain research by gathering and analyzing the related information. Since self-study, according to postmodernism, is socially constructed knowledge, it cannot be applied without the external data of multiple values and experiences. Nowadays many schools try to implement uniformity in cloths, lectures, teaching methods, attitude to students, etc. From one side, it is a good way of making all students feel as they all have equal chances to learn and show their knowledge. However, according to postmodernists, such uniformity might suppress the personality and opportunities of some more progressive students. That is why, it is very important to identify what should be the same in the schools and what should be different. To ensure positive and effective changes in schools it is important to organize the combined work between school members by applying innovative and latest teaching methods in order to change teaching and learning for all the students. Change in the school teaching methods can be achieved if every teacher realizes the importance of personal professional learning, the results of which can mature the learning process of the students. It is not mandatory that such learning should be professional and obtained from some learning center or university. It can start from everyday desire to learn something new and apply this new knowledge into the teaching process. Moreover, every teacher should try to understand each students way of perceiving information, recognize and respect diversity among students and apply the teaching methods, which will be the most effective for all the students in the classroom. Finally, collaborative learning stimulates deep thinking about teaching and learning while ensuring that the students are prepared to be active participants in a global world. There can be large number of different educational programs, teaching styles, and advices, but the most important thing is to realize and understand the individual nature of each student and his/her demands in the education. Friendly, trustful and respectful teachers/students relationships are the most important factor in the teaching process. Works Cited: Part 6: Cultural Tasks of Supervision, pp. 414-456.