Martin Rayala, Ph.D.

Chief Academic Officer for Design-Lab Schools. Media and Design Education Curriculum Developer, K-12 Schools

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@iteachspystuff @JustinAion I put “teaching to the test” in quotes that indicate NOT actually teaching to the test. The “test” proposed (note the quotes to indicate it is NOT actually a test) consists of a written statement, a journal, a portfolio, and a presentation about a student’s personal project.

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@JustinAion Justin, I apologize for my clumsy remark that prompted your colleagues to rally to your support. Their response indicates that you are indeed an excellent teacher. While we don’t believe in standardized tests, we do need alternatives to demonstrate that learning is taking place.

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@Sneffleupagus @JustinAion I don’t. That’s the whole point. What alternatives to standardized tests can we provide to demonstrate that learning has taken place?

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@Sneffleupagus @JustinAion Yes, I understand that from the responses. I’m in agreement that we shouldn’t teach to the test. That’s why the phrase is in quotes. The question remains, how do teachers, students, parents, employers, universities, etc. get a glimpse into what students know and are able to do?

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@JustinAion Sorry, I thought you were a teacher. My mistake.

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@CatW54149243 @donwinslow It is not so much about what you “firmly believe” as it is about what is true. More people open carrying guns does not reduce gun violence. The “belief” that it does is demonstrably false and logically untenable.

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@PhilLaRoche914 @SeeingThru @donwinslow Yeah, that’s the general idea. We are evolving as a species to the point where we no longer settle disputes with shootouts in saloons. Fifty years ago most people still revered the Wild West and The Godfather mentality of law and order, but people have moved on. Move on.

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@joshreynoldson @mememe366 @CommentOnTWLB Our system of laws uses states as incubators to test ideas. Each state develops their own versions and provide data to help determine the efficacy of an idea. Some states have vast expanses with populations smaller than some cities so conditions often aren’t comparable.

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@joshreynoldson @mememe366 @CommentOnTWLB I am licensed to carry a gun and to drive a car. If I exercise either of those rights inside a store, I should expect those rights to be taken away from me.

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@twitch_______ @CommentOnTWLB Do you really want to stick with that foolish line of thinking? Think it through. An assault rifle is a tool for what? Why would a person carry such a tool into a public place?

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@becksycan @CommentOnTWLB Your point is well taken, particularly if your state doesn’t prohibit openly carrying assault rifles in public places. Call the police first. Just like in the case of a bank robbery, your best course of action is to give them the money and then report the incident.

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@Billythecabbie @CommentOnTWLB Your inability to foresee the illogic of your line of thinking is embarrassing. The extension of your argument is that by more people carrying guns the number of deaths by gunshot will be reduced. Do you really want to be remembered as a person who actually said that in writing?

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@MsTerryMcMillan In a big box store, my friend asked a woman in a burka with just her eyes showing if she was so-and-so’s daughter. The woman was startled and said “Yes, how did you know?” My friend, who had never bet the woman, said, “Your mother showed me a photo and I recognized your eyes.”

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@teachergoals We are developing viable alternatives to standardized curriculum, instruction, assessment and educational management. Our alternative assessment validly and reliably measures 16 factors around communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration. https://t.co/TwQIgMSA1k

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@SteeleThoughts Today there are three major purposes for education. (1) draw wisdom from the past; (2) live with joy and purposefulness in the present; (3) imagine, design and create a better future.

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@Leah_Zaidi @stanforddschool @lisakaysolomon @arielefant Great work! At Ensō Education Institute we do a combination of alternatives to (1) gaining knowledge, experience and good judgment from the past; (2) living mindfully with peace and fulfillment in the present; and (3) developing design thinking skills to create the future.

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@VFleischfresser @SteeleThoughts The Arts ask the question “How am I unique?” Science asks “Why are things the way they are?” Design asks “What if things were different?”
All are questions expressing curiosity.

[Martin Rayala, Ph.D. @MartinRayala]

@SteeleThoughts How to encourage curiosity is a great question. The current system actively discourages curiosity. The number of questions children ask declines as soon as they start school. They are admonished to stick to the topic and told their questions belong in a different class or year.