When we had our virtual meeting on the 22nd, it became clear from the content discussed, that as much as we believe we are moving along with the times, we in fact are not. I know that sounds harsh. We are moving in the right direction, having a beginning point and such, but we may not be moving fast enough. If Regina is not using filtering systems for their computers, and all teachers have a laptop, then we need to start moving faster to catch up with the times.
Sometimes I ponder how nice it would be to not have content filters. Just teach the students responsibility and awareness. It sounds so simple, as though teaching students responsibility, Internet smarts and using common sense (ie. not giving out your address, etc.) is an easy task! Are we not supposed to be doing this anyway??? As our job as teachers gets more detailed, and the list gets longer and longer, why not add Internet smarts to our teaching responsibilities. If we are going to be implementing more Internet use, and more computer program use, then why not teach this in addition to the above mentioned? I think it only makes sense! Yes it is more work, yes it is not cut and dry, but if it is not going to be taught anywhere else, and the students will need this Internet/computer knowledge, then is it not our job to teach it along side our curriculum? We do this with so many other subject areas, and information processing is getting left in the dust, so we need to step up to the plate and start being more responsible ourselves as educators and actually educate our students about things that directly affect them, no matter who they are, and what they want to do with their lives.
Ok. On the other hand, being the devil's advocate, do most students already know these things? Is it really our job? Shouldn't some of these skills be taught at home? How can we implement this soon -with the least amount of resistance? What parameters are we going to have to put up? Are schools going to have to edit their school policies to reflect the open Internet use? Who and how will this be monitored in the classroom when there are so many other issues we have to deal with! What happens when a student looks up inappropriate material during class but the teacher does not catch it? Will parents be in an uproar?
Lots of questions. Few answers. Discussions SHOULD be held. These issues need to be addressed, because even if we do not move towards this wave of the future, many of these questions raised already do affect school Internet use. Students know how to get around content filters, so these questions still apply. Why do we have content filters if they know how to get around them?? UGH! :-)
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Are we holding ourselves back from inevitable change?
An older post I had made about a you tube video that was about allowing technology to be used more often in the classroom has been brought to my attention again. I agree with my many of the comments made and really appreciate people taking the time to make an account, and make comments on my work.
Technology in the classroom that will always be met with skepticism and wariness. It is understandable but on another hand, how will we ever know how much of an influence we will have on a growing society if we do not allow opportunities to happen? I agree with needing a foundation of the basics - a chance to see, do and learn how we used to do things. I make sure that my drafting students learn mechanical drafting before moving onto computer-aided drafting. If they do not have the foundational skills, know the tools, the reason why we use certain tools, etc. then how will they know when they moved to more advanced technologies? It IS important for people to know the practical uses, the sometimes "old school" ways before. But I do not think it is good to be stuck in the "old school" ways. If that happens, then we are spinning our wheels, not encouraging our students to try new things, not allowing them the opportunities they will obviously need once they graduate. I do not want to sound like a broken record but we really do need to give more types and kinds of technology a chance.
How will we know if we are giving our students our best, and allowing them to experience the best opportunities possible if we are holding ourselves back from the change around us?
Technology in the classroom that will always be met with skepticism and wariness. It is understandable but on another hand, how will we ever know how much of an influence we will have on a growing society if we do not allow opportunities to happen? I agree with needing a foundation of the basics - a chance to see, do and learn how we used to do things. I make sure that my drafting students learn mechanical drafting before moving onto computer-aided drafting. If they do not have the foundational skills, know the tools, the reason why we use certain tools, etc. then how will they know when they moved to more advanced technologies? It IS important for people to know the practical uses, the sometimes "old school" ways before. But I do not think it is good to be stuck in the "old school" ways. If that happens, then we are spinning our wheels, not encouraging our students to try new things, not allowing them the opportunities they will obviously need once they graduate. I do not want to sound like a broken record but we really do need to give more types and kinds of technology a chance.
How will we know if we are giving our students our best, and allowing them to experience the best opportunities possible if we are holding ourselves back from the change around us?
The Return to School
After a well needed break, we have returned to find the same things that never change. Students are still as excited as ever to be back and working hard. The push we need to give students before midterms is still a struggle, trying to get it all fit in before exams with enough time to review, and getting final projects done before switching terms is a lovely task. Not to group all students together because some students do not need a push, no, some students actually do not mind doing some hard work. But it is the others that we struggle with, and those are likely the ones that need the most help and attention, whether they know it or not.
So our job never gets easier, we just learn to cope better and learn tricks to get it all done. We are multi-taskers! All teachers, EA's, and support staff working in a school system!!! Look at all the things we need to do!
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO:
- Facilitators
- Guides
- Emotional Support
- Guidance Councillors
- Learning Ability Specialists
- Prepare Lectures
- Prepare Activities
- Grade exams and papers
- Hold parent/teacher, parent/teacher/student conferences
- Lead, coach, co-coach, watch, participate in extra-curricular events and activities
- Mentor
- Challenge, inspire, motivate, and encourage students
- Support and guide future leaders
- Make a difference in an individual's life
- Feel pride in your own and as well as your students’ accomplishments
- Obtain more knowledge
- Lecture on material that interests you as well as material that may not interest you
and the list goes on....
So when you get bogged down with marking, prep, and/or any other of the many things we do, just remember these few inspirational quotes:
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."
~Henry Adams
"Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths pure theatre."
~Gail Godwin
"A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others."
~Unknown
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
"re-inventing the wheel"
I know that NOT re-inventing the wheel is easy, convenient and fast but it can also be good to start from scratch. I am learning this in teaching these computer courses this year. I know that I have lots of available resources and for the most part I am using them to the fullest extent, but I am also very much aware of the fact that for me to learn - even if it's along with the students - that I need to start from scratch and be my own teacher first. I need to do this in order to troubleshoot, and understand my own students frustrations. Any of the new programs (for me) that I am teaching come with a whole set of issues and confusions that I am well aware that I must encounter first on my own before setting foot inside my classroom to teach it. Many times people come unprepared to face challenges but I have been trying to meet mine with a bag-full of knowledge and experience. This is not to say that since I do re-invent the wheel, that I think it is a bad thing if you do not re-invent the wheel.
For example, take a web-based resource such as central-i-school; a wonderful resource that has many valuable, easy to use and incorporate lesson and unit plans that are ready for use at the click of a mouse. I use it, and I know many other teachers that use it. This is not to say that we cannot make our own lessons and units for our subjects/classes, but that not re-inventing the wheel can be a beneficial learning tool for you and your students. If you allow the chance to have more ideas for lessons that can incorporate different learning strategies, instructional strategies, vocabulary, etc. then you are enriching the students experience. No one can believe that their way is the best and only way to reach the students - because we know from reading various books and articles that students do learn better when it is varied, not always the same year to year, unit to unit and lesson to lesson. Allowing others ideas to be utilized is not a weakness but an inner strength to say 'I do not know it all, and I am willing to recieve the help to make my students learn and succeed more'.
I encourage you all to try new ideas, whether it be your own, a colleagues, a parents, a students or any other way you may recieve this idea. This is what being a life-long learner is all about!
For example, take a web-based resource such as central-i-school; a wonderful resource that has many valuable, easy to use and incorporate lesson and unit plans that are ready for use at the click of a mouse. I use it, and I know many other teachers that use it. This is not to say that we cannot make our own lessons and units for our subjects/classes, but that not re-inventing the wheel can be a beneficial learning tool for you and your students. If you allow the chance to have more ideas for lessons that can incorporate different learning strategies, instructional strategies, vocabulary, etc. then you are enriching the students experience. No one can believe that their way is the best and only way to reach the students - because we know from reading various books and articles that students do learn better when it is varied, not always the same year to year, unit to unit and lesson to lesson. Allowing others ideas to be utilized is not a weakness but an inner strength to say 'I do not know it all, and I am willing to recieve the help to make my students learn and succeed more'.
I encourage you all to try new ideas, whether it be your own, a colleagues, a parents, a students or any other way you may recieve this idea. This is what being a life-long learner is all about!
Monday, December 03, 2007
more YouTube
Check out this Youtube video
It is about a teacher out in Newfoundland and Labrador who is teaching a music class over the internet. an "e-class". VERY COOL! watch it and see what he does, what he thinks of it and why he thinks it should be done.....
E-Teaching
It is about a teacher out in Newfoundland and Labrador who is teaching a music class over the internet. an "e-class". VERY COOL! watch it and see what he does, what he thinks of it and why he thinks it should be done.....
E-Teaching
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