Glogster
Symbaloo
Dropbox
Animoto
These are the screencasts that I viewed from my cool tools page. The tool I would most likely use is glogster. It is a fun and interactive way to keep students engaged in a powerpoint form discussion. You basically make a poster that displays the information you want to give your students. Also, with glogster, your students can make their own posters, which gives an alternative way for you to assess what information your students are coming away with in your class. It is simply another technique for your students to use the information you have given them in class.
I would also use symbaloo for giving links to my class for potential resources online. I want my students to be as independent as possible, and symbaloo would allow that because they can choose the link to the resource that works best for them. They can also create their own symbaloo accounts to keep track of different links that were useful to them.
I probably would use dropbox or animoto as much as glogster or symbaloo, but animoto offers another alternative to showing what students are learning.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Participating in a cooperative learning group to make CITW
CITW stands for cooperative instruction that works. I recently participated in a group to make a lesson plan that promoted cooperative learning and instruction that will work. We designed a science lesson where the students were put in groups to develop a class presentation about plants. My job was to design how the project would be cooperative. In the project, the students worked in cooperative groups where each student was given a role. They could help each other out, but mostly, these roles were individual. When everyone had their part done, they would come together to create an online presentation, using an online presentation site, and give the presentation together to the class to share their knowledge. Students in the group will learn from each other, and they will instruct the class to learn from them!
I will be able to use the concept of CITW in the future because I believe in cooperative learning. It is another alternative to simply lecturing. CITW is flipping the classroom with an aspect of student roles and responsibilities. I will simply be a resource to my students, but it is up to them to get the work finished. Everything about CITW is a learning experience.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17zuGub3kEq7NQdXxBxgHDR3mE0xx2oQRhXC4o-T4FyM/edit
I will be able to use the concept of CITW in the future because I believe in cooperative learning. It is another alternative to simply lecturing. CITW is flipping the classroom with an aspect of student roles and responsibilities. I will simply be a resource to my students, but it is up to them to get the work finished. Everything about CITW is a learning experience.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17zuGub3kEq7NQdXxBxgHDR3mE0xx2oQRhXC4o-T4FyM/edit
Monday, December 3, 2012
Chapter 7 Book Study
Page 106
Quote: "But the fear of society breaking apart is not nearly as great as it once was, and so the demand that public schools Americanize the diverse peoples in America has lost some of its force. Hence, we are willing to let different groups go their separate ways in private schools and homeschooling. In fact, the push for vouchers and charter schools is an effort to let parents take control of their children's education from the state."
There are several components to this quote: some I agree with, some I don't. I agree with the fact that schools aren't pushing everyone to adopt the American way of life. I believe fully in pluralism, and I welcome new cultures and traditions! I think it makes the classroom more colorful and unique, and it makes life more meaningful. However, I do NOT approve of private schools for just African-Americans or women. Women fought for the same rights as men for decades, and finally, those rights were granted, and they way we thank women for fighting for those rights is privatizing education, saying that men aren't allowed in this school? Or charter schools where you have to win the lottery in order to go there? This was not what Mann or Jefferson had in mind when it came to universal schools for common beliefs and knowledge. I don't believe we should all believe the same things, but I don't think separation is the right way to pursue schooling, especially since we've had a civil war over integration and women fighting for decades to do more with their life than just be a housewife. This is not the right way to thank all of the people that fought for a universal education. I do also believe, though, that parents should take some of the control over the government, but not when it comes to curricula or the standards. The professionals know what we need to learn; parents can choose how to let their child choose how they want to learn the material necessary for success.
Page 107
Quote: "There is also the potential decline of liberal arts as education becomes more centered on the individual. Will people seek out the kind of education that broadens them as people?"
I find this quote meaningful because I am worried that people won't get the education that will make them more of a well-rounded person. Charter schools are great for people who are sure of what they are going to do as a career. However, they miss out on the other part of schooling, such as gym, music, art, Spanish, etc. What if the only school offerred was a charter school? People won't be as open to diversity, we won't have music or art to listen to, and even though we may have more mathematicians and scientists, part of what makes the United States so unique is the diversity of likes and personalities. If students are surrounded by one thing their whole life, they won't grow as an individual and will be very close-minded.
Page 109
Quote: "Education will be directed more toward what people want to learn, and hence, they will be more excited and drawn to learning."
Individualizing learning will be great because students will have a motivation to learn. When students are forced to learn something they aren't good at (and aren't getting the right support for) or something they can't seem to find any interest in, there isn't a motivation to continue learning. I know this from experience. There have been classes I have skipped in college because I can't find them interesting enough to read the material or continue the class. The only motivation was getting a good grade, and we don't want our students going through 12+ years of school with that as their only motivation. Everything in school can't be everything we want to learn, but using technology and digital tools can bring a new interest into even the most boring subjects.
Quote: "But the fear of society breaking apart is not nearly as great as it once was, and so the demand that public schools Americanize the diverse peoples in America has lost some of its force. Hence, we are willing to let different groups go their separate ways in private schools and homeschooling. In fact, the push for vouchers and charter schools is an effort to let parents take control of their children's education from the state."
There are several components to this quote: some I agree with, some I don't. I agree with the fact that schools aren't pushing everyone to adopt the American way of life. I believe fully in pluralism, and I welcome new cultures and traditions! I think it makes the classroom more colorful and unique, and it makes life more meaningful. However, I do NOT approve of private schools for just African-Americans or women. Women fought for the same rights as men for decades, and finally, those rights were granted, and they way we thank women for fighting for those rights is privatizing education, saying that men aren't allowed in this school? Or charter schools where you have to win the lottery in order to go there? This was not what Mann or Jefferson had in mind when it came to universal schools for common beliefs and knowledge. I don't believe we should all believe the same things, but I don't think separation is the right way to pursue schooling, especially since we've had a civil war over integration and women fighting for decades to do more with their life than just be a housewife. This is not the right way to thank all of the people that fought for a universal education. I do also believe, though, that parents should take some of the control over the government, but not when it comes to curricula or the standards. The professionals know what we need to learn; parents can choose how to let their child choose how they want to learn the material necessary for success.
Page 107
Quote: "There is also the potential decline of liberal arts as education becomes more centered on the individual. Will people seek out the kind of education that broadens them as people?"
I find this quote meaningful because I am worried that people won't get the education that will make them more of a well-rounded person. Charter schools are great for people who are sure of what they are going to do as a career. However, they miss out on the other part of schooling, such as gym, music, art, Spanish, etc. What if the only school offerred was a charter school? People won't be as open to diversity, we won't have music or art to listen to, and even though we may have more mathematicians and scientists, part of what makes the United States so unique is the diversity of likes and personalities. If students are surrounded by one thing their whole life, they won't grow as an individual and will be very close-minded.
Page 109
Quote: "Education will be directed more toward what people want to learn, and hence, they will be more excited and drawn to learning."
Individualizing learning will be great because students will have a motivation to learn. When students are forced to learn something they aren't good at (and aren't getting the right support for) or something they can't seem to find any interest in, there isn't a motivation to continue learning. I know this from experience. There have been classes I have skipped in college because I can't find them interesting enough to read the material or continue the class. The only motivation was getting a good grade, and we don't want our students going through 12+ years of school with that as their only motivation. Everything in school can't be everything we want to learn, but using technology and digital tools can bring a new interest into even the most boring subjects.
Chapter 5 Book Study
Page 70
Quote: "Homeschooling goes against the spirit that moved Horace Mann and his colleagues to advocate universal schooling in order to integrate people from diverse cultures to share common knowledge and values."
I approve of homeschooling for certain people. However, students who are homeschooled do miss out on diversity. Unless their house has a mother from Germany, a father from Australia, a daughter from Honduras, and a brother from Russia, the student is deprived of natural diversity that occurs in schools all across the United States. There is also the pressure on the parents/guardians to provide a diverse culture to their child/student so that they can be prepared to have the same common knowledge and values, and not hit a huge culture shock when they enter out into the real world. However, I went to public school, and when I came to college, I was in a huge culture shock because I really wasn't introduced to much diversity. With that said, if homeschooling can provide a more diverse outlook on education, instead of a school where everyone is either black or white, and there are no differences, then homeschooling accomplishes was Mann and his colleagues were hoping for.
Page 71
Quote: "Workplace learning has been rapidly expanding over the last 25 years as companies and the public sector have realized they need to continually re-educate their workers to handle complex equipment and solve novel problems."
I found this quote meaningful because I agree with it. However, maybe this is just my teacher bias, but I have found that life is never-ending learning. So it is no surprise to me that companies have to reeducate their employees. They should be learning along with the changing of the times, similar to schools. However, I do sympathize on employees having to learn how to operate more complex equipment. For a teacher, or a factory employee, who went to school with books instead of tablets and iPads and now has to learn all of this technology, it is like going back to kindergarten and having to learn the basics all over again, just this time, it's in a foreign technological language.
Page 74
Quote: "The military has spent billions of dollars developing simulations that put learners into virtual worlds where they practice the skills they will need to carry out their jobs."
I have to laugh when I read this quote because the military spends billions of dollars for them to play games to prepare them for "real-life combat." Yet, our education system is so far behind. We're spending billions of dollars, too, but we're not preparing our students with the skills they will need to carry out their jobs in their futures. If we were, we would be spending money on technology, and following up on technology as it evolves so our students can evolve with it, too! Our military is one of the best of the world. Maybe we should take a hint from the military, and have our kids play games that will prepare them for their future jobs and careers. These games don't prepare them for being blown up; however, they know the technological skills necessary to not get blown up. Our students are still using only age-old computers and calculators, and schools are just starting to introduce the SMART Board; however, once they get out into the real-world, they are going to be blown away with the fact that they have to go back to school in order to learn the technology necessary for their careers.
Quote: "Homeschooling goes against the spirit that moved Horace Mann and his colleagues to advocate universal schooling in order to integrate people from diverse cultures to share common knowledge and values."
I approve of homeschooling for certain people. However, students who are homeschooled do miss out on diversity. Unless their house has a mother from Germany, a father from Australia, a daughter from Honduras, and a brother from Russia, the student is deprived of natural diversity that occurs in schools all across the United States. There is also the pressure on the parents/guardians to provide a diverse culture to their child/student so that they can be prepared to have the same common knowledge and values, and not hit a huge culture shock when they enter out into the real world. However, I went to public school, and when I came to college, I was in a huge culture shock because I really wasn't introduced to much diversity. With that said, if homeschooling can provide a more diverse outlook on education, instead of a school where everyone is either black or white, and there are no differences, then homeschooling accomplishes was Mann and his colleagues were hoping for.
Page 71
Quote: "Workplace learning has been rapidly expanding over the last 25 years as companies and the public sector have realized they need to continually re-educate their workers to handle complex equipment and solve novel problems."
I found this quote meaningful because I agree with it. However, maybe this is just my teacher bias, but I have found that life is never-ending learning. So it is no surprise to me that companies have to reeducate their employees. They should be learning along with the changing of the times, similar to schools. However, I do sympathize on employees having to learn how to operate more complex equipment. For a teacher, or a factory employee, who went to school with books instead of tablets and iPads and now has to learn all of this technology, it is like going back to kindergarten and having to learn the basics all over again, just this time, it's in a foreign technological language.
Page 74
Quote: "The military has spent billions of dollars developing simulations that put learners into virtual worlds where they practice the skills they will need to carry out their jobs."
I have to laugh when I read this quote because the military spends billions of dollars for them to play games to prepare them for "real-life combat." Yet, our education system is so far behind. We're spending billions of dollars, too, but we're not preparing our students with the skills they will need to carry out their jobs in their futures. If we were, we would be spending money on technology, and following up on technology as it evolves so our students can evolve with it, too! Our military is one of the best of the world. Maybe we should take a hint from the military, and have our kids play games that will prepare them for their future jobs and careers. These games don't prepare them for being blown up; however, they know the technological skills necessary to not get blown up. Our students are still using only age-old computers and calculators, and schools are just starting to introduce the SMART Board; however, once they get out into the real-world, they are going to be blown away with the fact that they have to go back to school in order to learn the technology necessary for their careers.
Chapter 4 Book Study
Page 52
Quote: "Taxpayers were reluctant to pay for education, and towns frequently reaffirmed parents' responsibility for educating their children. Yet, once schools were established, parents were quite willing to send their children to these schools, rather than teaching them at home."
I found this quote true. I see this in every day life. Parents love to send their children to school so they can either work or have the day to themselves. However, parents are also very touchy about the money they pay for teachers to spend a whole day with their child. With all of the politics going on about education, and teacher's losing their support from parents and the government, parents seem very willing to give up on education, but if they love sending their kids to school so much, then they need to be okay with the fact that without teachers, their child will spend the whole day with them instead. Their child's education will be up to them, regardless if the parents are working 40+ hour weeks. Some parents are great with homeschooling, but for a family where both parents work, there has to be a school available. Online schools and homeschooling aren't going to cut it and prepare the child for his or her successful future if the parents can't teach and a school isn't available. We need to invest in our schools.
Page 55
Quote: "This signals the shift that occurred in education, from a family responsibility to a state responsibility."
I found this quote meaningful because the shift did occur, from the family's responsibility for their children's education to the state/government. However, whether it was a beneficial shift is sketchy. There are several events that occurred because the government cared about education, such as education of women, of people of different races, and common standards. Unfortunately, there is a shift happening now where the government is trying to change up education so we can keep up with China's and Japan's education. Instead of helping education, however, this "help" to fix education in the United States is hurting teachers instead. There seems to be the idea that teachers don't work enough, and the idea that teachers are babysitters as well as the teachers. Before anything can be fixed in education, I think the state and government need to show the nation the importance of education and of teachers.
Page 56
Quote: "But as the system became more rigid, it ceased to evolve as the society around it continued to evolve, and so in recent years, it has become more and more out of sync with the demands of a continually evolving society."
This quote is completely true! We spent several decades perfecting schooling, making it more structured for the students, teachers, and parents. However, we seemed to forget that we were a growing nation, financially, technologically, and with our population/diversity. We never stopped growing, so it amazes me that the leaders of our great nation forgot to include this into education. We put so much emphasis on making sure everyone knew the importance of having an education, yet we didn't apply what was happening in the nation to our schools. It took several decades for African-Americans to be allowed into schools and to be integrated into our society, but there had been numerous racial issues dating way before the 1860s! It is like education is completely separate from the nation, yet such a big part of our nation at the same time. Even today, schools are just incorporating iPads into the classroom, but nationally, the Chromebook and Tablets such as the Nexus 7 are beginning to give the iPad a run for its money. Microsoft is still not available in some schools, but already, Microsoft is changing to keep up with the times! Education is a slower version of what happens in our society, kind of like the technology that is currently being used: slower versions of what was yesterday's new technology.
Quote: "Taxpayers were reluctant to pay for education, and towns frequently reaffirmed parents' responsibility for educating their children. Yet, once schools were established, parents were quite willing to send their children to these schools, rather than teaching them at home."
I found this quote true. I see this in every day life. Parents love to send their children to school so they can either work or have the day to themselves. However, parents are also very touchy about the money they pay for teachers to spend a whole day with their child. With all of the politics going on about education, and teacher's losing their support from parents and the government, parents seem very willing to give up on education, but if they love sending their kids to school so much, then they need to be okay with the fact that without teachers, their child will spend the whole day with them instead. Their child's education will be up to them, regardless if the parents are working 40+ hour weeks. Some parents are great with homeschooling, but for a family where both parents work, there has to be a school available. Online schools and homeschooling aren't going to cut it and prepare the child for his or her successful future if the parents can't teach and a school isn't available. We need to invest in our schools.
Page 55
Quote: "This signals the shift that occurred in education, from a family responsibility to a state responsibility."
I found this quote meaningful because the shift did occur, from the family's responsibility for their children's education to the state/government. However, whether it was a beneficial shift is sketchy. There are several events that occurred because the government cared about education, such as education of women, of people of different races, and common standards. Unfortunately, there is a shift happening now where the government is trying to change up education so we can keep up with China's and Japan's education. Instead of helping education, however, this "help" to fix education in the United States is hurting teachers instead. There seems to be the idea that teachers don't work enough, and the idea that teachers are babysitters as well as the teachers. Before anything can be fixed in education, I think the state and government need to show the nation the importance of education and of teachers.
Page 56
Quote: "But as the system became more rigid, it ceased to evolve as the society around it continued to evolve, and so in recent years, it has become more and more out of sync with the demands of a continually evolving society."
This quote is completely true! We spent several decades perfecting schooling, making it more structured for the students, teachers, and parents. However, we seemed to forget that we were a growing nation, financially, technologically, and with our population/diversity. We never stopped growing, so it amazes me that the leaders of our great nation forgot to include this into education. We put so much emphasis on making sure everyone knew the importance of having an education, yet we didn't apply what was happening in the nation to our schools. It took several decades for African-Americans to be allowed into schools and to be integrated into our society, but there had been numerous racial issues dating way before the 1860s! It is like education is completely separate from the nation, yet such a big part of our nation at the same time. Even today, schools are just incorporating iPads into the classroom, but nationally, the Chromebook and Tablets such as the Nexus 7 are beginning to give the iPad a run for its money. Microsoft is still not available in some schools, but already, Microsoft is changing to keep up with the times! Education is a slower version of what happens in our society, kind of like the technology that is currently being used: slower versions of what was yesterday's new technology.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Chapter 3 Book Study
Page 33
Quote: "Blackboards and overhead projectors provide cheap ways to support teacher explanations and sharing work."
I chose this quote because even though I agree with the cost factor, blackboards and overhead projectors don't support explanations/sharing work enough anymore. Students are so involved with technology that to read a blackboard is asking a caffeine addict to not drink coffee for a whole day. Students either can't be focused enough on a simple blackboard and won't be able to learn the information and learning techniques necessary for future employment. If students are really supposed to go to school to prepare themselves for their future careers, then we as teachers need to keep up with the times. I know for myself that I wouldn't be able to learn the information I am learning now with SMART Boards (Interactive Whiteboard), practicum (first-hand experience), podcasts, screencasts, and online resources using a blackboard instead.
Page 44
Quote: "Schooling is built on the notion that the teacher is an expert, whose job is to pass on his or her expertise to students."
I believe this is true, and I also believe that this needs to stay the focus in education, not necessarily the whole focus, however. I want students to grow for themselves and be able to find information on their how, but when a teacher's reliability is tested for a piece of objective technology, students won't run to the teacher for help. They'll take the easier route, even if they lose the interaction and discussion. If schools are going to take a charter school route and focus on one subject, though, I think there may be a chance for more jobs. We need teachers to teach specifics, like art, music, technology, mechanics, etc. Bring in the experts, create jobs, and allow students to learn what they want, while learning things that will help them succeed at the same time.
Page 45
Quote: "There is a deep belief among teachers and parents that to truly learn something, it is critical to do it on your own without any reliance on outside resources."
I believe this quote to an extent. If you dp something for a child before they have the chance to learn it for themselves, you take away the opportunity for them to grow. Students need a chance to do things for themselves, but not everything. There are things that students are not mentally or emotionally prepared for to do on their own. This is where teachers, parents, and guidance comes into play. To truly learn something, you need scaffolding until you no longer need that assistance and can learn further on your own (ZPD). You can't simply eliminate teachers. Even if school becomes all online, there will always be the need for teachers; that's been proven since before the United States became what it is today.
Quote: "Blackboards and overhead projectors provide cheap ways to support teacher explanations and sharing work."
I chose this quote because even though I agree with the cost factor, blackboards and overhead projectors don't support explanations/sharing work enough anymore. Students are so involved with technology that to read a blackboard is asking a caffeine addict to not drink coffee for a whole day. Students either can't be focused enough on a simple blackboard and won't be able to learn the information and learning techniques necessary for future employment. If students are really supposed to go to school to prepare themselves for their future careers, then we as teachers need to keep up with the times. I know for myself that I wouldn't be able to learn the information I am learning now with SMART Boards (Interactive Whiteboard), practicum (first-hand experience), podcasts, screencasts, and online resources using a blackboard instead.
Page 44
Quote: "Schooling is built on the notion that the teacher is an expert, whose job is to pass on his or her expertise to students."
I believe this is true, and I also believe that this needs to stay the focus in education, not necessarily the whole focus, however. I want students to grow for themselves and be able to find information on their how, but when a teacher's reliability is tested for a piece of objective technology, students won't run to the teacher for help. They'll take the easier route, even if they lose the interaction and discussion. If schools are going to take a charter school route and focus on one subject, though, I think there may be a chance for more jobs. We need teachers to teach specifics, like art, music, technology, mechanics, etc. Bring in the experts, create jobs, and allow students to learn what they want, while learning things that will help them succeed at the same time.
Page 45
Quote: "There is a deep belief among teachers and parents that to truly learn something, it is critical to do it on your own without any reliance on outside resources."
I believe this quote to an extent. If you dp something for a child before they have the chance to learn it for themselves, you take away the opportunity for them to grow. Students need a chance to do things for themselves, but not everything. There are things that students are not mentally or emotionally prepared for to do on their own. This is where teachers, parents, and guidance comes into play. To truly learn something, you need scaffolding until you no longer need that assistance and can learn further on your own (ZPD). You can't simply eliminate teachers. Even if school becomes all online, there will always be the need for teachers; that's been proven since before the United States became what it is today.
Chapter 2 Book Study
Page 10
Quote: "Enthusiasts argue that trying to prepare students for the 21st century with 19th century technology is like teaching people to fly a rocket ship by having them ride bicycles."
I find this quote meaningful because we live in the 21st century. What this means is that every day, we are using cellphones, smartphones, laptops, iPads, computers, televisions, smart televisions, etc. With all of this technology that is advancing the workplace, we need to use technology to teach our students in order for them to be prepared with what will be their future. If we teach only using box computers and calculators but not using any of the tools online, or not using SMART Boards and instead using blackboards, our students are not going to become as knowledgeable as they need to be. Not only will we be teaching the standard material, but we also need to teach the standards, meaning that students will learn how to be resourceful, organized, and creative and critical thinkers. New technology is the only way for students to be able to master these standards. Blackboards and chalk aren't going to cut it.
Page 14
Quote: "Enthusiasts argue for just-in-time learning as the counter to the school strategy of trying to teach everything one might need to know someday. Many Americans spend 15-20 years in school learning things that they may or may not use later in life."
I find this quote meaningful because I felt that way in school, too. I would learn pre-calculus, but what would I use that knowledge for? I still haven't found a use for it. Just-in-time learning will prepare our students to be able to find the resources necessary to find the information just in time. What is happening in schools right now is just-in-case learning. We learn all this information just in case we need it later in life. However, most students forget what they learned, or have a hard time remembering the full details. With just-in-time learning, schools can focus on specifics instead of trying to cover great detail in such a little time. Schools can focus on helping students be resourceful, like the standard.
Page 17
Quote: "Once technologies become commonplace in schools, teachers can build on interventions like the IEP to bring customized learning to more schools."
I chose this quote because this book, I feel, has it wrong. The IEP already takes into consideration technology. In several practicums, the students in special education use iPads, voice/hearing tools, sight tools, etc. Understanding more technology will help find more ways to customize learning. Instead of focusing on special education, which is more advanced than the general education classroom, focus on how customizing education for every student will be helpful or detrimental. Technology will help students that are in Tier 2, however, because these students don't need special education services yet, but technology may help them get to Tier 1 faster and more efficiently.
Quote: "Enthusiasts argue that trying to prepare students for the 21st century with 19th century technology is like teaching people to fly a rocket ship by having them ride bicycles."
I find this quote meaningful because we live in the 21st century. What this means is that every day, we are using cellphones, smartphones, laptops, iPads, computers, televisions, smart televisions, etc. With all of this technology that is advancing the workplace, we need to use technology to teach our students in order for them to be prepared with what will be their future. If we teach only using box computers and calculators but not using any of the tools online, or not using SMART Boards and instead using blackboards, our students are not going to become as knowledgeable as they need to be. Not only will we be teaching the standard material, but we also need to teach the standards, meaning that students will learn how to be resourceful, organized, and creative and critical thinkers. New technology is the only way for students to be able to master these standards. Blackboards and chalk aren't going to cut it.
Page 14
Quote: "Enthusiasts argue for just-in-time learning as the counter to the school strategy of trying to teach everything one might need to know someday. Many Americans spend 15-20 years in school learning things that they may or may not use later in life."
I find this quote meaningful because I felt that way in school, too. I would learn pre-calculus, but what would I use that knowledge for? I still haven't found a use for it. Just-in-time learning will prepare our students to be able to find the resources necessary to find the information just in time. What is happening in schools right now is just-in-case learning. We learn all this information just in case we need it later in life. However, most students forget what they learned, or have a hard time remembering the full details. With just-in-time learning, schools can focus on specifics instead of trying to cover great detail in such a little time. Schools can focus on helping students be resourceful, like the standard.
Page 17
Quote: "Once technologies become commonplace in schools, teachers can build on interventions like the IEP to bring customized learning to more schools."
I chose this quote because this book, I feel, has it wrong. The IEP already takes into consideration technology. In several practicums, the students in special education use iPads, voice/hearing tools, sight tools, etc. Understanding more technology will help find more ways to customize learning. Instead of focusing on special education, which is more advanced than the general education classroom, focus on how customizing education for every student will be helpful or detrimental. Technology will help students that are in Tier 2, however, because these students don't need special education services yet, but technology may help them get to Tier 1 faster and more efficiently.
Chapter 1 Book Study
Page 3
Quote: "People around the world are taking their education out of school into homes, libraries, internet cafes, and workplaces, where they can decide what they want to learn, when they want to learn, and how they want to learn."
I find this quote meaningful because this is exactly what we, as preservice teachers, are entering into as teachers, as well as what we are going through. Schools aren't completely to the point where students are deciding what and when they learn. However, we are getting closer to students choosing how they want to learn. This can be really beneficial for students because teachers can get a more accurate assessment of what the students are learning, as well as the students actually learning. The book also discusses the fact that students will soon be able to chose what they want to learn. This is happening with homeschools, charter schools, etc. Every day, young students, older students, and adults not in school anymore are learning more and more, and it isn't in a school. It's on the internet. We need to prepare ourselves for more of this, and learn ways to make sure that it stays beneficial, because if technology is really going to replace schools, then we as teachers need to make sure the students are getting an appropriate education, whatever that might be.
Page 6
Quote: "Technology makes life more difficult for teachers."
This is a simple quote, but it sums up everything that I am feeling right now as a preservice teacher. To a student who has a question about a topic, the student can either wait for the teacher to give an answer that he or she may not be sure about, or go online to find the answer, which is more likely going to be for sure correct. This diminishes a teacher's reliability to his or her students. Technology is great for teaching, however, because it offers so many resources that can fit each student's individual learning style. This can have negative effects, though, because a teacher who went to school years ago will have to learn each new tool and not know its full range of benefits or dangers. Also, because technology isn't fully supported academically or financially, a teacher that wants to include more technology in the classroom is left out all alone to support it.
Page 7
Quote: "In particular, the new technologies can undermine both Jefferson's vision of educating citizens who can make sensible public policy decisions and Mann's vision of a society where everyone can succeed by obtaining a public education."
Without schools and structure of a school day (and all that a school day can offer), people will be left on their own to learn. With homeschools, the parents can become qualified to teach. However, it is not a requirement that they do. With online learning, there is an online professor. Most of the work is left up to the student, which is great for learning responsibility and time-management. Unfortunately, online learning is only available to people who have specific interests, or for students who aren't able to attend a school for physical, mental, or behavioral/emotional issue. The other issue with no school is that people will be able to learn what they want to learn. The bad thing about this is that people aren't going to be prepared for if their career path doesn't work out for them. Also, they have to make sure they get the basic knowledge necessary for every day life, like math and science. Schools provide this for us so we do have a chance for success in life.
Quote: "People around the world are taking their education out of school into homes, libraries, internet cafes, and workplaces, where they can decide what they want to learn, when they want to learn, and how they want to learn."
I find this quote meaningful because this is exactly what we, as preservice teachers, are entering into as teachers, as well as what we are going through. Schools aren't completely to the point where students are deciding what and when they learn. However, we are getting closer to students choosing how they want to learn. This can be really beneficial for students because teachers can get a more accurate assessment of what the students are learning, as well as the students actually learning. The book also discusses the fact that students will soon be able to chose what they want to learn. This is happening with homeschools, charter schools, etc. Every day, young students, older students, and adults not in school anymore are learning more and more, and it isn't in a school. It's on the internet. We need to prepare ourselves for more of this, and learn ways to make sure that it stays beneficial, because if technology is really going to replace schools, then we as teachers need to make sure the students are getting an appropriate education, whatever that might be.
Page 6
Quote: "Technology makes life more difficult for teachers."
This is a simple quote, but it sums up everything that I am feeling right now as a preservice teacher. To a student who has a question about a topic, the student can either wait for the teacher to give an answer that he or she may not be sure about, or go online to find the answer, which is more likely going to be for sure correct. This diminishes a teacher's reliability to his or her students. Technology is great for teaching, however, because it offers so many resources that can fit each student's individual learning style. This can have negative effects, though, because a teacher who went to school years ago will have to learn each new tool and not know its full range of benefits or dangers. Also, because technology isn't fully supported academically or financially, a teacher that wants to include more technology in the classroom is left out all alone to support it.
Page 7
Quote: "In particular, the new technologies can undermine both Jefferson's vision of educating citizens who can make sensible public policy decisions and Mann's vision of a society where everyone can succeed by obtaining a public education."
Without schools and structure of a school day (and all that a school day can offer), people will be left on their own to learn. With homeschools, the parents can become qualified to teach. However, it is not a requirement that they do. With online learning, there is an online professor. Most of the work is left up to the student, which is great for learning responsibility and time-management. Unfortunately, online learning is only available to people who have specific interests, or for students who aren't able to attend a school for physical, mental, or behavioral/emotional issue. The other issue with no school is that people will be able to learn what they want to learn. The bad thing about this is that people aren't going to be prepared for if their career path doesn't work out for them. Also, they have to make sure they get the basic knowledge necessary for every day life, like math and science. Schools provide this for us so we do have a chance for success in life.
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