RSS FEED - BLOG POST #1:

BLOG POST #1 – Week 7

“Creating More Compassionate Classrooms”

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/creating-more-compassionate-classrooms-joshua-block

“Caring about young people is a primary reason that adults choose to teach. Sadly, it can be very challenging to find ways of being a caring presence in the midst of jam-packed school days. If, as teachers, we plan strategically to increase compassion in our classrooms, more young people will grow up believing the important words of Walt Whitman in Song of Myself” (Block, 2013).

I really liked this article.  The above quote says it best, I think.  As educators, I think we all try to be as compassionate as possible, whenever possible.  Admittedly, some days this goal proves to be more difficult than others.  The nice thing about this article is that it helps by giving ideas to strategically plan and execute your classroom environment and procedure to ensure that a climate of compassion is created.

Reference:

Block, Joshua. “Creating More Compassionate Classrooms.” Edutopia. Gannet Digital. 4 Dec 2013. Web. 4 Dec 2013.

RSS FEED - BLOG POST #2:

BLOG POST #2 – Week 7

“Interactive Rubrics as Assessments for Learning”

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/interactive-rubrics-assessment-for-learning-michelle-lampinen

Interactive Rubics!  What a great idea! It is crazy to think that I have never thought of using technology, through the use of meaningful URL’s to help, to help students to understand the expectations of the rubrics we use in class more clearly.  I could see myself incorporating this idea into my rubrics in the very near future!

Reference:

Lampinen, Michelle. “Interactive Rubrics as Assessments for Learning.” Edutopia. Gannet Digital. 3 Dec 2013. Web. 4 Dec 2013.

            

ASSIGNED READING - BLOG POST #3:

BLOG POST #3 – Week 7

Reaction to Chapters 8: "Schools Can Effectively Cope with the Implementation of Instructional Technology in the Classroom"

With the ever-changing technological landscape, modern schools are facing increasing logistical issues, which can be overcome with understanding, planning, and anticipation.  According to Halveson and Collins, educators will have more luck with the teaching process is they remember three main guidelines, with regards to technology: 1.  Technology can help to customize the learning to what the learners want to learn, 2.  Computers interact with students instantly and give immediate feedback, and 3.  Technology gives the students the power to have more control over what is to be learned (2009).

“Computers are revolutionizing how we measure what people know” (Collins, 2009).  They can help educators and schools: measure performance on assessments, create and design new forms of curriculum, and provide new approach to the way students learn in the digital world.  In the academic world today, “… the pendulum of education policy is swinging away from local control toward standards and accountability… and practices that can paralyze risk taking.  Public schools will need to explore new practices in order to retain the interest of children and parents and to prepare a creative class that can meet the challenges of a global economy” (Collins, 2009).

Reference: 

Collins, A. & Halveson, R. (2009). Rethinking education in the age of technology: The digital revolution and schooling in America. New York: Teachers College Press.

ASSIGNED READING - BLOG POST #3:

BLOG POST #3 – Week 6

Reaction to Chapters 6: “The Social Web: Learning Together” (Twitter and Social Bookmarking).

It is pretty amazing when you think about how much the world has changed in just a few short years.  People are able to converse, communicate, and collaborate in ways that were unimaginable 20 years ago.

Todays students can use “The Social Web” to collaborate using tools like Twitter with computers and handheld devices as well.  It is pretty crazy when you think about how fast this communication takes place.  Whether it is for personal or professional use, no one can argue that it can be a very valuable tool.

Unfortunately, there are always going to be some negative aspects with emerging technology.  I have been witness to many students who have chosen to use many of these social medial tools to demean and demoralize others, for whatever reason.  The unfortunate thing is that many high school aged students don’t understand that once something has been posted, there is no taking it back.  There are too many ways to save that information.  As a result, cyber-bullying is becoming more and more of a problem in the school setting.  If I were to pinpoint one possible issue that I have with using twitter in school, this would be it.  Regrettable, there is little we can do about the things students post outside of school, but I do think that we need to tread lightly with this technology until we can find a way to figure this issue out. 

Nonetheless, I think Richardson said it best in his closing for this chapter when he stated, “…Regardless of how you do it, the idea that we can now use social networks to tap into the work of others to support our own learning is an important concept to understand.  It’s another example of how the collective contributions created by the Read/Write Web are changing the way we work and learn” (2010).

Reference: 

Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin.

ASSIGNED READING - BLOG POST #3:

BLOG POST #3 – Week 6

Reaction to Chapters 6: “The Social Web: Learning Together” (Twitter and Social Bookmarking).

It is pretty amazing when you think about how much the world has changed in just a few short years.  People are able to converse, communicate, and collaborate in ways that were unimaginable 20 years ago.

Todays students can use “The Social Web” to collaborate using tools like Twitter with computers and handheld devices as well.  It is pretty crazy when you think about how fast this communication takes place.  Whether it is for personal or professional use, no one can argue that it can be a very valuable tool.

Unfortunately, there are always going to be some negative aspects with emerging technology.  I have been witness to many students who have chosen to use many of these social medial tools to demean and demoralize others, for whatever reason.  The unfortunate thing is that many high school aged students don’t understand that once something has been posted, there is no taking it back.  There are too many ways to save that information.  As a result, cyber-bullying is becoming more and more of a problem in the school setting.  If I were to pinpoint one possible issue that I have with using twitter in school, this would be it.  Regrettable, there is little we can do about the things students post outside of school, but I do think that we need to tread lightly with this technology until we can find a way to figure this issue out. 

Nonetheless, I think Richardson said it best in his closing for this chapter when he stated, “…Regardless of how you do it, the idea that we can now use social networks to tap into the work of others to support our own learning is an important concept to understand.  It’s another example of how the collective contributions created by the Read/Write Web are changing the way we work and learn” (2010).

Reference: 

Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin.