Today is the last day of class. EDU 653 has come to an end and I have learned so much about using technology in the classroom, I don’t know where to begin to start. Working with my classmates to complete our Class Wiki Discussion Topics assignment had been a very interesting experience. I used to think that social interaction when using educational technology was limited, I no longer believe that. I have learned more from my classmates in the cohort than sitting in any classroom. I am excited about taking more classes in the New Year and adding to this learning experience. To all of my classmates, enjoy your holiday and hope you all have prosperous New Year.
Until then,
Michelle Dawson Francois signing out.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
More Cuts on the Way
In response to: Deal Says More Education Spending Cuts Likely in Ga. by Associated Press/ Published December 8, 2010
I don’t teach for the money. I knew when I started I would never financially be rich, but I’m rich when my students reach new heights. However, if I wanted to be a volunteer I would go to the Red Cross.
Education seems to be SOOOO important but it gets more cuts that cutting board at Olive Garden. I don’t know how this makes sense. If we want to keep our highly-effective teachers we have to pay them. We’re not asking for thousands of dollars because we realize that it’s not going to happen but one expects me to come to work, be successful, educate students, be mom, dad, counselor, friend, mentor and so much more than I have to know that I can take care of my own well-being and that of my family. That cannot happen if education continues to take cuts. Many effective teachers will be lost because we continue to raise expectations, increasing paperwork, duties and responsibilities and yet decrease pay.
I mentioned in an earlier post that parents should start to pay for public schooling, I starting to think it may happen if we continue to cut like we do. Either that or we will be back to one room schools with one teacher educating 30 students on completely different levels. The fundamentals are what Deal wants than that is what he will achieve, if we continue to cut.
I don’t teach for the money. I knew when I started I would never financially be rich, but I’m rich when my students reach new heights. However, if I wanted to be a volunteer I would go to the Red Cross.
Education seems to be SOOOO important but it gets more cuts that cutting board at Olive Garden. I don’t know how this makes sense. If we want to keep our highly-effective teachers we have to pay them. We’re not asking for thousands of dollars because we realize that it’s not going to happen but one expects me to come to work, be successful, educate students, be mom, dad, counselor, friend, mentor and so much more than I have to know that I can take care of my own well-being and that of my family. That cannot happen if education continues to take cuts. Many effective teachers will be lost because we continue to raise expectations, increasing paperwork, duties and responsibilities and yet decrease pay.
I mentioned in an earlier post that parents should start to pay for public schooling, I starting to think it may happen if we continue to cut like we do. Either that or we will be back to one room schools with one teacher educating 30 students on completely different levels. The fundamentals are what Deal wants than that is what he will achieve, if we continue to cut.
Video Cameras in the Classroom
In response to: Teacher Ratings Get New Look, Pushed by a Rich Watcher By Sam Dillion. The New York Times: Published: December 3, 2010
Bill Gates wants to spend $335 million dollars to help out America’s education system in several large school districts. The article states “The effort will have enormous consequences for the movement to hold schools and educators more accountable for student achievement.” For the record: Teachers CAN’T teach student everything they need to know if parents are taking responsibility in their child’s academic success. So instead of spending the money on new technology and ways to get people who want to educate out off the classroom, we should be looking at ways to educate parents so they can help their child(ren). We need a system that holds parent’s accountable.
The article also stated that one ways Gates would like to check teacher’s performance is through using video cameras in the classroom. To me cameras in the classroom show a lack of trust of the educator facilitating. As an administrator it is their job to come in the classroom and observe. If you simply say it would save time that would go against what we stand for.
Having cameras in the classroom would also says that I’m not competent enough to be an educator. Despite the fact that I went to school, got my degree and have been doing it for X amount of years. I would feel totally belittled if asked to put a camera in my classroom to make sure I’m teaching.
Data drives instructions. It speaks for itself and it never lies… (At least that what some experts would like you to believe) However, if that is so, than the fact that my students are showing gains should be enough to prove I am doing my job effectively.
Another point is: Who would want to be watched on their job all day long. I know there are some companies that have to due to high levels of security, however it you didn’t trust me to do my job, why did you hire me? Bosses shouldn’t have to worry about employees doing their job correctly, no matter what their profession. We should expect all employees to complete the task at hand without micromanaging and my job is to educate. Which is what I do every day I step foot in the school house.
Lastly, One can say an educator doesn’t want cameras in their room because they don’t want administrators seeing what’s actually going on, but the truth of the matter is that if camera are put in the classrooms someone will then have to take in consideration the behavior and social/emotional issues that disrupt learning and all the classroom management in the world can’t fix. More issues would arise if video camera were in the classroom, whether for a day or a whole school year; issues that would conflict with educators, administrators and politicians.
Bill Gates wants to spend $335 million dollars to help out America’s education system in several large school districts. The article states “The effort will have enormous consequences for the movement to hold schools and educators more accountable for student achievement.” For the record: Teachers CAN’T teach student everything they need to know if parents are taking responsibility in their child’s academic success. So instead of spending the money on new technology and ways to get people who want to educate out off the classroom, we should be looking at ways to educate parents so they can help their child(ren). We need a system that holds parent’s accountable.
The article also stated that one ways Gates would like to check teacher’s performance is through using video cameras in the classroom. To me cameras in the classroom show a lack of trust of the educator facilitating. As an administrator it is their job to come in the classroom and observe. If you simply say it would save time that would go against what we stand for.
Having cameras in the classroom would also says that I’m not competent enough to be an educator. Despite the fact that I went to school, got my degree and have been doing it for X amount of years. I would feel totally belittled if asked to put a camera in my classroom to make sure I’m teaching.
Data drives instructions. It speaks for itself and it never lies… (At least that what some experts would like you to believe) However, if that is so, than the fact that my students are showing gains should be enough to prove I am doing my job effectively.
Another point is: Who would want to be watched on their job all day long. I know there are some companies that have to due to high levels of security, however it you didn’t trust me to do my job, why did you hire me? Bosses shouldn’t have to worry about employees doing their job correctly, no matter what their profession. We should expect all employees to complete the task at hand without micromanaging and my job is to educate. Which is what I do every day I step foot in the school house.
Lastly, One can say an educator doesn’t want cameras in their room because they don’t want administrators seeing what’s actually going on, but the truth of the matter is that if camera are put in the classrooms someone will then have to take in consideration the behavior and social/emotional issues that disrupt learning and all the classroom management in the world can’t fix. More issues would arise if video camera were in the classroom, whether for a day or a whole school year; issues that would conflict with educators, administrators and politicians.
Monday, December 6, 2010
NAACP wants to extend school day
In response to: NAACP Panel Supports Longer School Days By The Associated Press Published Online: December 6, 2010
This article speaks of several concerns but the one that stuck out the most to me was extending the school day from 8am to 6pm. 2 hours longer than a 9 to 5 job. First off, governments can’t seem to afford to pay teachers now; extending the day should definitely increase pay that no one can seem to afford.
Schools are not day cares. Are we looking for a safe, educational place to drop our kids off before going to work and not have to worry about after-school childcare?
Extending the day would also have to include mandatory recess because students shouldn’t be expected to stay in a structure setting for such a long period of time.
If children are expected to get between 8- 10 hours of sleep and then spend 10 hours at school, that only leaves 4 -6 hours to be a kid, spend time with family and friends, or learn social and life skills outside of the school environment.
I don’t know any adult that wants to spend that amount of time in a structured learning setting, so why would we put that on our kids. Again it seems like people who don’t have any connection with education what to make changes that hurt kids more than it helps them.
I don’t know what the NAACP is trying to do in North Carolina or what’s about to happen with education for American but I don’t like the sound of it. Year round school is something I can deal with, extended day school is ludicrous.
This article speaks of several concerns but the one that stuck out the most to me was extending the school day from 8am to 6pm. 2 hours longer than a 9 to 5 job. First off, governments can’t seem to afford to pay teachers now; extending the day should definitely increase pay that no one can seem to afford.
Schools are not day cares. Are we looking for a safe, educational place to drop our kids off before going to work and not have to worry about after-school childcare?
Extending the day would also have to include mandatory recess because students shouldn’t be expected to stay in a structure setting for such a long period of time.
If children are expected to get between 8- 10 hours of sleep and then spend 10 hours at school, that only leaves 4 -6 hours to be a kid, spend time with family and friends, or learn social and life skills outside of the school environment.
I don’t know any adult that wants to spend that amount of time in a structured learning setting, so why would we put that on our kids. Again it seems like people who don’t have any connection with education what to make changes that hurt kids more than it helps them.
I don’t know what the NAACP is trying to do in North Carolina or what’s about to happen with education for American but I don’t like the sound of it. Year round school is something I can deal with, extended day school is ludicrous.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Google's Talking Computers
In response to: Google Wants Talking Computers, Acquires Phonetic Arts By Mike Melanson / December 3, 2010/ ReadWriteWeb
Google is moving towards talking computers and though I am excited about this wonderful change, I also frightened about where we are going in the technological world. As Google points out, "In Star Trek, they don't spend a lot of time typing things on keyboards--they just speak to their computers, and the computers speak back." Maybe I’m a little paranoid but I have seen too many movies when the computers take over because we give them too much power.
As I sit with my three-year old and watch the Disney movie, Wall-E. I can’t help but think that so much technology is making us lazy. What will be my son’s life be like when he is my age? He won’t have to do anything. Computers will not only talk but do. We will all have our own Rosie’s (maid robot from the Jetsons) to clean our rooms and make dinner. But hopefully our iRobots won’t come up against us and try to take over.
I like to see the evolution of technology. We all know that shows like Star Trek and The Jetsons’ were way beyond their years but will all this technology be helpful or harmful?
Google is moving towards talking computers and though I am excited about this wonderful change, I also frightened about where we are going in the technological world. As Google points out, "In Star Trek, they don't spend a lot of time typing things on keyboards--they just speak to their computers, and the computers speak back." Maybe I’m a little paranoid but I have seen too many movies when the computers take over because we give them too much power.
As I sit with my three-year old and watch the Disney movie, Wall-E. I can’t help but think that so much technology is making us lazy. What will be my son’s life be like when he is my age? He won’t have to do anything. Computers will not only talk but do. We will all have our own Rosie’s (maid robot from the Jetsons) to clean our rooms and make dinner. But hopefully our iRobots won’t come up against us and try to take over.
I like to see the evolution of technology. We all know that shows like Star Trek and The Jetsons’ were way beyond their years but will all this technology be helpful or harmful?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)