http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/opinion/01eggers.html
An easy read!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
What is your Moral Imperative to prepare students for the next 50 years rather than the last 50 years?
Dr. Scott McLeod's presentation "Dangerously Irrelevant" regarding the desperate need to reinvent public education as we know it for the future. In his presentation he states that the three essential functions of education should be to prepare our graduates to be socially functional, to become masters of the dominant technological landscape, and to become economically productive.
He also states that there has been dramatic decreases in the level of American students critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, innovation, and the ability to synthesize information a variety of situations. McLeod contends that our schools are using methods that were in place over fifty years ago, and that administrators and legislatures are burying their heads in the proverbial sand rather than structure learning environments that are aligned with our global intellectual economy.
As pre-service teachers where do we see ourselves in the information revolution and what stand do we see ourselves taking in regards to curriculum and assessment reform? In what ways will you become advocates for what you believe to be the right thing to do? And why?
Stellalunalorax~
He also states that there has been dramatic decreases in the level of American students critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, innovation, and the ability to synthesize information a variety of situations. McLeod contends that our schools are using methods that were in place over fifty years ago, and that administrators and legislatures are burying their heads in the proverbial sand rather than structure learning environments that are aligned with our global intellectual economy.
As pre-service teachers where do we see ourselves in the information revolution and what stand do we see ourselves taking in regards to curriculum and assessment reform? In what ways will you become advocates for what you believe to be the right thing to do? And why?
Stellalunalorax~
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Classroom 2.0
I've never heard of this website! You have to be a member to really get into some of the links and post on the forum, but it's actually a very useful website. I was looking through the forum and saw many ideas where people can bounce off each other, and help to give new ideas for topics that are unfamiliar. For instance, I noticed a "Prezi" post, which was what Brian and Bree used for their morning meeting in Judith's class. I was only recently introduced to this website when Brian told me about it. On this forum, it gives uses and other webpages to check out to help you incorporate it into the classroom.
What are some interesting things you have found when looking through the webpage? Anything you might use for your classroom?
Great tool!
What are some interesting things you have found when looking through the webpage? Anything you might use for your classroom?
Great tool!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Edutopia
While I was watching the video, Digital Media Empower Youth, several thoughts and questions were going through my head. First, I think it is fabulous that this middle school in Chicago is privileged enough to have access to these wonderful technologies. With that said, do you feel that there is an issue with equal access/opportunity to technologies in schools across the nation/state/county/district? If so, do you have any suggestions for solving this problem?
Secondly, how do you envision technology playing a role in your classroom? In an ideal world, how would you like your classroom to look in regards to technologies?
Lastly, this video makes the point that technology is not a phase or a fad. It is here to stay and it is a great tool to enhance learning, especially considering the diversity in learning styles. Considering these statements, how do you foresee education changing at the primary levels in say 5 years, 10 years, or even 20 years because of technological advances?
I know this is a lot to post about, so feel free to just choose one set of questions to elaborate on rather than addressing all of them if you want! :)
Secondly, how do you envision technology playing a role in your classroom? In an ideal world, how would you like your classroom to look in regards to technologies?
Lastly, this video makes the point that technology is not a phase or a fad. It is here to stay and it is a great tool to enhance learning, especially considering the diversity in learning styles. Considering these statements, how do you foresee education changing at the primary levels in say 5 years, 10 years, or even 20 years because of technological advances?
I know this is a lot to post about, so feel free to just choose one set of questions to elaborate on rather than addressing all of them if you want! :)
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Week10: Reading Edutopia
This weeks reading leaves me thinking how I will set up my classroom and how I will do so in adherence to the state and local building and fire codes.
There are so many wonderful things to do. In one of our pre-K classrooms there are not any windows; big bummer! The teacher does her best to create the sense of space in how she decorates and utilizes the space. She is considering painting windows on the walls and using it as an interactive space.
What does your classroom look like in your mind?
Stellalunalorax
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Week 10 Reading: The World Is Open for a Reason Make That 30 Reasons
I am so fortunate to be the one who posts on this reading especially given that I am considered a Non-Traditional Learner who has been attending both traditional and non traditional type classes for eleven years. As a student seeking Teacher Certification within NYS the OER (open educational resource) is not necessarily an option. Some of the courses can be taken online but the true certification is not yet available to a learner seeking online educational resources within NYS...Sure would make my life easier if it were! It often times feels to me as if my time is WASTED sitting through lecture when I could be doing so much more. Is there an element of position justification involved with institutions not being inline with 21st Century Skills?
I submit that from a marketing perspective institutions such as our beloved Cortland would serve an even larger demographic of people if more opportunities for OER were available. There are sometimes less than 30 classes available online during semesters, winter and summer session.To me it seems unproductive to not offer the maximum availability of online course and degree programs especially since "we all learn." Bonk asserts 10 reasons why institutions and organizations freely share online content, included in the 10 reasons are the dissemination of information, student assistance, alumni support, sharing ideas and practices, marketing, global education, goodwill, feedback, economic support and career options, and setting an example regarding the rights of all to be educated. He also notes that institutions of higher learning throughout the world are already doing this; Australia, Canada, Afghanistan, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Notre Dame and the United Kingdom. All the more reason for each of us to maximize our talents in the technology sector and be prepared to teach and learn in multiple ways.
As leaders and advocates our responsibility to society will include the Three P's as outlined in Bonk's work; the technological infrastructure, online content and a participatory culture of learning. When awareness is heightened to the vast inequality in education the time is ripe for change. I believe we have been teetering at the cusp of an educational revolution in our country for decades, change is happening in slow yet immense ways. The recognized value of OCW (opencourseware) has not yet peaked in the Upstate area. However it continues to reach around the global world seemingly are we going to let it pass us by? It is our responsibility to check our egos at the door and really walk the walk and talk the talk of educational equality. As stated in Bonk's piece, "convenience and flexibility are the learning watchwords" We all work, have lives, need money, etc and all deserve the opportunity that OCW and OER provide. I can say with honesty that I would leave the traditional courses offered in an instant if Cortland were to become the innovator in the fields of OCW and OER that is is in the field of Teacher Preparation via traditional methods.
Respectfully submitted,
Stellalunalorax
I submit that from a marketing perspective institutions such as our beloved Cortland would serve an even larger demographic of people if more opportunities for OER were available. There are sometimes less than 30 classes available online during semesters, winter and summer session.To me it seems unproductive to not offer the maximum availability of online course and degree programs especially since "we all learn." Bonk asserts 10 reasons why institutions and organizations freely share online content, included in the 10 reasons are the dissemination of information, student assistance, alumni support, sharing ideas and practices, marketing, global education, goodwill, feedback, economic support and career options, and setting an example regarding the rights of all to be educated. He also notes that institutions of higher learning throughout the world are already doing this; Australia, Canada, Afghanistan, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Notre Dame and the United Kingdom. All the more reason for each of us to maximize our talents in the technology sector and be prepared to teach and learn in multiple ways.
As leaders and advocates our responsibility to society will include the Three P's as outlined in Bonk's work; the technological infrastructure, online content and a participatory culture of learning. When awareness is heightened to the vast inequality in education the time is ripe for change. I believe we have been teetering at the cusp of an educational revolution in our country for decades, change is happening in slow yet immense ways. The recognized value of OCW (opencourseware) has not yet peaked in the Upstate area. However it continues to reach around the global world seemingly are we going to let it pass us by? It is our responsibility to check our egos at the door and really walk the walk and talk the talk of educational equality. As stated in Bonk's piece, "convenience and flexibility are the learning watchwords" We all work, have lives, need money, etc and all deserve the opportunity that OCW and OER provide. I can say with honesty that I would leave the traditional courses offered in an instant if Cortland were to become the innovator in the fields of OCW and OER that is is in the field of Teacher Preparation via traditional methods.
Respectfully submitted,
Stellalunalorax
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Our Wikis
Since for week 8 we don't really have any readings, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss our wikis a little bit! For week 9 we have some readings on wikis in education, but for some reason the links weren't working for me.
Now that we have been in our observation classrooms a few times, where do you see wikis fitting into an elementary classroom? Do you think you could have children submit homework on wikis or is that too much to ask considering that some families may not have access to a computer?
Do you think it is unlikely that a first-year (or even second or third-year) teacher would have time to have a wiki that highlights all subjects? In other words, would teachers be able to find the time to post and maintain activities, games, assignments, etc for every subject or is it more reasonable to choose one subject and go from there?
Lastly, how do you feel about your own wiki? I know that I am finding it very hard to do the things that I would like to do with my wiki... I have many ideas but I can't technologically figure out how to do them!
Since I have asked a bunch of questions, I figured I would give a little of my opinion... Thinking about myself as a future teacher, I have thought that maybe the best way to use a wiki in my class would be to communicate with parents. Instead of sending letters home (which from the classroom I am in, it seems to happen daily), maybe the letters could be posted online. But then you run into the trouble of access to the computers or if parents would bother to get on the site and check for newsletters. Additionally, teachers could communicate student progress through the wiki. Just some ideas...
See you guys tomorrow!
Now that we have been in our observation classrooms a few times, where do you see wikis fitting into an elementary classroom? Do you think you could have children submit homework on wikis or is that too much to ask considering that some families may not have access to a computer?
Do you think it is unlikely that a first-year (or even second or third-year) teacher would have time to have a wiki that highlights all subjects? In other words, would teachers be able to find the time to post and maintain activities, games, assignments, etc for every subject or is it more reasonable to choose one subject and go from there?
Lastly, how do you feel about your own wiki? I know that I am finding it very hard to do the things that I would like to do with my wiki... I have many ideas but I can't technologically figure out how to do them!
Since I have asked a bunch of questions, I figured I would give a little of my opinion... Thinking about myself as a future teacher, I have thought that maybe the best way to use a wiki in my class would be to communicate with parents. Instead of sending letters home (which from the classroom I am in, it seems to happen daily), maybe the letters could be posted online. But then you run into the trouble of access to the computers or if parents would bother to get on the site and check for newsletters. Additionally, teachers could communicate student progress through the wiki. Just some ideas...
See you guys tomorrow!
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