Schools Try Separating Boys From Girls

(image taken from NYTimes website 3/10/2009)

I heard about this a while ago and stumbled upon it again on the NY Times website. To everything there are pros and cons. It is very true that girls and boys learn differently and at different paces. Although, learning together is part of their development process. This is not to say that I agree or disagree with separating them. I wanted to put it out there and share it. If you want to comment back, that's fine and appreciated. Again, something to think about. :)

SchoolTube

I thought this was a great idea. A website that will be used to the potential that some others could've been used for if not for all the other not-so-productive material. SchoolTube, of course, will take a while before it hits a note with students because we all know how students can be - positive things generally tend not to be "cool." SchoolTube could work for its intents and purpose. I would love to use it within the classroom. SchoolTube will definitely be helpful and useful in the classroom.

Just a thought! :)

Web - Based Educational Resources

I came to the stark realization a few years ago that I was not creative. I seem to lack that gene that puts the spark in people to create and produce fresh ideas to contribute. I worry, sometimes, well, alot, that the lack of creativity will be a hindrance for me. I really think it will be. If and only IF I let it.

While watching the "Education in Second Life" video, the narrator said something along lines of - anything that you need has already been created, as an educator, you just need to figure a way to use it within your classroom. With all this technology, this is very true. And it's not to say that you must always copy someone's work. Feel free to create new and original ideas that will help your students grasp the concepts/ideas. However, if you're like me, the technology is there to be a useful support system. One that you can consult when those ideas are just not coming. Use the ideas that people are freely offering to share (the reason why they are on the internet, since you can now find just about anything.) and modify them for your classroom. It's called being "resourceful". Just give the credit where credit is due. :)

Blogging

Through the course of this class, I've been responding to the other blogs before I have posted my own. I realize now that I should blog first and then post responses to other blogs. I say this because I may be repeating some things that I have may have posted as a response to others and because I may be inadvertently repeating some blogs.

In any case, blogging allows us to freely express our opinions and thoughts about any given topic. I look at blogging much like text messaging. I am sending out a message that, although I would like a response and some feedback, I do not require one. As such, you can post your response when ever the opportunity arises, if you'd like, of course. Because you can sit down when the time is available, you can also take the time to process thoughts to better express yourself if it is a little harder to do so verbally. Everyone communicates differently. Blogging opens the door up for communication with people outside of the constraints of a classroom where time, face-to-face contact (can be an issue at times), outside elements always come into play. A person can freely sit down at their computer without having to worry about getting to their next class, catching the bus, thinking about parking tickets, etc. etc.

A blog is also out there for the world to see. Although there are pros and cons to this, as are with anything, the pros seem to outweigh the cons. A blog can be very useful. Communication is now open with people that are not in your immediate circle. This also allows for different kinds of constructive criticism you may otherwise not get. :)

Inspiration

I must admit that I am still amazed at what the advancement of technology has done for education. Yet, many, understandably, cannot implement certain things into the classroom. Programs like Inspiration and Kidspiration are such helpful programs for planning lessons and activities for students. After playing with Inspiration for a little while, I kept thinking of things I can produce for my students as I do my student teaching. My mind was all over the place as I started to try one feature, I would discover another one that would help me do another kind of activity. I attempted to create a something, but I did get distracted with the next feature that I discovered.

I hadn't thought about how to have the students use Inspiration. I thought Inspiration was a program that only teachers used. Through my search for ideas for a lesson, however, I discovered that other teachers (on the internet) have created assignments in which students used Inspiration. That was interesting. I look forward to being able to use such programs in the future to enhance the lessons and activities my students engage in.

Student Fights Record of ‘Cyberbullying’

I wanted to share this article posted on the NYTimes website. We talk so much about bullying among students. This was a different kind of "cyberbullying." A young lady decided she wanted to criticize a teacher over Facebook and she was suspended because of it. She didn't like the teacher and she decided to post them thinking that she had the freedom to voice her opinion. As you read the article, it states that she received several responses from both sides - defending the teacher as well as supporting her stance.

On the one hand, you have a young lady that was taking her opinion to a forum. It was posted as a blog. On the other, this young lady is being critical of her teachers and was considered a form of "cyberbullying".

I wanted to share. You can draw your own conclusions and perhaps, if you'd like share your opinions.

Just some thoughts.

WebQuests

I've been going over this for a while now. I have thoughts and ideas, but I always have a hard time simplifying and narrowing down what I want to do. I know this would be a great opportunity for my students to do something they may actually enjoy in the classroom. I don't think they'd believe it. Again, teachers are competing for the attention of their students. WebQuests are a great way to draw them in to the lesson. Students spend so much time playing on the computer, why not put them to work? (Without them knowing it.) Although, I think part of their problem is that adults are telling them to do it.(But that's a whole 'nother story. )

I've been thinking about things that I could possibly incorporate into the next month's lesson plans for my student teaching. We'll be going over Women's Suffrage and the Great Depression. I suppose that is step #1. I have an idea of where I want to begin. The rest of it may be harder than I thought. Although, this extension is definitely helping. Thanks, Dr. Luongo! :)