A Youtube playlist I created as an example of an artifact from a Heart of Darkness unit.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Assistive Technology
The assistive technologies demonstrated in these videos are vastly important for students with disabilities. They allow students to take an active role in school that would have been impossible without the aid of technology. Assistive technology gives students the language they need to bridge the gap between them and the outside world.
The students can use laptops, voice-to-text software, touch screens, and even joysticks to accomplish tasks for school and for extracurricular activities. Without these aids, the students would be hampered by their disabilities and would be unable to participate fully in school. The students are bright, and now they can be stimulated and educated through interaction with their teachers, caregivers, and parents.
The most striking thing is that it allows students to pursue their passions. One student wanted to play a musical instrument, and through a unique application of technology, he was able to be a part of the school band. A horn was built which enabled him to control the instrument via a joystick. Without that assistive technology, he would never have been able to enrich his life with music. Another student was fascinated by books, and by using the Bookworm, his teacher was able to get him to begin reading and verbalizing.
Netiquette
I made this video involving an erudite elephant and a less-than-brilliant giraffe discussing net etiquete;
LINK!
LINK!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Jigsaw Classroom
The Jigsaw Classroom model is an interesting idea. On one hand, it does seem to offer students a chance to learn cooperation, leadership skills, and presentation skills. It could be an excellent tool to use in a classroom that is experiencing trouble because of personal conflicts between students.
On the other hand, it does seem like it might reduce the group's grades to that of the lowest common denominator. One unfocused student, or one student who doesn't care about his or her own grade, could completely disrupt the group and bring down the scores of his or her fellow students. For this reason, I wouldn't use Jigsaw in my classroom.
Another problem that presents itself is the technological limitations of most classrooms. This problem could be solved by asking students to research mainly from textbooks, but to give them free (but limited) access to the class computers if they have questions.
On the other hand, it does seem like it might reduce the group's grades to that of the lowest common denominator. One unfocused student, or one student who doesn't care about his or her own grade, could completely disrupt the group and bring down the scores of his or her fellow students. For this reason, I wouldn't use Jigsaw in my classroom.
Another problem that presents itself is the technological limitations of most classrooms. This problem could be solved by asking students to research mainly from textbooks, but to give them free (but limited) access to the class computers if they have questions.
Smart or Dumb?
Traditional testing doesn't reward kids for being "smart" - it rewards students for having good memories. Being able to regurgitate the answers you've learned on cue has limited real-world application. What is much more valuable are critical thinking skills and hard work.
For that reason, I want to structure my class in such a way that students can work to their strengths. I want to avoid busywork at all costs - my grading system will be based around major essays, essay tests over reading material, and class participation. But the flaw with this system is that kids who are already good at these things will be able to breeze through them unless I grade to a very exacting standard. But what about the kids who aren't already good at these things?
This is why I want to offer extensive extra credit opportunities. My students will have many ways to raise their grades - in fact, if they put in the work, there's no reason that every student shouldn't get an A. This will enable me to still hold high standards in my essay grading, without punishing students who need practice at writing. Those students will have the chance to make up for lower essay scores with extra credit - extra credit which will, of course, be made up entirely of writing. If they complete it, they can get the grade they want, and they'll get practice writing.
It's a win-win, and students will be able to play to their own intelligences.
For that reason, I want to structure my class in such a way that students can work to their strengths. I want to avoid busywork at all costs - my grading system will be based around major essays, essay tests over reading material, and class participation. But the flaw with this system is that kids who are already good at these things will be able to breeze through them unless I grade to a very exacting standard. But what about the kids who aren't already good at these things?
This is why I want to offer extensive extra credit opportunities. My students will have many ways to raise their grades - in fact, if they put in the work, there's no reason that every student shouldn't get an A. This will enable me to still hold high standards in my essay grading, without punishing students who need practice at writing. Those students will have the chance to make up for lower essay scores with extra credit - extra credit which will, of course, be made up entirely of writing. If they complete it, they can get the grade they want, and they'll get practice writing.
It's a win-win, and students will be able to play to their own intelligences.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The Classroom of the Future
In class today I watched these three videos, part of an (incredibly cheesy) "classroom of the future" video. Did I mention how incredibly cheesy they were? So cheesy.
They were pretty interesting, though, in terms of how much they got right. We do have video chat; Skype on computers or tablets or phones. IPhones also have a female-voiced search robot, but Siri has a lot less artificial intelligence. It'll be a while until a computer can determine what's the best database for you to use. We do have online databases, though, just like the video predicted. They may be more complicated, but they are incredibly useful for students.
What didn't they get right? Well, there's definitely no system of video chatting when you're home sick. There's the technology for it, sure, but they seem to have vastly overestimated the budget that the classroom of the future would actually have. That might be for the best, though. You really wouldn't want to look right into a teenage boy's bedroom, would you?
They were pretty interesting, though, in terms of how much they got right. We do have video chat; Skype on computers or tablets or phones. IPhones also have a female-voiced search robot, but Siri has a lot less artificial intelligence. It'll be a while until a computer can determine what's the best database for you to use. We do have online databases, though, just like the video predicted. They may be more complicated, but they are incredibly useful for students.
What didn't they get right? Well, there's definitely no system of video chatting when you're home sick. There's the technology for it, sure, but they seem to have vastly overestimated the budget that the classroom of the future would actually have. That might be for the best, though. You really wouldn't want to look right into a teenage boy's bedroom, would you?
Being an English Teacher
My passion is language. Language spoken aloud, language written down. It can be lyrical and soft; it can be bombastic and overwhelming. It can convey any conceivable topic in the universe, from the Higgs-Boson to the ethereal nature of joy to delicious, delicious candy. It can make you cry, sing, dance, laugh, think. Language is the best thing that humanity has produced.
And that's why I want to teach English. An English classroom is a magical place. New ideas are discovered, tested out, discarded. Teenagers who are in the process of becoming young adults, finding new concepts that they'd had no concept of. Reading great literature and figuring out what makes it great. Talking about stories and poems can often lead to introspection, learning how it can apply to your own life. The world could do with more introspection. And learning to write clearly; to convey your ideas to the rest of the world. I want to teach my students to love language, too.
I've always been a reader, a nerdy strange kid in the back of the room with a book. Reading books was a way to escape into a better world. I grew up, became more outgoing, hid at least some of the strangeness (obviously not much). But reading has always been the way I learned about the world and about myself. During all the difficult times in my life, I've gotten through it with a book - something that spoke to me and seemed to understand what I was going through. Now I'm trying to earn my English Teaching degree so that I can help others find that same tool for understanding and enjoying life. I'm wordy and weird, and if you get me talking about things I'm excited about I get very excited indeed. But enthusiasm is good, right? My goal is to be enthusiastic about everything I try to do.
And that's why I want to teach English. An English classroom is a magical place. New ideas are discovered, tested out, discarded. Teenagers who are in the process of becoming young adults, finding new concepts that they'd had no concept of. Reading great literature and figuring out what makes it great. Talking about stories and poems can often lead to introspection, learning how it can apply to your own life. The world could do with more introspection. And learning to write clearly; to convey your ideas to the rest of the world. I want to teach my students to love language, too.
I've always been a reader, a nerdy strange kid in the back of the room with a book. Reading books was a way to escape into a better world. I grew up, became more outgoing, hid at least some of the strangeness (obviously not much). But reading has always been the way I learned about the world and about myself. During all the difficult times in my life, I've gotten through it with a book - something that spoke to me and seemed to understand what I was going through. Now I'm trying to earn my English Teaching degree so that I can help others find that same tool for understanding and enjoying life. I'm wordy and weird, and if you get me talking about things I'm excited about I get very excited indeed. But enthusiasm is good, right? My goal is to be enthusiastic about everything I try to do.
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