This article is about whether schools should switch to K-8 or 6-12 and get rid of middle schools. There are several people on both sides of this debate and they range from parents to teachers to principals. Some of the parents, students, and teachers like having a K-8 that way 6th graders wouldn't have to jump right in with high school seniors. The students like it because they can relate and talk to the teachers that they feel comfortable with instead of approaching a perfect stranger. The students and most parents/teachers like it based on the fact that it is a comfort thing for the students. Other parents and principles like it because they feel that the students are able to perform better and are more serious when it comes to going to college. Some principals like the fact that they have the students for seven years that way it gives them more time to prepare the students for what they want to become. They feel that K-8 have a tendency to baby the students instead of making them young adults. In the article there are some facts about the progression of students in different schools. In a K-8 school the teachers are more capable of seeing that a students is missing as opposed to them being in a middle school. Also the article mentions that grades are better in a K-8 school any way. This is pretty much the whole summary of this article!
I would much rather have the schools set up as a K-8 and a 9-12. I like this setup because that is what I am used to have seeing. I believe that this would help the younger students feel better about themselves if they were separated from the high school students. I always felt safer when I was in a K-8 and not only did I feel safe, I had several teachers that I knew and could talk too. I also think that students don't need to be treated as adults when they are 11 or 12 years old and this would happen if you made a 6-12 grade school. Those children need to have a fun and typical kids life. Why take away all of their fun and suck the life out of them. I believe that a student would perform better in a K-8 than a 6-12 because they wouldn't fear school. They would love school and that would make them want to come back and learn more everyday. The biggest concern for these students is safety, which influences learning. Most people know this, but are just afraid to say so. Get rid of middle schools and have a K-8 and a 9-12. In most places in Maine this is how schools are setup and they have been proven to be effective, even if it was a hundred years ago. I always say don't fix it unless it is broken!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
Podcast Internet Information (that I find interesting...ex. qoutes)
I found that in 2005 the word podcast was added to the dictionary as a word. This shows that pod casting has a made a huge impact on the technology world. Many teachers throughout the world have commented on the fact that it is easy to use even if you are not that good with technology. On the website that I am going to list later in the blog there are several different quotes from students and even teachers about pod casting. There are so many I am only going to choose a few to include in my blog entry. One teacher is quoted as saying that pod casts are essential in a classroom setting. They can be a pain in the butt, but when used right they make the classroom come alive. Pod casting gives students a better understanding of the material that is used in class and one example from the website would be listening to lectures on political science and history. They also like it because they can listen to it and pause it if they have to do something else. This is a good feature because they will not end up missing anything important to the class lecture. Another teacher has reported that the ability to combine sound and images makes the learning process go even faster! There are so many things that I find interesting in these quotes from teachers. I like things that are said from users and not just the company that created them. I find that they sell better when people that have experience tell you the facts about them instead of some Joe Shmoe that makes a profit off of it!
http://media.www.tuftsdaily.com/media/storage/paper856/news/2006/03/03/Features/Podcasting.Hits.The.Classroom-1654124-page2.shtml?sourcedomain=www.tuftsdaily.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com
http://media.www.tuftsdaily.com/media/storage/paper856/news/2006/03/03/Features/Podcasting.Hits.The.Classroom-1654124-page2.shtml?sourcedomain=www.tuftsdaily.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com
Podcast 110
1) Basically all that a podcast is is a combination between an ipod and broadcasting. Hence the name, podcast! Podcast is better than a radio because when you want to listen to something the choices are unlimited. When you listen to a radio station the choices that you have are limited and have been selected for you already. They both let you listen to music and interviews, but with a podcast you can listen and watch things at the exact same time.
2) There are a whole bunch of examples out there that show how a podcast be used in any classroom setting and how it can help the students learn better. You can students access there homework from home if you list and assignment after school for them, they can listen to famous people give speeches that are sometimes hard to read, you can record sounds for blind students to listen to, you can have them make a project using both pictures and sounds and produce something like a movie, you can also make a lesson for a student to listen to if they are having a hard time in a math class like the lady did on podcast 110, and it allows students to communicate with other students on the other parts of the world.
3) Teachers like pod casting because they can post homework online for kids that have accounts, it allows them to demonstrate things such as field trips because the student can hear sounds that are recorded on a podcast, and the last thing is that students can study while entertaining themselves by listening to their voice while going over their homework.
4 and 5) Some teachers don't like pod casts because they feel that it can hinder a child's learning. Also from other things that I have seen or heard about children like to recreational things sometimes instead of studying. This is the only real problem that I could see from this and I to had a hard time listening to the podcast because my body had other things that I could be doing. I guess it can be effective if the student forces themselves to listen and only listen. If they can't do that then they make a problem with learning in the classroom.
2) There are a whole bunch of examples out there that show how a podcast be used in any classroom setting and how it can help the students learn better. You can students access there homework from home if you list and assignment after school for them, they can listen to famous people give speeches that are sometimes hard to read, you can record sounds for blind students to listen to, you can have them make a project using both pictures and sounds and produce something like a movie, you can also make a lesson for a student to listen to if they are having a hard time in a math class like the lady did on podcast 110, and it allows students to communicate with other students on the other parts of the world.
3) Teachers like pod casting because they can post homework online for kids that have accounts, it allows them to demonstrate things such as field trips because the student can hear sounds that are recorded on a podcast, and the last thing is that students can study while entertaining themselves by listening to their voice while going over their homework.
4 and 5) Some teachers don't like pod casts because they feel that it can hinder a child's learning. Also from other things that I have seen or heard about children like to recreational things sometimes instead of studying. This is the only real problem that I could see from this and I to had a hard time listening to the podcast because my body had other things that I could be doing. I guess it can be effective if the student forces themselves to listen and only listen. If they can't do that then they make a problem with learning in the classroom.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Copyright and Fair Use LR
I agree with the first question on the quiz about teachers making back up disks and if it is fair or not. I agree in most part with the answer behind the question. I believe that the teacher should be allowed to recreate disks and make copies of them if they are only for her use. If she doesn't share them with anyone then she is OK with me. I don't like the part where she has to leave the copies with the library to be put in the archives. It is her back ups and she should be able to get to them quick if she needed to. At the end of the answer they say that copies may be used if you can't get a copy of the original because it gets lost, stolen, or broken. This would take a long time and possible more money. In the mean time the teacher can't do there lesson because they have to wait for someone to come up with a copy of the disk so that she can use it! That doesn't seem fair to the teacher to me! i agree with the overall answer, but I don't agree with most of the reasons for this question. My only question is, "What harm does it do for the teacher to make a back up and only use it for her and only if it is an emergency?" I believe that teachers should be able to do this without jumping through so many hoops. This is just plain ridiculous!
Copyright and Fair Use QR
1) I thought that this question is very true and that the teacher is allowed to make a back up copy so that way in case something happens she will be prepared to teach. I believe that it is a very good idea!
2) I believe that the tech was in the wrong because we are not able to make copies of Cd's and share them with friends. This is the same idea and I don't think the tech should be allowed to do so even only one person can use it at a time.
5) The teacher was in the wrong and this question relates to my reaction to question 1 in that you can't mass copy Cd's for several people. That is not fair to the software company and he should be punished.
6) This teacher downloaded info from the web for her classroom and I feel that it is fair for her to do so because the web is there for research. I personally don't believe that a teacher would not copy someones work and not sight it!
7) This question is very true and my reaction is that I know several schools that do this and get away with it so I feel that it is OK. I don't believe that the state or country would allow this if it wasn't OK and safe to do!
9) All of the mp3.com files are already paid for so it is fair and up for grabs for anyone that wants to visit and use mp3.com. I doubted this question at first, but when I found out the answer it seemed logical and I believe in the answer.
10) A teacher copies and puts clip art on a school web site. I am surprised that you can't do this and I think that it is very unfair to do. I don't care if it gets re-posted or if it only gets used in class. There shouldn't be different rules for this. They should all be the same!
13) This question deals with the sharing of a web page created by kids and being posted on the web. I am mad at the fact that they say that it is fair to use other people's work. I believe that you should have to ask for permission, but if the site allows you do use it then I guess it is fair. If it is copyrighted and you take it, then that would be wrong to do.
2) I believe that the tech was in the wrong because we are not able to make copies of Cd's and share them with friends. This is the same idea and I don't think the tech should be allowed to do so even only one person can use it at a time.
5) The teacher was in the wrong and this question relates to my reaction to question 1 in that you can't mass copy Cd's for several people. That is not fair to the software company and he should be punished.
6) This teacher downloaded info from the web for her classroom and I feel that it is fair for her to do so because the web is there for research. I personally don't believe that a teacher would not copy someones work and not sight it!
7) This question is very true and my reaction is that I know several schools that do this and get away with it so I feel that it is OK. I don't believe that the state or country would allow this if it wasn't OK and safe to do!
9) All of the mp3.com files are already paid for so it is fair and up for grabs for anyone that wants to visit and use mp3.com. I doubted this question at first, but when I found out the answer it seemed logical and I believe in the answer.
10) A teacher copies and puts clip art on a school web site. I am surprised that you can't do this and I think that it is very unfair to do. I don't care if it gets re-posted or if it only gets used in class. There shouldn't be different rules for this. They should all be the same!
13) This question deals with the sharing of a web page created by kids and being posted on the web. I am mad at the fact that they say that it is fair to use other people's work. I believe that you should have to ask for permission, but if the site allows you do use it then I guess it is fair. If it is copyrighted and you take it, then that would be wrong to do.
Monday, January 22, 2007
QR Blogging
The whole blogging experience to me was new. I have never had to or had created a blog in my life. It was fairly easy to create and was really easy to edit to my liking! I think that I am going to love blogging all of the time and I think that it will make me a better blogger in the future! I think that somehow I will bring this to my classroom! It would be an effective way for students to post questions and such that everyone can see so that a teacher can answer without having twenty questions sent to them! Blogging is da bomb!
NetDay Results
I picture myself being a digital immigrant in today’s world. I think at first that I being a digital immigrant will hold me back, but once I get to use the equipment I will be able to fly ahead without hesitation. I really have never had to use a computer until I have come to college and seen that it is an important way to talk to peers and teachers. I am the kind of person that learns when you do something hands on a couple of times. I might not get it the first time, but I guarantee that I will be able to grasp the technology and will be effective when communicating to my students whether it is in a classroom or at home.
After reading the 37 pages on the NetDay Results I am aware that society today is very advanced and dependent on the constant use of technology in the classroom. I think that the older people are now the less they know about technology. It seems to me that children today are born with a cell phone in their hands. Whenever you see someone young now a day they have to have there life lines the cell phone or maybe an iPod. Children need technology to keep them entertained and they can’t function without it. I think that someday every class will have a computer for every student to use based on the fact that all students and teachers want this to be the case. I think that we can teach effectively without needing a computer for every student. If it comes down to the point where students need to use a computer then I believe that teachers should have student locks. This will stop them from playing games during class and things like that. I know this to be a problem because I see kids on a daily basis doing so in college classes even. I also go against the thought that students should be able to use a cell phone during a school day. We have a problem with student’s attention know as it is and that will only add to the problem. School is a place for learning and not a place for socializing. Overall, I think we will end up having too much technology in classrooms and then teaching will no longer be as effective as it is now and as it has been in the past!
After reading the 37 pages on the NetDay Results I am aware that society today is very advanced and dependent on the constant use of technology in the classroom. I think that the older people are now the less they know about technology. It seems to me that children today are born with a cell phone in their hands. Whenever you see someone young now a day they have to have there life lines the cell phone or maybe an iPod. Children need technology to keep them entertained and they can’t function without it. I think that someday every class will have a computer for every student to use based on the fact that all students and teachers want this to be the case. I think that we can teach effectively without needing a computer for every student. If it comes down to the point where students need to use a computer then I believe that teachers should have student locks. This will stop them from playing games during class and things like that. I know this to be a problem because I see kids on a daily basis doing so in college classes even. I also go against the thought that students should be able to use a cell phone during a school day. We have a problem with student’s attention know as it is and that will only add to the problem. School is a place for learning and not a place for socializing. Overall, I think we will end up having too much technology in classrooms and then teaching will no longer be as effective as it is now and as it has been in the past!
QR Chapter 2
1) This whole chapter is very interesting to me and I have insight on how an effective classroom should be run. When it comes down to liking the teacher and respecting the teacher, you want to be respected by the students rather than liked. That then leads to them striving to do better and that gives the students and the teacher both satisfactions. Another way to be effective is to be fair and equal with all of the students because they learn better. When being respectful students like you better and they understand you more.
2) The reason that I liked these things is because it shows most of the weaknesses that a teacher can have at any given time. This allows the teacher to be able to change and to have a more productive classroom on a daily basis!
2) The reason that I liked these things is because it shows most of the weaknesses that a teacher can have at any given time. This allows the teacher to be able to change and to have a more productive classroom on a daily basis!
QR Chapter 1
1) In this chapter there were a lot of things that jumped out at me and they all in someway can be related to each other. I like the thought of the teachers going to the students “home land” and seeing what they have to go through on a regular basis and how they deal with stuff. I like the student/teacher questionnaire and the way the questions are worded and set up. I also like the idea of letting the children reflect I in a journal on a weekly basis because that lets the teacher know what is going on with the students and how the teacher could possible make the class better. The last thing that is important to know is that you need to find a way to present the information to the students in a way that interests them.
2) These all jumped out to me for pretty much the exact reason and that reason would be you need to know your students weaknesses/strengths and interests/dislikes when trying to effectively give, grade, and teach the subject area at hand. This will give any teacher the ammunition that they need in order to kill the procrastinating/no homework monster!
2) These all jumped out to me for pretty much the exact reason and that reason would be you need to know your students weaknesses/strengths and interests/dislikes when trying to effectively give, grade, and teach the subject area at hand. This will give any teacher the ammunition that they need in order to kill the procrastinating/no homework monster!
QR Introduction
1) At the beginning of the chapter I really liked the list of all of the qualities that a good an effective teacher should have in order to reach out to the students and be successful. I also liked the part where the lady didn’t force the students into doing something that they didn’t want to do and instead she listened to them being more of a friend than an enforcer and that is how a teacher should be.
2) The list of qualities make the section and you can see that by how the lady teacher handles the students and how she goes about fixing the problem(s) at hand. You have to have many of these qualities or all of these qualities before you can be taken seriously as an educator. I think that I will try to add more of the qualities on the list to the person that I am now and I think it will help me in the long run to be effective with students. One last thing, you can never force someone to do something and when you do they try to work against you. If you try to help the person and understand the person then they will work with you and that is what makes a teacher an educator!
2) The list of qualities make the section and you can see that by how the lady teacher handles the students and how she goes about fixing the problem(s) at hand. You have to have many of these qualities or all of these qualities before you can be taken seriously as an educator. I think that I will try to add more of the qualities on the list to the person that I am now and I think it will help me in the long run to be effective with students. One last thing, you can never force someone to do something and when you do they try to work against you. If you try to help the person and understand the person then they will work with you and that is what makes a teacher an educator!
QR Preface
1) One of the things that jumped out to me was the facts about how many teachers stop teaching within their first five years or so of being in a classroom full of high school students. There was also one other thing that jumped out at me in the chapter also and that dealt with the student teacher relationship whether it be in the classroom or outside of the classroom. This section of reading even tells future teachers that in order to be an effective teacher you need to be prepared fully to teach the students and you need to be able to listen/talk with the students if you notice something wrong. Students are better off in a classroom when the teach cares about them.
2) The thought that 60% of teachers within the first five years stop teaching was a really high number and it makes me wonder why! It doesn’t give a list of factors, but rather it makes you think of all of the possible factors regarding both the students and the teacher. I believe that in order for a student and a teacher to connect on a solid playing ground they have to know where each one is coming from. This is more or less a relationship and it takes two people to run it without any flaws. Most teachers would agree with me when I say that in order to be effective you need to know the material and you need to know the people that you are teaching. That is a very true statement and that is why it stuck out most of all to me!
2) The thought that 60% of teachers within the first five years stop teaching was a really high number and it makes me wonder why! It doesn’t give a list of factors, but rather it makes you think of all of the possible factors regarding both the students and the teacher. I believe that in order for a student and a teacher to connect on a solid playing ground they have to know where each one is coming from. This is more or less a relationship and it takes two people to run it without any flaws. Most teachers would agree with me when I say that in order to be effective you need to know the material and you need to know the people that you are teaching. That is a very true statement and that is why it stuck out most of all to me!
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