I’ve been doing a bit of reflecting on the MOOing conversations we’ve been having in class. I definitely see the advantages of us being able to log on from various sites and have a common dialogue- that’s clearly its best benefit.
However, I have to say I’ve been left yearning for speaking! As I told my husband, I sat in class for 2 ½ hours- I didn’t say a word. I still have no idea who anyone is in the class. I don’t particularly care for the anonymity of the people with whom I’m conversing. I’m taking a class with 8-9 people (I don’t really actually know how many are in the class since we’ve never all been together nor met). I need to have some face/name association. I very well could say something that offended someone in the room with me- and I have no idea who that person is!
I can see how in some settings an on-line conversation is appropriate, but I wish we had a few more face to face conversations first so that I could get a sense of who is who! I feel this would better my understanding of the perspectives from which people write comments.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Cell Phones in Classroom
Our principal recently had us read an article from edweek.org titled, “Students Turn Their Cellphones On for Classroom Lessons: New Academic Uses Challenge Restrictions”
by Andrew Trotter . The article gave us some neat ideas to ponder regarding kids using cell phones for academic purposes.
Our current school policy is that cell phones should not be seen during academic times. If we see a student’s cell phone (usually texting), we are expected to take the phone from them and give it to the dean of students. On 1st offense the student picks it up after school; on 2nd offense the student’s parent must come to school to pick it up.
Interestingly, this article discussed how to use cell phones in the classroom. It cited several places where teachers can set up websites in which students could text responses to questions. The article also mentioned articles, etc that students can access on their phones. In art or science type classes students could take pictures and instantly text to the teacher.
Obviously one concern would be the cost- not every student has a cell phone (but I’d be hard pressed to find a kid willing to admit he/she doesn’t have one!!) A suggestion was made that teachers could partner kids up for this type of work then.
Anyway, just a thought to consider.
by Andrew Trotter . The article gave us some neat ideas to ponder regarding kids using cell phones for academic purposes.
Our current school policy is that cell phones should not be seen during academic times. If we see a student’s cell phone (usually texting), we are expected to take the phone from them and give it to the dean of students. On 1st offense the student picks it up after school; on 2nd offense the student’s parent must come to school to pick it up.
Interestingly, this article discussed how to use cell phones in the classroom. It cited several places where teachers can set up websites in which students could text responses to questions. The article also mentioned articles, etc that students can access on their phones. In art or science type classes students could take pictures and instantly text to the teacher.
Obviously one concern would be the cost- not every student has a cell phone (but I’d be hard pressed to find a kid willing to admit he/she doesn’t have one!!) A suggestion was made that teachers could partner kids up for this type of work then.
Anyway, just a thought to consider.
Multi-Tasking Mom, Wife, Teacher, Christian and Community Member
Michael Wesch’s YouTube video, “A Vision of Students Today” gave me an opportunity to do some pondering regarding multi-tasking. Young adults are fairly competent at multi-tasking technology, but it raises a question in my mind, “how competent will they be at multi-tasking as adults?”
I say this, because most of what these college students were multi-tasking was “fun” stuff. Facebooking, texting, talking with friends, etc. Yet what about the needs that will require multi-tasking as adults?
I’ve read that one of the downsides of technology being discovered, is that the part of the brain that allows us to plan long range is not being developed. Young people can use their cell phone to quickly call and say, “Hey Mom, pick me up at the Hollister door in 2 minutes”. Gone are the days in which a parent and child would go to the mall and say, “Ok, we will meet at this door in 30 minutes.” At which point said child would have to mentally calculate, “Well, it takes me 5 minutes to walk to Maurices, which gives me 15 min. to look around and try on clothes, 5 min to pay for it, then another 5 to get back to meet Mom.” These mental skills are not being developed, so what happens if that part of the brain nearly disappears?
I have personally have had one of the busiest, craziest, hectic weeks I can ever recall. Here’s a run down:
Mon, Jan 19th- I got sick with the flu and spent many hours in the bathroom. (All of this after I spent a full day teaching, hosting a speech team meeting, and writing sub notes for the next day)
Tue, Jan 20th- my son had a tonsillectomy so we spent hours at the hospital and lots of time at home dolling out much needed TLC.
Wed, Jan 21st- my mother came to our house to stay for three days so she could help take care of Parker so that my husband and I could get to work. After eating the supper I had thrown into the crock pot that morning knowing I was busy, I returned to school from 7-9 pm to grade 50 final scrapbooks.
Thur, Jan 22nd- after teaching, I brought home 75 essays to grade. My mom helped me total points and enter grades into my gradebook.
Fri, Jan 23rd- workshop day at school. Scrambled to finish grading, re-organize my classroom, and design “first day of school materials” for the three different classes I would begin teaching on Monday before I attended several meetings scheduled during our “work day”. Understandably, though, as it’s the only time all teachers are available at the same time. Friday night, mom went home, but we spent time making a fort with the kids in the TV room and watching movies.
Sat, Jan 24th- my husband got sick with a different type of flu- one which left him completely unable to move for 2 days. I spent 5 hours at school doing My Homework, and coordinating a speech meet in which 200 kids from other schools will be coming to Annandale to compete on Thursday, 29th.
Sun, Jan 25th- after teaching Sunday School and going to church service, I then attended a 2 hour meeting as I have been voted in as a council member of my church. I returned home to cook, clean, do laundry, and continue to doll out TLC to sick hubby, recovering son, and a daughter that we’re suspecting may have strep throat now. Spent time figuring out how to arrange our schedules for Monday.
Mon, Jan 26th- my hubby work up admitting that he’s still too sick to get to work- so we re-configured how to get kids to school and daycare- and the possibility of getting our daughter to the doctor for a throat culture. Good news- this opened to door for me to get to school incredibly early to finish My Homework. Then be mentally prepped for the “first day of school”, another speech meeting, then off to class.
I write this down not to complain or sound whiney, but this is what occurs when a person multi tasks as a parent, spouse, employee, active Christian and involved community member. If the “long range planning” part of my brain didn’t function- my family’s life would completely fall apart!
I say this, because most of what these college students were multi-tasking was “fun” stuff. Facebooking, texting, talking with friends, etc. Yet what about the needs that will require multi-tasking as adults?
I’ve read that one of the downsides of technology being discovered, is that the part of the brain that allows us to plan long range is not being developed. Young people can use their cell phone to quickly call and say, “Hey Mom, pick me up at the Hollister door in 2 minutes”. Gone are the days in which a parent and child would go to the mall and say, “Ok, we will meet at this door in 30 minutes.” At which point said child would have to mentally calculate, “Well, it takes me 5 minutes to walk to Maurices, which gives me 15 min. to look around and try on clothes, 5 min to pay for it, then another 5 to get back to meet Mom.” These mental skills are not being developed, so what happens if that part of the brain nearly disappears?
I have personally have had one of the busiest, craziest, hectic weeks I can ever recall. Here’s a run down:
Mon, Jan 19th- I got sick with the flu and spent many hours in the bathroom. (All of this after I spent a full day teaching, hosting a speech team meeting, and writing sub notes for the next day)
Tue, Jan 20th- my son had a tonsillectomy so we spent hours at the hospital and lots of time at home dolling out much needed TLC.
Wed, Jan 21st- my mother came to our house to stay for three days so she could help take care of Parker so that my husband and I could get to work. After eating the supper I had thrown into the crock pot that morning knowing I was busy, I returned to school from 7-9 pm to grade 50 final scrapbooks.
Thur, Jan 22nd- after teaching, I brought home 75 essays to grade. My mom helped me total points and enter grades into my gradebook.
Fri, Jan 23rd- workshop day at school. Scrambled to finish grading, re-organize my classroom, and design “first day of school materials” for the three different classes I would begin teaching on Monday before I attended several meetings scheduled during our “work day”. Understandably, though, as it’s the only time all teachers are available at the same time. Friday night, mom went home, but we spent time making a fort with the kids in the TV room and watching movies.
Sat, Jan 24th- my husband got sick with a different type of flu- one which left him completely unable to move for 2 days. I spent 5 hours at school doing My Homework, and coordinating a speech meet in which 200 kids from other schools will be coming to Annandale to compete on Thursday, 29th.
Sun, Jan 25th- after teaching Sunday School and going to church service, I then attended a 2 hour meeting as I have been voted in as a council member of my church. I returned home to cook, clean, do laundry, and continue to doll out TLC to sick hubby, recovering son, and a daughter that we’re suspecting may have strep throat now. Spent time figuring out how to arrange our schedules for Monday.
Mon, Jan 26th- my hubby work up admitting that he’s still too sick to get to work- so we re-configured how to get kids to school and daycare- and the possibility of getting our daughter to the doctor for a throat culture. Good news- this opened to door for me to get to school incredibly early to finish My Homework. Then be mentally prepped for the “first day of school”, another speech meeting, then off to class.
I write this down not to complain or sound whiney, but this is what occurs when a person multi tasks as a parent, spouse, employee, active Christian and involved community member. If the “long range planning” part of my brain didn’t function- my family’s life would completely fall apart!
Blogging Debut
Well, this is my blogging debut. I’ve been intrigued by this concept, and have been thinking of ways in which to use blogging with my English students- particularly in my college literature classes.
My seniors are far more computer savvy than me, so I know I need to be more knowledgeable in this area. I figured I better have a grasp on this element (blogging) before I implement it in my classroom, though- or I could come out looking pretty incompetent!
As an English teacher I suppose one could argue that the “classics” don’t change; but how we communicate that information to our students has. I would argue that nothing can replace the need for ink on paper novels (I can’t imagine physically reading a book on a computer!), but certainly how students talk with each other about what they have read can change. It wasn’t long ago that I had students pass a notebook around to each other writing comments on the novels they were reading. Well, it’s time I tap into their knowledge of technology and use it to all of our benefits- discussing literature on-line!
My seniors are far more computer savvy than me, so I know I need to be more knowledgeable in this area. I figured I better have a grasp on this element (blogging) before I implement it in my classroom, though- or I could come out looking pretty incompetent!
As an English teacher I suppose one could argue that the “classics” don’t change; but how we communicate that information to our students has. I would argue that nothing can replace the need for ink on paper novels (I can’t imagine physically reading a book on a computer!), but certainly how students talk with each other about what they have read can change. It wasn’t long ago that I had students pass a notebook around to each other writing comments on the novels they were reading. Well, it’s time I tap into their knowledge of technology and use it to all of our benefits- discussing literature on-line!
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