Thursday, November 14, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Cyberbullying - 17
Bullying.
What is there to say about it that hasn't already been said?
Not trying to be brash or rude.
But quite frankly... I'm tired of hearing about bullying.
Not because I don't care.
Not because I'm heartless.
And while bullying will always exist because cruel people will never cease to exist, it has become more prevalent than ever.
You would think...
That with all of the social networks and technology that we have, we'd use those tools to raise MORE awareness and build people up...
But instead... it's being used to tear kids down.
Hence -
Cyberbullying.
As a human being and future educator, I feel as if it is my responsibility to recognize possible signs of bullying within and without the four walls of my classroom. And while I cannot be everywhere my students are, I can only hope that I would do everything in my power to stop the bully and provide support for the victim. While I may be able to stop a bully from throwing a physical or verbal punch at his/her victim in the hallways or bathrooms, I cannot stop the emotional and mental toll it takes on the victim. That is something that stays with a child for a long time, no matter where they go.
That is what scares me about cyberbullying. There are not always visible, clear signs that it is happening. It can be the most subtle thing. The Internet is a big, big place. Bigger than a classroom, bigger than a hallway, bigger than a playground, bigger than a bus stop. A bully has an unlimited amount of space to prey on his/her victims.
The worst part?
Anonymity.
Which is just a bully's way of being a coward.
They can say whatever they want all while hiding behind a screen. Talking the talking.
And when it comes down to it, they're too cowardly to walk the walk.
This messes with the victim psychologically. They're being tormented; half the time, they don't even know why.
And the next thing you know - another suicide is being reported on the news.
I could go on and on and on and on and on about bullying and cyberbullying.
I could pour my heart out onto this blog post about how my friends have been affected by it, how I have been affected by it, and so forth... and the post would go on for days.
Maybe another time.
But, here is my awareness, for everyone, but mainly to you, present and future educators -
Look for it... even if it's not there.
Get to know your students. Get involved in their lives. Know what's going on. Because sometimes... you just never, ever know.
Another thing -
Technology.
We all know it's becoming a big asset in the classroom, especially with CCSS requiring more use of the Internet.
Teach your students EVERYTHING you possibly can about being a good digital citizen.
This means how to appropriately search for things; how to politely and respectfully communicate with peers on social networking sites or any website where kids can engage in conversations and discussions.
That's why I'm tired of hearing about bullying.
Adults. Role models. Parents. Teachers. Siblings.
We all have the power to make an impact and yet sometimes... we just sit back and do nothing.
While you can't control everything, you still have a good bit of the reigns.
You have an opportunity every day to impact your students.
Not just the victims.
But the bullies as well.
What is there to say about it that hasn't already been said?
Not trying to be brash or rude.
But quite frankly... I'm tired of hearing about bullying.
Not because I don't care.
Not because I'm heartless.
And while bullying will always exist because cruel people will never cease to exist, it has become more prevalent than ever.
You would think...
That with all of the social networks and technology that we have, we'd use those tools to raise MORE awareness and build people up...
But instead... it's being used to tear kids down.
Hence -
Cyberbullying.
As a human being and future educator, I feel as if it is my responsibility to recognize possible signs of bullying within and without the four walls of my classroom. And while I cannot be everywhere my students are, I can only hope that I would do everything in my power to stop the bully and provide support for the victim. While I may be able to stop a bully from throwing a physical or verbal punch at his/her victim in the hallways or bathrooms, I cannot stop the emotional and mental toll it takes on the victim. That is something that stays with a child for a long time, no matter where they go.
That is what scares me about cyberbullying. There are not always visible, clear signs that it is happening. It can be the most subtle thing. The Internet is a big, big place. Bigger than a classroom, bigger than a hallway, bigger than a playground, bigger than a bus stop. A bully has an unlimited amount of space to prey on his/her victims.
The worst part?
Anonymity.
Which is just a bully's way of being a coward.
They can say whatever they want all while hiding behind a screen. Talking the talking.
And when it comes down to it, they're too cowardly to walk the walk.
This messes with the victim psychologically. They're being tormented; half the time, they don't even know why.
And the next thing you know - another suicide is being reported on the news.
I could go on and on and on and on and on about bullying and cyberbullying.
I could pour my heart out onto this blog post about how my friends have been affected by it, how I have been affected by it, and so forth... and the post would go on for days.
Maybe another time.
But, here is my awareness, for everyone, but mainly to you, present and future educators -
Look for it... even if it's not there.
Get to know your students. Get involved in their lives. Know what's going on. Because sometimes... you just never, ever know.
Another thing -
Technology.
We all know it's becoming a big asset in the classroom, especially with CCSS requiring more use of the Internet.
Teach your students EVERYTHING you possibly can about being a good digital citizen.
This means how to appropriately search for things; how to politely and respectfully communicate with peers on social networking sites or any website where kids can engage in conversations and discussions.
That's why I'm tired of hearing about bullying.
Adults. Role models. Parents. Teachers. Siblings.
We all have the power to make an impact and yet sometimes... we just sit back and do nothing.
While you can't control everything, you still have a good bit of the reigns.
You have an opportunity every day to impact your students.
Not just the victims.
But the bullies as well.
Augmented Reality - 16
In her article, "Augmented Reality Snags a Coveted Spot in Classrooms," Laura Devaney talks about how a smart phone/tablet app brings to life certain aspects of learning. An augmented reality app gives students an experience that "enhances a normal scene." By using a smart phone or tablet to hover a certain painting or historical landmark, the app will bring up background information, facts, videos, and other things that give students a deeper knowledge and understanding of that particular piece.
I like to compare augmented reality to Pinterest. On Pinterest, you see all these different food dishes, outfits, hairstyles, furniture, books, etc. and all you have to do is click on the picture, and it will take you directly the website where you can either get the recipe for a dish, tutorials for a hairstyle, or order form for a piece of furniture. You may see something that catches your eye and have NO CLUE as to what that thing is, but now you're interested and curious, so you click on it and learn about it. That's why I think the augmented reality app is such a great tool for students. If they see something they want to know more about, all they have to do is use a tablet or phone, and within seconds, tons of information is now, literally, at their fingertips.
I like to compare augmented reality to Pinterest. On Pinterest, you see all these different food dishes, outfits, hairstyles, furniture, books, etc. and all you have to do is click on the picture, and it will take you directly the website where you can either get the recipe for a dish, tutorials for a hairstyle, or order form for a piece of furniture. You may see something that catches your eye and have NO CLUE as to what that thing is, but now you're interested and curious, so you click on it and learn about it. That's why I think the augmented reality app is such a great tool for students. If they see something they want to know more about, all they have to do is use a tablet or phone, and within seconds, tons of information is now, literally, at their fingertips.
Five Essentials to Create Connected Students - 15
In this article, Vicki Davis explains the importance of students being appropriately connected using technology. While Tumblr, Twitter, and Blogspot can be good tools for students to use in the classroom, Davis says students do not know how to use them academically. Davis says that connecting is an essential skill that people need to know in the 21st century, but we as educators are not providing them with the appropriate knowledge and guidelines to using these websites and tools effectively. She gives five essential elements to becoming a ''well-connected student":
1. A connected author - Students need to be able to write in the appropriate context. This means recognizing when it is okay to informal language and when it is necessary to use formal language and so on. Failure to do so makes one look uneducated and lazy.
2. A connected publisher - Students should include their academic profiles online instead of only using social networks for personal space.
3. A connected conversationalist - Know how to engage in academic conversations online. Using hashtags on Twitter is a great example of how students can find what is being talked about in the world and how to appropriately respond within that conversational setting.
4. A strategic disconnector - Using technology for recreational time is the new thing, and it's not necessarily a bad thing. However, it can be unhealthy, so students need to know when to put the phone or computer away.
5. A curious, lifelong pursuer of ingenious solutions - Students need to be curious about their passions and explore them to learn more about the world around them and come up with solutions. They need to be creators.
I think Davis touches on some very important things in her article. I especially liked her take on how students present themselves on the Internet. I think this goes for EVERYBODY. I cannot stand to see misspelled words or use the incorrect form of a word; when I see someone on Facebook misspell things, especially when they're trying to make an intelligent point of some sort, it bugs me to no end and distracts me from the point they were trying to make in the first place. No matter how smart or reasonable you may sound in a blog post or Facebook status, using improper language and having numerous grammatical mistakes really hurts you. My favorite part of Davis' article is when she talks about being a strategic disconnector. I cannot stress enough how much it bugs me that technology has turned us into lazy, dependent zombies. We depend on it for EVERYTHING. And I will be the first to admit, there are times when I can't tear myself away from the computer or away from my phone, but I eventually have to give it up because it stresses me to no end. I think technology has become a handicap for physical, face-to-face communication. We've become awkward and uncomfortable whilst having conversations with people because our initial reaction when meeting someone new is looking them up on Facebook and researching all their interests, photos, and basically getting to know that person through a web page. We develop preconceived notions about that person, which affects how we treat and talk to that person the next time we see and talk to them. And when we finally sit down to have a conversation, there is little to talk. We need to have self-control when using technology. Yes, we need to use it to our advantage, but we also need to know when too much is too much.
1. A connected author - Students need to be able to write in the appropriate context. This means recognizing when it is okay to informal language and when it is necessary to use formal language and so on. Failure to do so makes one look uneducated and lazy.
2. A connected publisher - Students should include their academic profiles online instead of only using social networks for personal space.
3. A connected conversationalist - Know how to engage in academic conversations online. Using hashtags on Twitter is a great example of how students can find what is being talked about in the world and how to appropriately respond within that conversational setting.
4. A strategic disconnector - Using technology for recreational time is the new thing, and it's not necessarily a bad thing. However, it can be unhealthy, so students need to know when to put the phone or computer away.
5. A curious, lifelong pursuer of ingenious solutions - Students need to be curious about their passions and explore them to learn more about the world around them and come up with solutions. They need to be creators.
I think Davis touches on some very important things in her article. I especially liked her take on how students present themselves on the Internet. I think this goes for EVERYBODY. I cannot stand to see misspelled words or use the incorrect form of a word; when I see someone on Facebook misspell things, especially when they're trying to make an intelligent point of some sort, it bugs me to no end and distracts me from the point they were trying to make in the first place. No matter how smart or reasonable you may sound in a blog post or Facebook status, using improper language and having numerous grammatical mistakes really hurts you. My favorite part of Davis' article is when she talks about being a strategic disconnector. I cannot stress enough how much it bugs me that technology has turned us into lazy, dependent zombies. We depend on it for EVERYTHING. And I will be the first to admit, there are times when I can't tear myself away from the computer or away from my phone, but I eventually have to give it up because it stresses me to no end. I think technology has become a handicap for physical, face-to-face communication. We've become awkward and uncomfortable whilst having conversations with people because our initial reaction when meeting someone new is looking them up on Facebook and researching all their interests, photos, and basically getting to know that person through a web page. We develop preconceived notions about that person, which affects how we treat and talk to that person the next time we see and talk to them. And when we finally sit down to have a conversation, there is little to talk. We need to have self-control when using technology. Yes, we need to use it to our advantage, but we also need to know when too much is too much.
Friday, October 4, 2013
21st Century Skills: Why They Matter, What They Are, and How We Get There - 14
President Ken Kay of Partnership for 21st Century Skills wrote the Foreword for the book Enriching Minds for the 21st Century. Kay discusses and explains why the education system of American needs to be reinvented and restructured to adapt to the changes of the 21st century. Kay addresses three important points that answer why America needs a new model for education in the 21st century. One point he makes is that the world is changing. Technology is replacing blue collar workers. Global competition and collaboration has been accelerating over the past 30 years. More than three-quarters of all jobs in the United States are in the service sector (AKA - truck transportation, messenger services and warehousing). Kay's second point is that schools and student in the U.S. are not adapting to these changes. He emphasizes the fact that the public education system is not preparing students for the demands of the 21st century (economic, workforce, citizenship opportunities). He brings up the alarming high school dropout rate of 70 percent. Kids and teenagers are losing interest in school and are unengaged and unmotivated in their learning. He points out that benchmark testing, even if mastered, still does not prepare students for the expectations of the new economy. Kay's final point was that the U.S. has no clear sense of purpose for securing our future economic competitiveness. America is the most competitive nation in the world, but we still lack the skills needed to prepare future generations to be skilled workers in critical fields in order to remain globally competitive and on top. Kay provides a model of what the 21st century education should look like. The model focuses on life and career skills, learning and innovation skills, and information/media/technology skills. At the center of these skills is the foundation and knowledge of core subjects and 21st century themes.
I really like where Ken Kay is going with his ideas on this new education system. I agree that curriculum and instruction should be reinvented to help prepare and adapt our students to the ways of the 21st century world. I loved his quote:
"Without a clear and thorough articulation of the outcomes that students need, reshaping the infrastructure is premature...If you are building a house, it doesn't make sense to order the plumbing fittings before the architect finishes the design specifications. In education, 21st century student outcomes are the design specs for the rest of the system." - Ken Kay
I feel like the United States, currently, is trying to create an education system that does not work well with what our students are NEEDING to learn. At the least the focus is not on what we need. My other problem is that if we are so competitive with other nations, why are nations in Asia and Europe way more skilled in important areas ahead of America. Why have educational leaders not recognized this? And if they have, why have we not come up with a more effective approach? And while I'm on my soap box, why are teachers, parents, and school administrators not the ones making these decisions? Why are people who have no business in creating a new education system making all the decisions (mainly referring to the CCSS team)?
I feel like America has become too comfortable and content. We have become lazy. This needs to change.
I really like where Ken Kay is going with his ideas on this new education system. I agree that curriculum and instruction should be reinvented to help prepare and adapt our students to the ways of the 21st century world. I loved his quote:
"Without a clear and thorough articulation of the outcomes that students need, reshaping the infrastructure is premature...If you are building a house, it doesn't make sense to order the plumbing fittings before the architect finishes the design specifications. In education, 21st century student outcomes are the design specs for the rest of the system." - Ken Kay
I feel like the United States, currently, is trying to create an education system that does not work well with what our students are NEEDING to learn. At the least the focus is not on what we need. My other problem is that if we are so competitive with other nations, why are nations in Asia and Europe way more skilled in important areas ahead of America. Why have educational leaders not recognized this? And if they have, why have we not come up with a more effective approach? And while I'm on my soap box, why are teachers, parents, and school administrators not the ones making these decisions? Why are people who have no business in creating a new education system making all the decisions (mainly referring to the CCSS team)?
I feel like America has become too comfortable and content. We have become lazy. This needs to change.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Why Tough Teachers Get Good Results - 13
Joanne Lipman's article "Why Tough Teachers Get Good Results" reflects on the traditional ways of teaching. Lipman recalls a music teacher of her's (Jerry Kupchynsky from the Ukraine) who did not beat around the bush when it came to insulting someone's intelligence, or rather, lack thereof. This brash discipline was not meant to degrade a student; instead, it did something more. Lipman says when her teacher passed away, they celebrated his life by bringing all of his former students together to perform a concert. The turnout was overwhelming. Many of Kupchynsky's students that showed up turned out to be Ivy League graduates, professional musicians, doctors, lawyers, etc. Lipman realized that her teacher's teaching methods were quite effective in preparing her and her peers for their futures.
This was truly a fantastic read. And all too accurate. I will be the first to say, I have learned so much more from the teachers who made me cry and pushed me past my limits. For me, it was more like I felt like I wanted to impress my teachers. If I tried harder and did better in whatever task I was given, then my teachers would approve of me and think I was a great student. At the same time, I felt like if I did not work hard or if I failed, then I wasn't good enough. And I wanted to be the best I could be. My favorite parts of the article were when Lipman stated that failure is an option. This is a lesson I've learned with life and school lessons. I feel like we sugarcoat things too much nowadays. Failure isn't always a bad thing. And it's definitely inevitable. We learn valuable lesson after we have failed at something. We just take what we have learned from that failure and try again. Failure is negative when it becomes consistent with no effort made to learn from what we did wrong the first time. Children AND teachers need to know this. If a child fails a test and makes no effort to do better, then that child needs to know that there are consequences such as receiving a failing grade or even repeating that grade.
This was truly a fantastic read. And all too accurate. I will be the first to say, I have learned so much more from the teachers who made me cry and pushed me past my limits. For me, it was more like I felt like I wanted to impress my teachers. If I tried harder and did better in whatever task I was given, then my teachers would approve of me and think I was a great student. At the same time, I felt like if I did not work hard or if I failed, then I wasn't good enough. And I wanted to be the best I could be. My favorite parts of the article were when Lipman stated that failure is an option. This is a lesson I've learned with life and school lessons. I feel like we sugarcoat things too much nowadays. Failure isn't always a bad thing. And it's definitely inevitable. We learn valuable lesson after we have failed at something. We just take what we have learned from that failure and try again. Failure is negative when it becomes consistent with no effort made to learn from what we did wrong the first time. Children AND teachers need to know this. If a child fails a test and makes no effort to do better, then that child needs to know that there are consequences such as receiving a failing grade or even repeating that grade.
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