Personas

I think that as a teacher it is imperative to maintain a professional persona, digital or otherwise. As teachers we are role models for America’s youth. As difficult as it may seem at times, we need to act appropriately inside and outside of school. To me this means do not do anything illegal or unethical. You always hear stories about the crazy science teacher smoking pot during their break, teachers drinking, driving, and getting DUIs, and more recently teachers posting inappropriate things on social networking sites. The question is do you want to be that teacher? I don’t and I hope that everyone else reading this blog doesn’t either. Therefore, we should always err on the side of caution. If you think something may get you in trouble, don’t do it. It’s as simple as that. However, I’m not saying that teachers cannot have lives of their own. If you are going to go to a bar and get sloshed, maybe go somewhere outside of your school district so the chances of running into a parent are less and have a designated driver. If you smoke pot, legally or otherwise, do it in the privacy of your own home on your own time. Lastly, if you are a member of a social networking site, Facebook for example, set your page to private and add only true friends. If you feel the need to add coworkers, create a second Facebook for your school self and one for your personal life.

Social networking sites could be great teaching tools. In fact, one project that I would like my students to do is to create a Facebook page for someone in history. It would not be on Facebook, I have a template that they would use with Microsoft PowerPoint, but it is inspired by Facebook. Also, a teacher’s Facebook that would be open to all students would be a great way to keep in contact with the class outside of school. You could post information about sporting events or any other extracurricular activity. All social networking sites are not bad. They could be great teaching tools. It is all in how it is used. 

Ethical Use of Technology

         I believe that my responsibility as a teacher regarding ethical uses of technology by my students and myself is very important. I believe that it is my job as a teacher to talk to my students about the ethical uses of technology, but also to lead by example. However, I am not their parent and I cannot tell students what they can and cannot do outside of school. The best I can do is tell students what is legal, what is illegal, and the possible repercussions for breaking the law, and then hope they make right decisions.

     When I was younger, say around 16, I downloaded music that I did not pay for. In fact, I believe that I may have used Kazaa, which I had forgotten about until hearing the name in this weeks lecture, but it has been so long that I am not positive that Kazaa was the site I used. However, I am sure that my music downloads were far fewer than many of my classmates. It just so happens that my car c.d. player would not play burnt c.d.’s. Also, at that time my mom, sister, and I lived in a trailer. In a trailer you have absolutely no privacy, as the walls are basically made of wood paneling. Therefore, if I tried to listen to my music I was often told to turn it down or shut it off. As a result I didn’t download much music because I had no real place to listen to it. Otherwise, things might have been different. After people began to get in trouble for downloading things off the Internet for free, I stopped completely. More recently I started downloading music, but I always use iTunes and I always pay for it. I do not feel bad about downloading and listening to the music that I did not pay for in my youth, for two reasons. First and foremost, because I really didn’t know it was bad. Everyone was doing it and I was really naive. It never occurred to me that I was actually ripping someone else off. It’s a popular saying because its true, ignorance is bliss. It doesn’t make it right I know, but that’s they way it was. Secondly, for the reasons mentioned above, I didn’t download that much. Again it doesn’t make it right, but it could have been much worse. Even though I do not feel bad about doing it in the past, it is not something I would ever do now. If I did I would feel bad because I do know that it is wrong. Also, I don’t think students should download free music, even though I did it when I was younger. I know that it sounds hypocritical but the times have changed and students should know that it is illegal and morally wrong. If they do not know, then it is my responsibility as a teacher to enlighten them on the issue.

     Within my classroom I will take several steps to ensure that the use of technology and media content is ethical. First of all, I will purchase any video clips that I show or music that I play, even if I have to buy an entire video for a ten-minute clip or a song for a one-minute segment. I will follow the Fair Use guidelines for anything else I may download of the Internet. I will share the Fair Share guidelines with my students, and I will also monitor any projects that they hand in to ensure they are following the guidelines.

     As a teacher the best way I know to ensure that my students’ experiences online are safe and effective is to discuss with students what is appropriate and be observant as a teacher and monitor the students the best I can. The school will block many sites, however, some inappropriate sites slip through the cracks. If the students know what is inappropriate and are monitored, there will be fewer incidences of inappropriate behavior with technology.

Creativity

I enjoyed the lectures given by Sir Robinson. I thought he was extremely entertaining. He had a great sense of humor, and it made the videos interesting to watch. I agree with what he proposes within both videos to some degree. I think that creativity should be encouraged. Also, I agree with him completely in the idea that children are not afraid to make mistakes. It is school that instills this fear of failure in children. That is a terrible side effect of our educational system, or better yet all educational systems. School should be the place where students try different things, make mistakes, and find what works for them.

While there were several ideas that I agreed with, there were several points Sir Robinson made that I was unsettled with. For one, he proposes that creativity is as important as literacy and we should treat both with the same status. I am not quite sure if it is because of my love of reading or because I have seen the dismal literacy levels with in our own inner-city schools, but this statement brings about a strong negative response from me. Literacy should be thee most important subject in school. With proper reading skills you can potentially teach yourself anything. With proper writing skills you can communicate with anyone. To compare teaching dance, theatre, art, etc. with teaching literacy is absolutely ridiculous. However, if he had said creativity was as important as mathematics that would have been something I could have gotten on board with. Besides adding, subtracting, division, multiplications along with decimals and fractions, what use is math to those that don’t need it for their future careers? I’m sorry to all you math majors out there, but it was probably my least favorite subject and as soon as I could leave it behind I did.

Also, in both videos Sir Robinson brings up the issue of ADD or ADHD. He talks about it light heartedly and even makes a comment along the lines of this was before ADD was around, otherwise this child would have been simply medicated. I fully believe that both ADD and ADHD is something that is frequently over diagnosed, and is often used as a scapegoat. However, I do not want to dismiss is so quickly.

I see a similarity between what Sir Robinson is saying about creativity and technology in school. Most schools do not allow students to have cell phones and limit use of technology, maybe because its not available and maybe because some teachers do not know how to use it themselves. It is used less in school, than it should be. Students are being stifled. Also, with the use of technology and creativity in the classroom, all subjects can be made interesting to students... well maybe not math. Just kidding! Please no hate messages from you math lovers out there.

The Digital Divide

First and foremost I do not think that the use of technology in the classroom is a personal choice that teachers should make. The use of technology in the classroom is a necessity.  As elementary and secondary school teachers we are preparing students for life after high school, and students will need to know how to use technology regardless of whether or not they are proceeding to college or a job. Technology is present everywhere in today’s society, and as educators we must prepare students for that.

I did not have as much access to computers or the Internet as my peers, up until around my senior year of high school. For my full technological history you may see my first blog. I do feel as though this has put me at a disadvantage. While I am on the brink of being a digital native, however I think I am actually a digital immigrant because of the access I lacked. However, I do not think that the lack of resources made a difference in my high school education. Ten years ago when I was getting my high school education the use of technology in school was minimum and we were never required to do any work outside of school on the Internet.

As a teacher I do feel that I have a responsibility to bridge the gap between the “haves” and the “have nots” in my classroom. This is for a few reasons. One, I feel that life is unfair enough, that if I can play a part in providing some equality to my students, I will feel as though I am doing something positive. Secondly, I hope to give everyone a chance to be productive members of society. I want to give all my students the opportunity to go to college, be successful, and reach their goals. This can only be achieved by bridging the gap.

Consumption

         Watching the video and reading the statics I am sad to say that I see a connection in my own life between the amount of media content that I consume and what I believe to be true about the world. For example, the part about women held especially true for me. I remember thinking in high school that I was out of shape, and being extremely self-conscious about my looks. However, looking back I was being ridiculous. I am 5’7” and at the time weighed 120 pounds. I should have never felt the way that I did. Yet, I felt pressure from society to be thinner. I realize that I do feel worse about myself after watching television or browsing the Internet. Also, I notice the “boys will be boys” attitude in both the media and real life.

         I think it is important that students learn to create multimedia content. However, I do not think it is nearly as important as learning to read and write text. Writing has become so informal and I feel as though it is being neglected. These days, with the massive amount of texting, AIMing, emails, etc, people have become extremely lax in their writing. Abbreviating has become so popular that people actually say L-O-L. Also, capitalizing and punctuation has been suffering. I think that schools should focus first on text writing and the creation of multimedia content should come second. 

Online vs Traditional Courses

Can computers replace teachers in traditional classrooms? No. If a computer replaces the teacher in a classroom, it is no longer a traditional classroom. However, is it feasible for a student to learn from a computer as he or she would from a teacher in a traditional classroom? I am sure in some circumstances yes. Yet, I do believe that having a teacher in a traditional classroom setting can be beneficial in ways that no computer can be.

            The thinking and reasoning used by Kaplan, Kahn, Jukes, and Taylor are potentially changing the game of teaching. Studies are being done that indicate not only are students processing information differently, but also their brains are potentially changing. They are adapting to the vast amounts of technology being thrown at them. This will drastically change how teachers teach, what information is taught, what classrooms look like, and eventually what schools will look like.

            With the way things are changing, I have no doubt that in time the job description for teachers will be different than it is now. According to the plan, I will have my teaching certificate at the end of December. I fully expect each year to be vastly different than the year before!

            Not only will each year be different, but also each class will be different. While some classes may be taught completely on-line, others maybe hybrid courses, and some maybe taught traditionally.  I believe that all courses, even music, art, math, science, and literature can be taught online; however, I think that students benefit from being in a classroom with a teacher. There are things that a computer cannot do. A computer cannot build personal relationships with students, encourage students to do their best, and a computer cannot give students advice or relate to students.

            There is something physical about a school experience that is as important as content covered in an online class. Socializing with people, learning how to interact with others is an integral part of education. I fear that a student that gets their education solely online might not develop socially.

            I think in order for students to benefit from school both students and schools need to adapt. Educational environments need to adapt to better suit today’s students. Students need to adapt to the school environment by learning to follow rules set forth. Students need to realize that learning can be fun, even without playing games. 

            Depending on the student the potential flexibility gained in an online class may outweigh the benefits a person-to-person experience. However, I think it completely depends on the student. There are some students who wouldn’t benefit from an online course. For example, I despise online classes. They are monotonous to me. I enjoy going to class, speaking with others, and learning in a conventional environment. I would give up the flexibility of an online course in order to have the social interactions with others.

            Online classes, hybrid classes, and the overall use of technology in the classroom are not farces or passing fads. The fact is that today’s students are changing and schools need to find a way to meet the needs of these students. 

Research, Electronic Constructivism, and Web 2.0

         I collect the better part of my research, by searching for it through the Internet. The majority of the time, I use Google and simply search for key terms. However, if the professor I am doing research for requires us to have multiple sources, from different types of media, I will get the information I need from the Internet and then add little factoids from books or journals, in order to satisfy any requirements. I never use Wikipedia as a source, but I will always read what Wikipedia says and then find other sources to back it up.

         I definitely see myself in the descriptions given underneath the heading, “We are seeing students…” I am frequently overwhelmed by the amount of information given on each topic. I am sure that I have spent a ridiculous amount of time searching for an answer I could have found within minutes by looking in a book instead of the Internet. I am guilty of not always checking to see if my resources are credible. Lastly, as much as I hate to admit this there have been times when I have simply “regurgitated” someone else’s thought. I would never purposefully plagiarize, but I would reword something and not add my own ideas or thoughts.

         I thought the article, “Electronic Constructivism” by Maureen Brown Yoder, was very interesting. In fact, I agree with the basic message of the article far more than Marc Prensky’s article, “Digital Native, Digital Immigrant.” Yoder described projects that students could work on with each other, in order to teach themselves. Students learn about the material, but also learn to question and analyze information. Prensky basically says that students should play games in order to learn. I find this idea ridiculous. I think that games are a great tool to aid in the education of students, but that should not be the only method. I believe that teachers should engage students, however, games are not the only way to gain and keep students attention.

         As a teacher it is important that I assist my students in time management. With proper time management students use their research time more efficiently and more meaningfully. If there were one sure way to do this, the teacher that figured it out would be a millionaire. However, different methods work for different teachers, and different groups of students. I honestly have not figured out a way that works for me. The best I can say for now is that I will monitor students as they work on projects. Also, I will give students the option that if they stay on task I will give them an allotted amount of time at the end of class to browse the Internet. Hopefully this will keep students from getting distracted while working on their projects.

         I use a several aspects of Web 2.0. However, none more than Facebook. I have had a facebook account for over five years. These days I have notifications sent directly to my phone. I also spend a lot of time on Facebook, on a regular basis. I check it throughout the day, look at pictures, and message friends. I also use Google Docs occasionally. Mostly, for reviewing papers and assignments sent to me through email. I have created a podcast, and I have also blogged.