Teachers taking education too far

Bellow you will find a short video I cam across on MSNBC. It's about how a history teacher was trying to role play and show the effects of slavery to her students. However, this teacher took the lesson too far. One student voulenteered while another did not and was forced into this role playing activity. The two students were of African American decent. The two students hands and feet were tapped together and they were told to crawl under the desk. The girl was so embarrased and unconfortable she refused to go to school for a day or two. As a future teacher I think this is absurd. The teacher who forced these students to participate has been a teacher for 4 years and should know better. First of all, you should never ever restrain a studnet unless its for safety purposes. Secondly, forcing a student into a role playin activity, unless the whole class is involved is ridiculous. Some students have a hard enough time with there peers and are embarassed and should not have to feel unconfortable in the classroom with the teacher. The teacher should be a confortaing kind person understanding of the childs needs and fears. I was just disgusted when I watched and found out it was a teacher whos been teaching for a few year. I want to know where she went to school and got her certificaion from and how in her right mind she thought this activity was ok. Watch for yourself and let me know what you think.





http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#28112350

Kurzweil

I came acroos yet another very useful educational software called Kurzweil 3000. This allows teachers to personalize course material and create vocabulary lists, study guides and test questions. Students can create their won study notes, summaries and outlines. Teachers can keep students on track or quiz students with multiple choice, true/false matching test questions. You can scan in tests, worksheets and course material that students can complete online using all of the tools. You can customize the environment providing only the tools needed for the test or assignment. There is also a built in word processor and word prediction perect for students with disabilities. This allows word prediction and lets students hear what they type and they can correct the mistakes as they write.

Inspiration/kidspiration

SO, with the thanks of one of the students in my other class, I was given access to the software of inspiration and kidspiration. Let me just tell you this stuff is great!!! It helps develop ideas and organize thinking. Visual learning, supports students and strengthens their critical thinking, comprehension and writing skills. It also helps with students creativity and develops new ideas and ways of thinking. It will instantly transform a diagram into an outline in a matter of seconds. For the kidspiration, it helps young students develop their ideas. This software is wonderful for brainstorming, organizing, creating, mapping, diagraming, writing and exploring. With technology and visual learning I suggest any and all teachers aquire this software.

Brain Pop and Educational Sites

After seeing the educational website BrainPop I decided to review it on my own. I would use this site with my students just not too often. I like how it has educational videos for all ages and grade levels. I also enjoy the quizes they give after each video to ensure the students pay attention and make sure they grasp the information you want them to learn. I also like the suscriber helpline, and the e-mail suggestions to imporve the site. The other site I would use in my classroom is Scholastic. There are many resources a teacher could use in the classroom. I like the web rubric assignment because not only does it teach you how to assess a web site it also gives many website teachers could use for additional resources. Such as lesson plans and videos for students. Some of the websites mentioned in the last class I had never heard of before so not only did I learn about bad and good websites I have more educational sites I can view on my own.

From chalkboards to smartboards

I was just looking up new technologies that are introduced everyday in this world. They affect everything we do in this ever changing world. I think in this day and age its important to have students learn in the way they want to learn. The article John discussed I also read. Students today want to be learning from mobile devices such as there cell phones, i pods, their i phones, text messages and the Internet. Students now a days can get any information they need through their phones via text messing or the Internet. They are becoming distant learners. Learning through screen casts and pod casts. Most students either have a blog, myspace, or facebook page they visit regularly. It is important as educators we do not get left behind and we teach for the future.

My Webquest

After viewing the first round of webquests I thought everyone did a fantastic job. I liked how there was a varity of grade levels and subject matters. Now I am working on my own webquest to present to the class on Wed. I am attempting to become a high school English teacher and Shakespeare was always an intresting topic to me and I know that high school students also cover this in their English classes. Therefore, I have been viewing other webquest online of Shakespeare and I am attempting to take the aspects I like from the existing ones and make my own. Now when it comes to high school children they usually are not very excited to learn Shakespeare especially the old language that Shakespeare uses. So in my webquest I am thinking about incorporating an activity that they will ease the lauguage barrier between Shakespearen launage and the English students use today...even though its not always proper English....

NJCCCS

I had no idea that there were technological standards that teachers of New Jersey HAD to meet during the 13 years of education. I think this site was very useful easy to navigate (which is important for the teachers who are not technologically aware) and extremely informative. I also think that in this ever changing world (especially technology) it's very important to have these standards revised which they make clear they do. It's also wonderful that they incorporate different people's opinions into the revision process. Not is it just teachers and administrators that review the standards its also students, parents, people from the business world, the community and higher education. When it comes to incorporating technology into the classroom I know I will use as much as I can to enhance my students learning experience. When I was navigating the education site of New Jersey they had different links on how to assess students learning of technology. They also had the different content areas and when they were adapted into this criteria. Like I said earlier I found the site very informative with areas like gifted and talented students and progress indicators. I will be sure to use this site when I become a teacher to ensure that not only am I as a teacher meeting the standards but my school district isn't falling behind or neglecting to give these students the technological education they need and deserve.