Week 5.4
Education BG....(Before Google)
When I was in high school, technology was virtually non-existent to me. There was no Instant Messaging, Emailing, Tweeting or Chat Rooms. If you were waiting for a boy to call you, you had to be waiting by the phone at home. There was no interupting a perfectly good conversation with a friend to check your latest text message. People still sent invites to birthday parties through snail-mail. I have to tell you, I kind of miss those days. It seemed a little more peaceful, with out machines beeping or ringing constantly.
On the other hand, technology has brought us into a connected world, where information can be gathered instantly. That's pretty amazing! I was traveling to New Fairfield the other day and my mapquest directions (yes...I still do that) had steered me wrong. I pulled over and instantly grabbed directions from my iPhone. No problems from then on!
Although, I miss the days when people couldn't immediately get a hold of me or have to know exactly what I was doing at this very moment (i.e. facebook status), I'm starting to balance that with the instant gratification that technology bring to us today. It's incredible to me that I can reach my family in other states through FaceTime on my iPhone. My kids LOVE seeing their grandfather in North Carolina; I never got to do that as a kid! I still treasure face-to-face interactions and often wonder why some people choose to take that for granted. I see so many students who won't look up from their cellphones to enjoy their family and friends around them. We have to embrace the technology and teach about how to balance all of these wonderful things!
No Place in Class for Digital Illiterates!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/dec/06/teaching-digital-literacy
A Flipped Classroom!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H4RkudFzlc
The flipped classroom video reminds me of a biology course that I took as an undergrad. It was a hybrid class so it was part online and part in the classroom. I basically did all of my reading at home and was able to post questions that I had online. The class physically met once a week for a lab where we applied what we learned in the assigned reading. It was completely hands on. Taking care of the reading at home was great because we didn't have to spend valuable class time with lectures. Instead, we could take advantage of the expert in the classroom. I personally don't think there is anything worse than reading before a class and then spending an entire class period going over a powerpoint of exactly what you read already. There are much better ways to use class time. I do think there should be more professional development in the use of technology, but as educators we need to ensure that we are not putting any students who do not have access to certain technologies at a disadvantage. I think there is more professional development to incorporate technology in the classroom, but what I have seen coming out of these professional development meetings is still seriously lacking. We are making progress, but we need to be a little bit more aggressive
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a really good point. I have had way too many classes that I have done all of this reading and when I go to class we spend the WHOLE time going over exactly what I read.
DeleteI also agree that more professional development needs to be focused on technologies. I know way too many teachers who have no idea how to use basically any form of technology. Or there are way too many teachers who believe that the only form of technology they can use is Microsoft word. There are teachers would but their lectures up on Microsoft word or PowerPoint and they are basically saying the information right off the computer screen.
Overall, I would have to say we are making improvements but we need to do something more to actually get through to some educators about the true values of technologies.
Melissa R
Jen and Melissa,
DeleteI agree with both of you. I think that they try to promote technology via professional development but there is no follow-through. You may get trained for one day but then it is done and over with and how many teachers keep at something new to them when there is so much else that they are responsible for? My last year in Wallingford they had hired a new technology teacher and he was actually there to help us promote technology in the classroom and not just to fix the machines. He took time to offer classes during preps, after school etc. and was willing to come to your classroom to help you get comfortable using new technology.
Tina
Tina,
DeleteThat is awesome! I wish our school would do something like this. I think every school can really benefit from having someone in their schools that can do theses things. It would help both teachers and students!
Melissa R
While I agree that instruction should include opportunities for content application and analysis, I strongly believe that direct and explicit instruction is a must. As teachers, we do a disservice to our students by spending the entire duration of class rehashing the previous evening's notes. However, as many of us know and likely care not to admit to our own students, many students a)don't read prior to class or b)are not equipped with the skills necessary to identify important ideas within the reading. As a learner, I find it crucial that teachers review readings in class. Balance is a must!
DeleteOne of the most gratifying experiences I have encountered at SJCSoE, is their stress on the students' learning process instead of learning product. Oftentimes, we worry about WHAT the teacher WANTS instead of HOW the teacher WANTS us to learn it. I feel that some of my students are the same way. I try to incorporate aspects of the flipped classroom in my 6th grade science class. Students have started to generate their own questions, collaborate more effectively (this has been a giant leap), and worried not about the product, but the process of their learning.
DeleteTechnology has played an important role in this transformation, but research (Cole, Demmit, etc) has shown that technology should only be integrated based on its effectiveness of helping students help themselves instead of just helping students.
Great points by everyone above.
-MCC
When I was in high school we had MySpace and senior year we had Facebook. Before that we had email and technology was definitely on the rise. Teachers sometimes used technology we watched videos online and visited website in class. But, I go into classrooms now and I see the advancements in technologies and it amazes me. I had a cellphone in middle school but it was a pay as you go phone and the only fun thing it had was simple games, the screen was not colored in anyway. I don’t even think I could go on the internet. Now, if the students in my middle school do not know a word or want to do some kind of research they can pull out their phones, or kindle and find the information pretty quickly.
ReplyDeleteI do not know how I actually feel about the flipped classroom idea. I can see the many good aspects it can have but I am not sure it would completely work. I also do not agree with the idea of just standing up in front of your classroom and lecturing. The video that I watched was interesting because it showed us exactly what the student’s watch when they are at home. The videos do seem to be more interesting than it ever would be to just be listening to the teacher lecture in class. I also liked the idea that it is completely shown for you and you are not just listening to someone talk. But, the more I think about this the more I realize that this probably wouldn’t work for all classes. I also really liked the idea of having the teacher available to help with homework and classwork. I would be interested in seeing this actually in action, not just in a two minute video. But, I am not sure I would use this in my classroom. I could see myself trying it but I would not do it every day.
I am really interested in seeing everyone else’s opinion about the flipped classroom.
Melissa R.
Nicole,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I try to balance the good things about technology with those that I don't care for. It is great to use it as a tool to help us with many facets of our life, but when it takes over our lives; it is not good. So many of my students tell me how they get caught up in it and that they go online to check one thing and the next thing they know hours have gone by. It really can hinder us if we don't use it properly. I am grateful that this course will allow me the opportunity to discuss some of the Digital citizenship issues with my students. I am also open to the new experiences that it is bringing me in sharing some of the wonderful aspects of technology. I know that I will look forward to trying skype next year when my daughter is hundreds of miles away at college.
Tina
Tina, I agree with your sentiments! In many ways, technology has made my life easier and more rewarding, yet there are times that I wish I could "unplug" from it all. I cannot tell you how many nights go by in a blur, as I stare into my computer for hours on end.
DeleteHere's a VERY interesting article I found that makes me question, "Has technology gone too far?" A Dutch airline is allowing passengers to select their seatmates through Facebook/ LinkedIn. The company refers to it as social seating; I think it may better be called micro-management! Isn't there something to be said for "going with the flow?"
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-12-14/travel/travel_social-media-seating_1_facebook-pals-seat-selection-klm-royal-dutch-airlines?_s=PM:TRAVEL
I really am in shock over how technology has advanced in such a short amount of time. My husband and I were talking about how are kids won't believe that we didn't have ANY of the things they have right now. I remember when my father bought a car that had one of the first car phones in it. They were ridiculously expensive and were just like a landline phone in the middle console. Today, phones are banned when we are driving. It seems this is a common pattern. We are developing all these hot new technologies and it isn't until later (days,months, years) that we realize we aren't using it responsibly. The car phone is one example but who would have thought of all the possible problems or issues that could come from the internet? AGAIN, this is why digital citizenship is soooo important in schools. We are going to keep advancing with technology and we need to make sure we understand and use technology responsibly.
DeleteHere is the thing, I believe technology is taking over all aspects of our lives. Look at classroom management issues today. Kids are so stressed out from gaming and texting that they do not go outside to "play". We were outside everyday even in the snow playing/hanging out with our friends. We went into our woods in the back to catch fireflies. Today, nobody is outside and they have to releive their energy levels in the classrooms by talking and goofing off. Why don't they go outside.
DeleteDuring student teaching I heard several boys talk about Playstations, XBox's, and Nintendos all day. They did not read a book or go outside, but finished entire games in a single day. Where is our society going? Parents could not buy allergy medication for their kids, but they sure bought the toys.
There has to be classes in several cases HOW TO BE PROPER PARENTS as well.
HI Mike,
DeleteI teach Child Development in high school and we definately touch on those exact issues. The teens even say how they miss thier parent's being unplugged as well. We discuss ways to build strong families and how to spend time unplugged.
I agree how sad it is that we have lost the ability to "play" outside and I also believe that many students are "wired" inside the classroom due to this.
Thanks for sharing.
Tina
I teach my kids the importnace of balancing family life with technology. They are not allowed to bring their phones to the dinner table or when we are out to dinner. It is our special time.
DeleteI allow them to bring it to many other places like Dr. office, car, games, etc, so that they can stay still and occuppied while things are going on that they have no interest in.
Bunker
What a great play on words -- "Digital as a Second Language!" How true this is...There is a lot to be said about teachers that effectively integrate technology with instruction. Too often we mistake students' "tech prowess" as digitally literate behavior. A student may be able to craft an impressive website, yet gives minimal consideration to the commentary they leave on Facebook. And, this is where teachers come in.
ReplyDeleteA flipped classroom demonstrates the most authentic way (perhaps, extreme way) for teachers to relinquish some of their authority in favor of student-centered learning. In the current test-driven climate, there isn't ample opportunity for students to apply, make sense of, or self-evaluate their understandings. Just as many college professors post their notes and/or lectures online, secondary school educators could certainly maximize classroom learning by adopting similar procedures. Here's my one caveat -- for this flipped classroom paradigm to really work, students must be TAUGHT how to be independent, self-motivated learners.
Teachers will be very naive if they assume students will simply absorb material online and then determine which areas of the reading/ lecture to seek further clarification in class (as was mentioned in the clip). Many college students are not capable of this...Even in our digitally driven climate, teachers still need to educate students on HOW to read and actively make sense of informational texts. Once we harness our students with these rudimentary skills, technology can help to make the classroom a more dynamic place for learning. After all, it is our obligation to equip students with the skills necessary for future participation in a digital society.
Andrea, I completely agree. And I think it's also important to remember that not all students can work at this level, especially English-language-learners. Such students are just learning English and may be reading in the language at a second or third grade level. While incorporating these technologies into daily teaching, educators must remember that differentiation is clearly needed for such students so they can participate and be successful.
DeleteDiana, I think that there is translation from english to spanish that may be helpful to some students.
DeleteLbunker
One of our goals as teachers is to empower students to become their own learners of the content. I was always told, let the students do the work/processing to learn, you just show them how to apply it. This is exactly what a flipped classroom is. It empowers students to learn the information and then use class time to apply what they learned and to figure out what they did not understand. Using a flipped classroom allows the classroom to become more engaging and active and allows the teacher to not spend as much time "lecturing" about what they need to know. Students can view the lessons on line, and the best part, they are able to rewind the information over and over again to aid them in understanding. This takes away from the times when the student happened to zone out during certain information.
ReplyDeleteTechnology may aid in literacy, but like Andrea R. stated, teahcer still need to educate students on how to read, interpret, and apply their understandings. Technology is a great aid in education but it does not take away from what it is we really need to teach our students - reading, writing, arithmatic.
And teaching technology etiquette, and not just on-line, needs to be addressed. For instance, when your cell phone rings, there is no law that says you have to answer it no matter what you are doing or who you are talking to. I am always in awe when I am talking to someone and their cell phone rings and they answer it. What does that say to the person you are talking to, hey it was nice talking to you but I have something more important to tend to! Or those people who talk on their phones while they are checking out at the store. The clerks are people too and they deserve you attention too. Cell Phone Etiquette 101.....
Kate-
DeleteGreat statement: "One of our goals as teachers is to empower students to become their own learners of the content" I wish this was the case when I was in school. I am MUCH more excited about learned as a grad student than I was when I was a student. I am having a blast making creative constructivist lesson plans. This may sound strange, but I've learned more about elementary content in one year as a grad student using this approach then I learned in my entire elementary school careero.
Jen and Kate,
DeleteI agree with what you both are saying! Jen, I loved how you said that you learned more in grad school then you did your entire elementary school career. I am always telling my kids about how the strategies I am teaching them are going to help them throughout their lives. I try to show them examples of how hard it was for me to learn when I was their age, because I wasn't given the strategies to help me!
Kate, you made such a great point that about letting the students becoming their own learner. When teaching them something like note-taking, I don't just show them one strategy, I teach them a few. This gives them the opportunity to choose how they want their notes to look like. Some students draw webs, while others make boxes and bullets, and other students decide to draw a timeline! This is allowing them to really decide what type of learner they are and showing them how to embrace that!
I feel that students love a choice and need to understand how to become independent learners through a constructivist point of view!
Kate, I love the cell phone law! In our society, we have come to expect instant gratification. If that means answering the phone right away or immediately responding to an email, we have forgotten, to me at least, the importance of etiquette. I often get in trouble for not responding to emails in 24-48 hours. I just feel that if someone sent me a letter and I sent one back, I'm still beating that timeline.
DeleteHowever, too many people set unrealistic expectations, myself included, when it comes to responses. We immediately begin to wonder where someone is if they don't immediately respond. We need to teach our students patience as our first step towards etiquette.
-MCC
One of the biggest pet peeves I have is looking around at a group of people, or a couple, in a restaurant and seeing them browsing their iphones instead of enjoying each other's company. I see this way too often! It's evident that technology provides endless benefits and the phrase is true that information is "right at our fingertips." However, I do feel as though some people tend to take it too far and become addicted to the different features of technologies. With regard to the "flipped classroom" video, I'm a little weary about how students might react to this approach. The video showed students using their iphones and ipods during class time as learning tools to research information, and I know that in my district, there has been talk about rethinking the technology policy in order to allow students to use these devices for educational purposes. Just observing the students I work with, I feel as though they would not always use their phones and ipods to their best advantage. Students would need a lot of training regarding digital citizenship so they would truly understand what it means to use these tools appropriately during the school day. The article about being digitally literate also caught my attention. It's true that the world has changed and being literate today doesn't only mean being able to read written text as found in books. One must also know how to be able to navigate other modes of information such as computer programs, the internet, and even tablets such as the ipad or kindle. This makes me think of one particular student we have who didn't even know how to use a computer. It's important to remember that sometimes school is the only place where some of these kids are exposed to such technologies. Is it really fair to expect them to complete the same homework assignments as other kids who may be surrounded by technology in their home lives?
ReplyDeleteDiana,
DeleteI couldn't agree with you more! I believe that in this generation, we rely on technology too much! It's funny because I don't remember what life was like before the internet or computer, isn't that hilarious?! I feel that most of our assignments that are given in school are based on either typing a piece or a Wiki. Looking at the new Common Core standards, my colleagues and I saw that the states expects the average 6th grader to type three full pages in a sitting (45 minute period)! This holds true for some students who are constantly on Instant Messaging and Facebook, but for those students who don't have access, they are still typing with one hand! How do you make sure that these students can be as computer savvy as the rest?
With your other point about using different devices in the classroom: I completely agree with your take on it. Even though we would love to believe that every child is on task, how can we be sure? This is something that obviously would be taught, but how can you monitor these students 24/7? The answer is you can't, you just have to trust them! I believe that using different things like QR codes and different resources are good for special activities, but to rely on them daily might be a little tricky!
I definitely agree with you. I think that it is really unfortunate how isolated technology can make people, whether through usage or financial barriers. Technology is almost like a drug, its expensive and addictive, and can demolish relationships while also increasing the gap between the wealthy and poor, which is only further emphasized in academic achievement.
Delete-Chelsea
Wow Chelsea what a great statement. Technology is almost like a drug and people can become addictive. I love how you put it and try to portray that to my students. Although in my district where we have 40% free and reduced lunch; it still seems that most student's have those "toys" before the basic necessities.
DeleteTina
That is an excellent point! At first I was thinking the flipped classroom idea was great. We need to really think about does every student have access to certain applications and devices. I know in the beginning of the school year I thought all my students had a computer, about two months into school I found out that not all my students even have a computer at home! Its hard to be fair to everyone, but we need to be.
DeleteDanielle
This flipped classroom concept is something that I would always love to try. My husband was 7th and 8th grade Science teacher in Hartford and loved the idea of Camtasia. He wanted to add that into his classroom, but there was only one computer in his room- so it made it nearly impossible for him to be able to bring that type of technology in his classroom. I think that many teachers would find that to be a struggle. I feel that they would like to try more, but don't have the professional development (like the article stated), and don't have the resources to make it successful. I also fear the "App Gap" would hold true for many schools. Does that guy have a grant where each kids gets an ITouch when they walk in?
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that might be scary about this flipped classroom, is that amount of time it would take to prep those lessons ahead of time. With it only being my second year in 6th grade, I feel like I am just starting to grasp the curriculum and feeling comfortable with it. If I thought about making lessons ahead of time, I realize that it would be difficult to think ahead as to what lesson I wanted to teach.
I feel the idea of having kids learn at home, and practice it at school is such an interesting concept. I feel that it makes so much sense, but yet, really hard to imagine how it would actually work in my classroom.
I love learning about new ways to change my classroom, and this is one thing that I will keep in mind. I feel that I need to achieve a few more things first, before diving head first into something so amazing!
Thanks for sharing!
I think it is so important to balance the digital and physical world. I have grown up in a family that really values face-to-face relations and still have family dinners together when we are not allowed to have our cellphones on us. On the other hand, I remember visiting friends at their homes where there was no kitchen table and family members came and went without ever acknowledging one another unless it was via text. I cannot assume, but Id wager a guess that digital relationships have had some impact on this devaluing of face-to-face relationships. However, I definitely agree that technology has introduced us to a new world with more opportunities to learn, explore and communicate with anything or anyone in the world. The challenge for teachers now is to create this balance in the classroom, particularly for themselves as students often come into the classroom with more digital awareness than the educators! What's great is that technology provides so many different ways to learn and differentiate that incorporating technology is becoming easier and easier. If we can utilize technology appropriately in a manner that encourages learning without discouraging physical face-to-face relationships, then we can create a balance that not only recognizes the positive advancements we are making technologically while still valuing the person behind the screen.
ReplyDelete-Chelsea
Chelsea,
DeleteWell said! Balance is vital to the success of our students. I wonder if we encourage face-to-face communications via technology (SKYPE, FaceTime, etc) than we can actually model and have our students attempt proper social conversations.
-MCC
Dear Chelsea: Yes, I am in the same boat with you. We always had family dinners and now my family has continued this tradition. However, my kids are so engrossed with technology, that aside from meal time, it gets difficult to talk. What is worse, we may have a conversation, but my daughter is off like a bat when she hears the buzzing from her phone for a text message.
DeleteI agree. There are countless benefits to technology, but there are also too many costs. Some may be minor, but several are not. This country had 37000 travel agencies under President Clinton. Within 6 months of GW Bush, we fell to 9000 travel agencies. Now, most work out of the house. No point to have an office.
Barnes and Noble used to be packed. Now, you have empty stores and Nooks. What will happen to the printed book?
Great posts everyone! It was interesting to see some differing opinions here. I have to agree with all of you. I believe there are specific classrooms that would benefit greatly from a "flipped classroom" format. This video was extreme but I do believe there are levels of this type of model that could be nicely integrated into certain topics or classrooms. The key is finding a good balance and KNOWING your students abilities and anticipating the pitfalls.
ReplyDeleteAs many have said before me, I think that there is a fine line with 21st Century Technologies. One mantra I try to impart on my students is our use of technology to make us more INDEPENDENT learners and not DEPENDENT learners. Our use of technology should evolve to help us evolve into creative, abstract thinkers.
ReplyDeleteHowever, without a proper face-to-face interaction and training, the majority may become more ill-equipped to deal with an array of personable situations.
There has been a plethora of research (similar to what Nicole posted above) that dissects the usefulness and quantity of technology in the classroom, both for and against. If we concentrate solely on what will aid our students in the transition from concrete to abstract, from learner to teacher, from child to adult, then, in my opinion, the usefulness of technology becomes dependent on the learner; in turn, not rendering the learner dependent on technology.
These were some great posts this week!
-MCC
Yes, I was born in 1968. Growing up in the 1980's was awesome. I had Ozzy, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, etc and of course, we had pay phones, travel agents,literacy meant actual text, and human interaction.
ReplyDeleteToday we have violent rap, internet, and lack of social skills because everyone is texting, blogging, facebooking, etc.
The mom and pop stores are all but a memory and corporate America has us working more for way less and of course, little to no benefits.
The age of technology has opened up our lives to a variety of opportunities such as speaking with our relatives in different states as well as in my case, Greece (Mother's side) and Australia (Father's side). That part is awesome. Gone are the days when I watched my parents write letters, go to the post office, mail the letters, and wait about a month for a reply. Now with Pulse Telecommunications, my parents pay 2 or 3 cents a minute to call their brothers and sisters.
What does this mean for us as teachers (or future teachers)? It means that we have to teach this technology. According to the article "This 20th-century notion of literacy has, I believe, mutated as the world has evolved in the face of a barrage of technologies that allow for different forms of expression and different levels of interaction..." While ths is true, as I have always pointed out, there is a real human cost.
Since this technology is not going away, we have to teach it and teach it well. Students have to understand the proper ways of using these technologies and teachers have to up their comfort levels as well if these students are going to have half a chance in finding a job in a shrinking job market with the exportation of jobs.
Did you post it anywhere online?
ReplyDeleteYES -> It's not private!
NO -> Private!
I have to say I agree with the fact that technology is used so much do we ever catch a break, or do we ever have time in silence without something buzzing in the background? I do agree that when we are at dinner or having a converstation it is rude to be one your phone. I do it anyways sometimes...I know I know. My friend and I have had this converstation many times, when is it appropriate to use your phone and when isn't it. Is it okay if its a big group of friends at happy hour, I would say so. What is it's a group of friends at a dinner...I see people do it all the time. So is it not okay if your just with one other person and now its rude? I feel there is a very fine line. We also talk about how we would want our children to be, if we are doing this at the dinner table when it is supposed to be family time they will grow up thinking this is acceptable. In reality its not. I think there is a fine line between when it is appropriate and when it isn't.
ReplyDelete-Danielle
Did you post it anywhere online?
ReplyDeleteYES -> It's not private!
NO -> Private!
The video about the flipped classroom is great. I could see that being a great way to set up instruction for middle and high school students. This also is a positive example of how to use technology for education. It really allows students to spend more time applying knowlede vs. participating in a lecture.
ReplyDeleteAnna