I initially was taken back by the overwhelming amount of information. This site seemed more like a business plan than an educational site for resources to draw on. I felt it was very wordy and a hard read. I do not enjoy (personally) looking at so much text. I was also concerned by the fact that it was written in 2002 and most support came from legislators and not educators. However, that is usually how it is.
While reading their site information, I tried to disprove their thoughts and theories and came away not able to. I did, however come away thinking, "how many hours do they think we have in a day?". The No Child Left Behind requires us to prepare our students on particular core standards and shoot for the sky when it comes to state testing. While their theory is admirable, I am concerned at how much of their ideas I could reasonably incorporate. Of course, I am willing to "give it a try", "bridge the gaps", or "zap the holes", but at some point I have to send them to Art, Gym. Music, Library, LUNCH! :)
As a contemporary educator, I want to allot for the very best for my students and teach them the necessary skills they need to succeed in their future jobs; after all that is why I became a teacher. Well and for the cool themed clothing you can wear...wink, wink!
I did like that they bullet pointed steps needed to incorporate 21st Century technology. This at least gives me a jumping off point as well as a guideline to follow when I am trying new things or need new ideas to try to implement 21st century skills.
Kim,
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point about how overwhelming a website can be for some people. The website was full of lots of information, and not any results as to if the vision has became a reality. Yes, the reality is that we have to prepare our students with basic skills, incorporate core content standards, and improve state test scores. It is a very real fact that every teacher I talk to feels more and more overwhelmed by the amount of tasks they have to accomplish in less than a six hour day. I think if they gave a “take baby steps” approach more teachers would not feel so overwhelmed by their vision. The website was developed with a very important concern, and more educators should have been consulted about the realities of teaching.
Julie
Kim,
ReplyDeleteI also agreed with you that the article was very wordy and hard to read. There were some good points about how we as teachers teach to the test. Although it is sad to say it is very true. We have been forced to because of the no child left behind act but what we really should be focusing on is preparing our students for life outside of school. In order for us to really take on the challenge of bridging the gaps the standardized test need to reflect that but still have not been touched. The of course there is always the issue of time and lack there of it. It is amazing to me how many people complain about teachers and how easy we have it but never take a minute to see that teachers put just as much effort if not more as every business person out there but we do not mooch them so why do they feel the need to bash us? You are right there is not enough time in a day even with the many extra hours we work everyday and of course do not get paid for but that is a whole different story. Like the no child left behind act, there are many things that still need to worked on by the state and maybe one day they will figure it out that they really should be talking to those who are teaching the kids.
I just wrote out a comment and then pushed the wrong button... silly technology! Anyways, second try, last year I began to really use technology in my classroom as a teaching, learning and expressive tool. I found that by starting small and slowly building was the easiest way for me to manage the extra work. I started with a tool that most would be able to do because it really only requires the ability to type, (blogging). I would post questions, discussions and websites for students to comment to. I started by allowing class time for this activity but rather quickly I noticed that students were accessing the blog from home to comment. From here we moved on to podcasts. Much to my surprise, students really took off with this technology. With a little support students really became independent and eager to participate.
ReplyDeleteMr. Bailey,
ReplyDeleteI am very interested in the podcast idea for your classroom. I am so anxious over this week's assignment that I am making myself sick. However, I see the validity in using something like this in the classroom. Just wish someone would teach me how and talk to me like I am 3!
Julie and Sandra,
I wish we had more professional development that offered hands on and not just lecture style teaching. I think that if we were all given the opportunity to play or observe teachers that have finessed these technologies it might be easier to get excited about using them. Wordy web sites just don't do it for me. :) That might be why I am a first grade teacher, I need to touch and be entertained to understand. HA!
Hi Kim,
ReplyDeleteI, too, thought that the document on the site was not particulary user friendly and definitely wordy. It is particularly frustrating to know and understand what the future looks like and what we shuold be doing NOW as educators, but do not have the resources and in many cases the support to achieve these goals.
As a relatively new teacher, and more importantly, as a 48 year old with not a lot of tech experience behind me, I WANT to teach my students and myself the skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century. But as you said, there are not enough hours in a day to teach the skills necessary for high stakes testing.
Professional learning days should be focused more on these skills. Department meetings as well. I often feel that these days/meetings are filled with fluff, because the meetings are contracted to take place. Let's treat them as valuable class time. Would it appropriate for teachers to show movies or give busy work, jsut to fill time they did not want to plan?? I think not!