Thing 5

Web 2.0 has sort of popped into my use of the Internet without me noticing. The presentations in Thing 5 describe the shift of web 1.0 and software-based information being a model where you receive and research information to the idea of the web being participatory, collaborative, and free. I never even noticed the changes but as I was reading and watching the presentations I thought "how could I have missed this?" The way I use technology is far different than the way I used it not very long ago.

Which leads to, how can all this "stuff" be used in my school? I love the idea of blogging, both with colleagues and as a way to students to post assignments and create dialogue about a topic. But how? Most of my students do not have a computer at home. How do I convince students and parents that it is not "unreasonable" to ask them to visit a public library or to stay after school to access the technology needed to complete an assignment or to get information about a class?

How do you get teachers to participate? Our media specialist has set up a MHS blog site that I have never visited. Have other teachers? I have no idea. Shame on me.

I have a lot to learn and a lot to try.

Thing 4

Our assignment for "23 Things" was to reflect on how teaching and learning have changed since I was a child and how they are the same. I know we are to compare then vs. now, but a wave of nostalgia has swept over me. I remember teachers who made an impact, good and not-so-good. I remember Mrs. Canary, my beloved kindergarten teacher. Isn't that a great name for a kindergarten teacher? I remember Mrs. Dyer, my junior English teacher at Redford Union High school who taught me how to write and how to read literature. When I took ATL at MSU it was the same curriculum. Thanks, Mrs. Dyer.

My reflection also would have to admit that in many ways schools have remained unchanged since I was a public school student. Desks still are lined up in rows. In many cases, the teacher stands at the front of the room and lectures while students take notes. Many assessments are still multiple choice tests.

There are many changes, too. The use of computers has changed education in ways we can see and probably in ways we don't even know yet. Just this week I was helping a student write a research paper and he didn't have enough information. The information was just a click away. Create a works cited page? No problem--another click and we are at Easy Bib. Even the typing part was so much easier when on a computer. Does anyone remember erasable bond paper?

I do believe at MHS we are so focused on meeting MMC benchmarks in core curriculum areas that many of the skills needed for the 21st century are not being taught. We do not teach "depth over breadth." We are focused on making AYP in English/language arts and math. And we have to focus on that because we haven't made AYP in several years. As a special education teacher, I especially feel the pressure of this. One of the subgroups who hasn't made AYP is students with disabilities. What do we do to help kids with disabilities improve reading, math, and written language skills while also teaching 21st century skills such as global awareness, financial, economic, business, and entrepreneurship literacy, civic literacy, health literacy, critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, and communication and collaboration? Somehow, we have to integrate 21st century skills into teaching of core subjects. That is the challenge.

Thing 3

My initial thoughts about blogging are that there are a lot of blogs out there so the chances of anyone reading this, other than class members, is slim. One of the questions posed in this assignment is to answer how does it feel to share my thoughts so publicly? The answer is sharing my thoughts in this way doesn't feel unnerving because I think only a small audience will be reading it. Also, I think I will probably be more reserved with my thoughts because they are in writing.

I have read a couple blogs before, and responded to them, but responding is really nonthreatening because you can remain anonymous. None of the blogs were education-related.

One of my concerns is that some of the blogs I have read have been nasty because people can remain anonymous. An example is of some of the blogging I have seen in the Monroe Evening News. I think it is wrong that the Monroe Evening News allows some of the responses to be posted.

Can You Solve for y?

Next week I have to teach solving systems of equations to my 9th grade resource room algebra class. This worries me.