Knowledge gained....

After taking this course for the past five weeks, I feel as if I have gained a lot of knowledge about certain areas of education which I had previously been unaware of, or had a misconception of what they were really about.  Learning how different types of school's actually operate and some of the challenges they face really helped teach me things I knew nothing about, and it helped clear up some incorrect ideas I had always believed.

Being able to take on different educational roles in these assignments was a key aspect of helping me being able to see education from many different perspectives.  The tasks of creating our own school of the future and organizing multicultural curriculum were specifically fun and informative for me. 

Based on all of the things I have learned in this class, I now have so many different tools, ideas and resources that I can use when I become a teacher.  I feel I am now better prepared because I have so many different ways which I can accomplish certain tasks, deal with certain issues, and ways which I can help my students. 

I am aware of so many different ways in which I can be an agent of change. I now know of so many more tools which I can use to differentiate my instruction, especially relating to new technology.  I now know that I must always be learning and changing because I cannot be an effective teacher if I am not using the most current and effective methods with my students.  It does not help prepare my students for the future if I am teaching them using methods from the past.

I thoroughly enjoyed this class and I am always going to remember the valuable ideas I have gained from it. 

Week 4 Reflection

This week we did a group work assignment on how different types of schools in the United States are run, and who makes the decisions in each type.  It was interesting to see the different types of schools and the advantages and disadvantages of each model, specifically the amount of autonomy each model has regarding funding and their budget.  With everything in education boiling down to budgets and money these days it was definitely a good project to see which types of school's can be more free spending and which ones have their hands tied by a strict budget.

Another thing we did this week was watch a video of a lecture by Ken Robinson called "Paradigm Shift".  I believe he raises some very key points about the current state of education.  He recounts the Enlightenment Period and how it was one of the most innovative, creative and productive times in history, and how we are no longer pushing students to become creative, individuals, or attempting to innovate.  Everything that is being done in education right now is attempting to generalize, standardize and make every student fit one specific model. 

Clearly those in positions of power who want teachers to follow such methods as differentiated instruction and to teach each student based on their specific needs are not following their own advice when they design one standardized test which every student must pass to decide if the student and teacher are performing at a proficient level.  How can they expect the teacher to differentiate instruction and tailor a specific lesson in multiple ways to fit every type of learner, and then the ultimate goal at the end of the year is that everyone passes the same test?

Perhaps the reason why billions of dollars are being spent on education and no progress is being made is because the tests which determine if you pass or fail are not of the same method of delivery which the student is used to from the school year?  After a year of differentiated instruction and having assignments designed specifically for them, to then be given a test which is written in a way which is nothing like what they've seen during the year seems very counterproductive. 

Week 3 Reflection

On July 11 - 17, one of our assignments was to do a group project on the types of schools in the United States.  This was an interesting and informative project, because until I was given this assignment it never occurred to me to really research how many types of schools there really are or how they specifically operate. 

Through this project, I now feel like I am more knowledgeable about how the different types of schools (Public/Private/Home School/Charter/For-Profit) operate, get their funding, choose their curriculum, and the types of freedoms or restrictions they incur based on what types of school they are.

Week 2 Reflection

On July 4 - July 10, we viewed a video called "When I Become a Teacher".

This video is filled with some of the unfortunate opinions and ways that many teachers act in today's society.  I feel that this video reflects some of the reasons why education is currently in the state of crisis that it is in.  I believe that teachers are just as responsible for learning as their students are, maybe even more responsible.  The fact that certain teachers are allowed to continue to teach today's children using the same teaching methods that they were using ten, twenty, thirty, even forty years ago, is ridiculous.

The word changes, information changes, technology changes, and the way students learn and react to things changes.  If a teacher is going to be an effective teacher, the teacher also needs to change and adapt to everything changing around him or her. 

I understand that some teachers who have been teaching for a long time may me scared or intimidated of change, especially change regarding technology that they may have no idea how to use because it did not exist when they starting teaching, but we live in a technological age and that is what most children respond to these days.  Technology makes learning and teaching easier and more fun, and I believe that those who resist technology and change would benefit from attempting to accept it, and their students would definitely benefit from that change as well. 

Week 1 Reflection

On the week of June 27- July 3, I had my first week of "Nature of Schools".  This is an online class about education which challenges the students to think about education in new, innovative, and creative ways.  In an always changing society, it is important that we continue to update our methods of teaching to stay in pace with the ways our students will be changing.

We did some interesting team collaborative work too.  It is a different experience having to collaborate with another person over the internet than how I am used to, which is normally in person in an actual classroom setting.  Once I got used to using the WizIQ program, it because easier. 

I am familiar with several of the programs and web sites we have been using so far because I remember them from Teaching With Technology from the Fall of 2010, so not all of this is as unfamiliar or intimidating to me as I'm sure it is to some of the other students.

A Community Letter

Community Letter

Dear Parents,

We are excited to inform you of a new aspect of our curriculum that will provide a more well rounded education.  As our student body continues to grow into an even more diverse and multicultural population, it is important that we continue to strive to provide each student with the highest quality of education, regardless of their background.

Throughout the school year we will be implementing aspects of the curriculum which will be taught from the perspective of another country or culture.  We already have innovative and exciting projects planned for Black History Month, Cinco de Mayo, as well as several other important holidays and historical events spanning a multitude of countries and cultures.  

We feel that this aspect of our curriculum will benefit the children by opening up their eyes and minds to the ways of other countries and cultures.  Through this new direction, we hope to not only educate, but to create an environment of knowledge and acceptance of things which may initially come as unfamiliar to our students.  It is important for the students to understand and accept that there are different cultures and aspects of life than what they may be familiar with.

We hope you will join us in ushering in this new and exciting aspect to our curriculum and please feel free to contact us with any comments, questions or concerns you or your children may have.

Thank you, and let’s all have a productive school year!

Sincerely,

Jeff Lampack
Chair of Curriculum