Principal Tested, Student Approved :)

Principals are the head figures in our school systems. They are the men and women who are seen by the students and staff, who communicate directly with parents and guardians, and provide support for his or her individual schools. Regardless of a principals background knowledge of technology usage, it is a duty, an outright obligation for them to take ownership of the knowledge that is out there and can benefit their students. As the voice and face of an individual school, technology is running rampant, and these academic leaders are at the forefront of this new age. 

The generational gap that exists makes it a little difficult for some because exposure to digital materials may not be second nature as it is for today's students. That is more of a reason to take the reigns! I love the way Gosmire and Grady present the roles of principals. The fear is obvious and something I think many current and upcoming teachers have really debated over. As the authors of "A Bumpy Road" put it: 

          "There are stories of these devices being used by students to cheat on tests, disrupt        classes, and even cause potential harm to one another, and after hearing such stories, most principals want to ban such devices, but that reaction may damage the school’s relationship with parents and students" (P. 17).

This is a perfect example of why principals should at least be proficient in the areas of technology that are involved in the classroom. General knowledge so that they can adequately manage the school environment and allow students to take charge of their learning. 

It is the principal’s role to establish a vision for the school. "Principals must establish a context for technology in the school and understand how the technology can be used to restructure learning, empower teachers, and help students become more technology literate (Brockmeier, Sermon, & Hope, 2005)" (p. 18). So the context in which different means of technological tools is going to be used is absolutely necessary, but mastery not necessarily.

I remember my middle school had a portal that the parents only had access to that posted the grades of students and homework/paper/test dates that were impending. During parent teacher conferences my cooperating teacher pulled up each students page with the parent and asked them if they knew about the technology (if they didn't he would guide them in how to get access). Surprisingly a lot of parents were very well informed and loved the portal. This is just a small example of how a little piece of technology can enhance the communication between parents and their children, parents and teachers, as well as between the teachers and the students. 

Here is a really nice example I saw in a school using technology and music I thought you'd like to see!

 


I think for some principals they might need to see it in action. So regardless of whether or not they are tech savvy, principals need to have a positive attitude and to be open to teachers implementing technology within their own classroom settings. I think if they witnessed it within their own schools, they would have no choice but to investigate further and expand on their prior knowledge. With that said teachers need to also be leaders of technology in the class and be part of building that community of technology with the principal. 

Wearing the Construction Hat

We get to a point in life where our careers feel like home. We may do some touch-ups here and there, add a few new pieces of furniture to the house, or maybe even remodel a part of the house, but we never plan on changing the structure of the house. I feel like that is what teachers need to do in this analogy. Home is where the heart is and if your heart is in teaching and helping your students attain success, you'll do what it takes to get them there. Following along with my analogy, I am saying that if there something that does not support your family of 4 or 5 or 30 you are going to either close up shop and look elsewhere or build on what you have.

All of the articles read thus far, discussing the advantages and the drawbacks, pedagogy and student contribution, privacy and safety are all relevant pieces of the puzzle, but I think teachers need to put on the construction hat and get to work. It feels a little awkward being the student again, learning core critical information that may or not be second nature to us, but if it is almost certain to produce something beautiful if used correctly, why make it more difficult for ourselves? I think if we had the attitude of curiosity we would be able to transform our pedagogical knowledge while maintaing our core values of teaching. The objectives would after all be the same: a successful classroom; just a different means of getting there and keeping the students engaged. 

I believe authors like Ertmer are right in believing there needs to be a shift in teacher's pedagogical beliefs for technology to take full course in the classroom. Regardless of how any individual feels about using it, its a resource that is going to become major features of every classroom across the United States. We can't just ignore their presence. I for one still find it scary. I am learning, little by little things I am able to do and discovering things I may eventually get to mastering. It's not about the next best thing as much as its about the next thing that can benefit our classrooms. Just because we have this resource does not mean we forget how our students learn differently. 

Focus TEACHERS!!! FOCUS!!! We need to put on our construction hats, get in the field and make some magic happen in our classrooms. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty :)

Putting a Line Between Being a Teacher and Being a Friend

I know this topic may seem off topic but I have really begun to see these blog posts as a way to discuss my concerns and questions about the education system. I have been pondering this question for a couple days now. I had recently been a substitute in the school I interned in, a pleasant experience of course, but ran into one issue in particular. My 5th graders just could not and WOULD not stop hugging me.

While yes, I do see myself as a very caring and compassionate person, especially when it comes to the relationship I had built with them, I can not help but grow fearful of the underlying problem. I have heard horror stories from my principal and teacher, the former of which had lectured me and reprimanded me for allowing a student to run up and hug me.

I feel like there is a distinct difference between a teacher initiating a hug or something physical towards a student vs. a student initiating a hug from a teacher. I mean come on! What are we supposed to even say at that point. Don't get me wrong I don't want to be in a situation where I can lose my job or have my actions misconstrued, but the paranoia is ridiculous.

If anyone is actually reading this, share your ideas and experiences PLEASE.

New ideas for facebook!

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=138721&title=Facebook_in_the_Classroom

As I was casually sitting at my desk at work, I was asked to create a facebook event for my restaurant. It was then, as I was using our business facebook page that I had an idea for implementing facebook into the classroom (in a way that is controlled and engaging). I am from an English background, but I feel like facebook may have some practical uses across disciplines. Here were some of my ideas:

English/Science/Social Studies (accomodate to grade level):

• Creating character profiles for novel
• Creating classroom group page for discussion
• Creating events based on specific literary movements
• My cohort for the GSE has a page we are all privately invited to that we discuss different GSE events, assignments, event, etc. So something similar may be useful for a specific group of students on the middle school and high school level. 
• Recreating historical events and inviting students to the "Event" that will partake in class, addressing the cultural and social ettiquete of the party. 
• Creating events for citizenship lessons, based around some sort of community issue. 
• Advocating for breast cancer
• Cleaning up the environment
• Exchanging resources on different community service porjects. 

This list is still in the making, but the more I think about its uses, the more valuable I find sites such as facebook to be. I feel like we should take advantage of students awareness of the websites functionality.

I would love some more suggestions on how facebook can be used through page and group options that are provided in the website.

My concern with the SES disparities

I am reading all of these articles on students having their own laptops or ipads in class and I am growing concerned with the SES gap that is already growing between school districts across the nation. Access to technology is without a doubt a privilege and enhancing the learning experiences of students, but what about low-income school districts that can not indulge in that luxury. It must put a damper on the capabilities of these students.

Hypothetically, let's say that two students attend the same university. One of them grew up having access to all of these technological tools, are familiar with multiple ways to engage in projects, activities, accessing knowledge, etc. Place him against a student who had experience with a run-down computer lab that was visited a couple times a week, mostly engaged in self-directed learning of the resources available to him or her, and honestly there is a severe advantage of one over the other.

I understand that disparities are already in existence and are far from being neutralized, but is this not just another thing to separate the students of this generation.

I guess all I can say is that I was blessed to have access to technology and I should probably be ashamed I have not used it to its full advantage. I was wondering what other people thought of this growing issue...let me know

Explorations-Conversations-Blogging Nations

I read through the texts and various other resources and I can't help but feel like there is an alternate universe that I was not aware could be lived in. All of these resources at our disposal and yet so little time to learn it all before more develops! Yet I understand the ABSOLUTE necessity of technology and the responsibilities we have as teachers to maintain a level of success in the classroom, given its relevance.

Is it as scary to you as it is to me?!


Yes. I am sure it is. Let's grab it by the horns everyone!

It is this very same fear, and the familiar feeling of being a learner in distress that makes me feel like I must conquer the technological realm I have been so light to tread on. 

The McLoughlin article reiterates what we have been struggling to grasp, that learning occurs in a socio-cultural system in which learners use various tools and multiple forms of interaction to create collective activity, supported by technology affordances. After breaking it down further I became intrigued by the standard views we have of cooperative learning. Being that cooperative learning tasks are instrumental to the success of learners and contribute to their social and academic progress, how does online cooperative learning hold a flame? I can't help but reflect on this experience in our Digital Tools class. We are trying to engage in online discussions, help each other perfect existing projects and such, but I feel it to be a lot more demanding and exhausting than a normal classroom setting.

I for one do not enjoy online classes. I feel they are impersonal and less engaging. Speaking of technology in the classroom, my entire 5th grade internship experience was centered around the promethean board; a new piece of technology put into every classroom. Once the power went out and we did not have internet access, the whole school was in a disarray and they were contemplating shutting school down. So while I accept technology as a valuable resource and something that is detrimental to the generations we are teaching and leading, I also think its a dangerous resource to rest on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5ySocUyI7I

The new age of digital literacy is changing the face of teaching and learning!