Reflective Blogs

Week 8 Blog 4

 

Question: Blog 4:  Reflect on the idea that tests are the only objective assessments of student learning. 

 

Are Tests the Only Objective Assessment for Student Learning?

Let's face it, testing is a part of the American culture. We have been taking standardized tests since the mid 1800's. I'm sure that they looked much different than they do now, but they still were tests that were created by people who more than likely were not in the classroom and didn't know what was really happening in a classroom. When the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) became a part of the picture in 2002, all 50 states required that the students must pass a certain test to be able to graduate high school. The theory in and of itself is awesome. Of course we as educators and parents want all of our students to pass and be successful in life. However, the reality is that the scores actually went down and our place in the statistics compared to the world went down 13 places in math, with similar results in science and little to no change in reading.

 

The problem with standardized testing is that there is so much more to a student than if they can read a question and pick a,b,c,or d. Children are not all built the same way, they don't all think the same way, they don't all learn the same way, and they are just different and are individuals. It is important that that we as educators learn who are students are and assess them in a way that makes sense for them as their individual self. 

 

 

                                                  Who is the smarter animal?

Yes, some will always do well on a test that everyone has to take.
But where it is good for one, it may not be good for another.
Does this mean they are not as good? No, it means one must
find the proper way to assess a specific learner.

 

Why are tests not the only objective way to teach?

One huge thing is that standardized tests are not objective. They are not relevant to everyone taking a test and their life experiences. I remember hearing once about how a state out in the west purchased a test from a company in Boston. One of the test questions asked about where you should place your tea/coffee cup when you are not drinking it, on a saucer or a plate. This question works for kids whose families may drink tea or coffee with a cup and a saucer, but for the kids out in the west when they heard saucer the first thing that came to their mind was a flying saucer (UFO). Another reason to look at other types of assessments is it allows all the students to excel in a form that makes sense to them. We need to teach the whole child, not a small portion. You as a teacher should want to foster a sense of accomplishment, open mindedness, curiosity, and be an influence to your students to grow and think outside the box. If we continue to test in the same manner we have been doing for the past 13 years, our scores compared to the rest of the world will continue to plummet. If we want change, then we need to change how we do things.

 

                                              

References

Pros & Cons of Controversial Issues. Is the Use of Standardized Tests Improving Education in 

          America? Retrieved from http://standardizedtests.procon.org/#background 



 



 





Week 6 Blog 3

Question: Reflect on the idea of what a technology-infused classroom looks like. How do you plan to have a technology-infused classroom?

 

What does a Classroom Infused with Technology Look Like and how do I Plan to do it?

 

What is in a technology infused classroom?

 What does the classroom infused with technology look like? Well, it will have computers (lap tops, or tablets), it will have a Smartboard or a Promethean board, and the students will have their cell phones or iPads. It is not enough that the teachers have these materials, it really comes down to how the teacher utilizes these technologies. The ideal classroom would consist of lessons, ideas, projects, etc. all using technology on a daily basics and part of the best practices of teaching in the class. Having technology in the class gives the teacher a chance to enhance lessons and differentiate so that all students can perform at different levels on the Bloom's Technology and use the Higher Order Thinking Skills.

 

 

 

My Technology Infused Classroom.

My ideal classroom would have a Smartboard, and a class set of iPads so that all of my students would have access to a computer. My lessons would not be teacher led but student lead where I would pose a question to the class that they have to talk about first how to get an answer and then once they have a goal in mind, they use the technology available to them to find out the how's and why's of the question. Once they have done their research as a team and are ready to continue they will discuss the pieces of information they have found then will share their information in a blog, PowerPoint, or a discussion board that I have already set up. I feel that if the students take a more hands on approach to their learning, they will be more encouraged to learn more and want to find out how to answer questions. They will not be sitting board in a classroom while a teacher is sitting in front of a group of kids talking and talking and talking.

 

References:

Martinez, R., Mindreach. (2014, January 5). Methodology Pills No.17 Lower & Higher Order Thinking Skills. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tbAjJBoPkI

 

 

 

 

Week 4 Blog 2

 

Question: How can visual literacy and the use of Internet impact the teaching and learning process in the classroom? What are some visual-thinking strategies you would like to use in your classroom? What role do you want the Internet play in your classroom?

 

 

Visual literacy is everywhere you look. It is on your TV, your smartphone, advertisements on the side of the road, it is on your computer, it is everywhere. There is no way to avoid it if you have any sort of communication with the world. Teachers of today need to realize that students are not the same as they were 20 years ago. The students of today have tools that were not even thought of back then. They have cameras that show them the picture immediately. No more waiting for it to get developed and see what it looks like. They have social media. These students communicate with people from everywhere and do it in seconds. Post a picture, and literally a few seconds later it is possible that someone from another country looked at it, liked it, and can respond to it. Once upon a time you had to mail something through the mail and know the exact address you were sending things to. Now a days people use words like Tweet, hashtag, post, tag, etc. to address that is how they are talking in some form of social media. Tweet was the sound a bird made, or the nick name for Tweety Bird. Hashtag was the sign you made when playing tic-tac-toe. Post was the pole used to make a fence. Tag was a fun game you played outside until you got called in for dinner.

Due to all that I said above it is important that teachers of today utilize the materials available to them and teach our students in a way that makes sense to the students. They are inundated with all the visual stimulation in their daily lives, so we as teachers need to adjust our old school way of thinking and step up to the challenge that the future has brought. The use of the Internet in the classroom can help to increase learning and ideas. I say this because students don't learn by just listening to the teacher speak. Only a small portion of learners benefit from this type of teaching. Teachers need to be aware of the learners that learn by doing, by watching, by discussing amongst themselves, by trying on their own. Gone are the days that the teacher sits in front of the room, talks, and students take notes. Now we are moving to where the teacher talks only a little and the students are the ones doing the talking. This is to not say teachers are not teaching, but they are moving to the kids using higher order thinking skills to learn. As soon as the teacher learns that it is okay to move in the direction our society is moving, the sooner more and more of our students will break free from the boring, hum drum classroom.

Matthew Peterson, CEO of MIND Research Institute, speaks at TEDx Orange Coast, explaining how words are great barriers to learning for a majority of students. His own struggles with dyslexia and inspiration from Albert Einstein led him to ask the question: can we teach math without words?

 

What are some visual-thinking strategies I would like to use in my classroom? I would like to incorporate more pictures in my math demonstrating real life math situations. (Robertson, 2006) I think it would be beneficial if I put problems up and let my kids discuss what is happening before I open my mouth and influence them. I want them to be in charge of their learning based on the questions they ask, with me ultimately guiding them in the direction I want them to go. I want to see what they think and what they see. It may or may not be what you think it is. 

 

                           HOW MANY REMEMBER THIS DEBATE AWHILE BACK????

Don't be so fast to judge our students. We are all individuals and may see things differently from each other. Don't be afraid, embrace the difference and learn from one another.

 

I want the Internet to be an active part in the classroom. I want my students to know that it can be used for more than video games, Vines, music, and/or Social Media. I want them to learn that the world is at their fingertips and all they have to do is search, utilize the tools given, ask questions, and take their learning to the next level. As soon as this happens, learning will become the next new thing.

                                                                 References:

Mindreach. (2011, June 30). Teaching Math Without Words, a Visual Approach to Learning Math from MIND Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7odhYT8yzUM

Robertson, K. (2006). Visual Thinking Strategies for Improved Comprehension. WETA. Retrieved from http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/13279/

Rodgers, A. (2015). The Science of Why No One Agrees on the Color of this Dress. Wired. Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/2015/02/science-one-agrees-color-dress








 





Week 2 Blog 1

 

QUESTION: Describe the importance of the using a variety of instructional strategies and the value they add to education of students in the 21st century. Evaluate the role technology plays in the implementation of various instructional strategies. How will this affect your teaching of students?

Teaching and learning has not changed that much over the years. A teacher has knowledge and has to pass it along to the students. The change comes from how the knowledge is passed to the students. For so long "teaching" happened through lecturing. As easy as it may be to lecture as a teacher, it is not the way for most students to "learn". Teachers can teach all day long, pass information on, explain how things work, talk until they are blue in the face. However, just because a teacher is teaching, it does not mean students are learning.

Based on the above graph the max amount a lecture can be is 10 minutes. After that the teacher starts to lose the students.

 

 

They say a picture is worth a 1000 words. What does this say to you?

Teachers are faced with the task of teaching standards to their students. No one is saying it has to be done in a particular manner. Teachers still are able to have their own creative license to reach their students, but they need to teach in such a manner that students have an input, are actively involved, and have a chance for movement.

Active learning on the student's part helps to cement a concept in their learning.

 There are many different strategies a teacher can use to teach their students other than lecturing. They can breaks students up into groups and have them discuss problems. The advantage of this is that students are given the opportunity to bring their own life experiences into the question. This helps to bring buy-in, which in turn makes the topic more relevant to them and their lives. Teachers can bring in games to teaching. Games apply to all ages. There are a plethora of activities on the internet, if the teacher does research on what they want their students to learn, they can find the activities for that particular skill the teacher wants them to master.

Simulations are another type of strategy that can be used in the classroom. For instance if the science teacher is talking about Mars in their science lesson, they obviously cannot take them on a field trip. However, there are programs that are available for the students to explore the moon through pictures that have been taken. If the math teacher is talking about surface area of buildings, they could get on the internet and find information about a particular place they are wanting to find out about.

The strategies that are available are around if the teacher is willing to put in the initial work to find them. The work is on the frontend as opposed to backend. The great thing is the teacher may have an idea on what they want the kids to learn, but through their own inquiry they may take it to another level.

Technology plays an enormous role in education of today. Information is at anyone's finger tips who has a computer, tablet, phone, TV, radio, iWatch and an internet connection. There really is no valid excuse to not use some form of technology in the classroom.  Teachers have to be willing to jump out of their comfort zone and explore. Remember, at one time teachers were unsure how to implement textbooks in the class. Break free from what scares you and try new things.



I personally have changed how I have implemented technology in the class a lot in the last 5 years. I have been in classes with only a SmartBoard, two class computers, to a class with all the students having class computers, to a class with just what the students bring with them. Find what you have and adjust. I have implemented class websites, discussion boards, PowerPoints. I have recently learned how to use Plickers and plan on using the tools this offers. Yes, it is scary, but I am willing to improve my teaching so my students can improve.


Furtak, T.E. (2001).  It's Time for a Change to a More Effective Paradigm in College Teaching.    Retrieved from http://inside.mines.edu/~tfurtak/feb14_2001/transcript.html

Hopkins., D. (2012). 3 Reasons Teachers use Technology in the Classroom #Edtech # Inforographic. Retrieved from http://www.dontwasteyourtime.co.uk/technology/3-reasons-teachers-use-technology-in-the-classroom-edtech-infographic/

Lowther, D.L,  Mims, C., Russell, J.D., Smaldino, S.E., (2015). Instructional Technology and Media For Learning (11th ed). Pearson Education, INC.

Murray, B. (2000). Teaching Students how to Learn. American Psychological Association, 31. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/jun00/howtolearn.aspx