EdPsy 490 TER
Summer 2000
Dianne FultonWeek One
Reading Reflections
CPRE Policy Briefs A New Vison for Staff Development Renewing America's Schools Learn and Live Chapter 1 Learn and Live Chapter 8 Week Two
Reading Reflections
Live & Learn
Ch. 2Live & Learn
Ch. 3Live & Learn
Ch. 5Live & Learn
Ch. 6Live & Learn
Ch.7Week Three
Reading Reflections - Learn & Live Videos 1 &5
Means, Ch. 7 - Realizing the Promise of Technology Week Four
Reading Reflections
Means, Ch. 8 - Tomorrow's Schools: Technology & Reform in Reform Partnership Major Project- Language Arts Curriculum Grids for 3rd Grade and Units of Practices for these Grids. The Units of Practice will be available on ALI (Apple Learning Exchange) and are on Food Groups, and a Volcano Research Project.
Video 1- Exploring the Scientific Process: Albert, Charles, and the Quest for a Wasp
“There is a gap between what students need and what is taught in schools.”
Robin WilliamsSkepticism abounds amongst seasoned teachers. It is always good to observe teachers working with children under the latest strategies; observing the whole truth. In this video, it is possible to evaluate and determine how the engaged learning is working, and that sometimes it is not a perfect scenario. The notable examples were how self-directed and self-motivated the students were. There were clear examples of engaged assessments and rubrics. The students and the teacher designing the assessment rubric was an example that is desirable and achievable. There is a plan to use peer feedback on several engaged learning projects this year in the Third Grade at Fairview School. An obvious question is, “How does the teacher provide for the special education students and the gifted students?”
The conduct of such teaching techniques is plausible only if parents are informed the process about and supports it. Parents learned in a different setting when they were in the school. The education of the parents is as important as the education of the children.
The role of the teacher to be a facilitator was apparent in the video, as the university professors were utilized for their expertise. As other classmates (Sara) have written, “How do we find professionals like this to be used in our classrooms?” Although this would be a great resource to tap, we are just at the beginning of this venture. One professor at UIS would help with an astronomy unit, but the task of finding all of the necessary resources could be overwhelming. Maybe this could be a project for a CTER class someday….
In conclusion, this video was an excellent example of not teaching an individual, but training teams in a fashion that will be used in the real world.
Video 5- Opening Schools for the Entire Community
The video was another example of how a community uses the school as a center almost 24 hours a day. Even though I had read Chapter 6 of Learn & Live, I am not keen on the idea. It seems as though the school is more of a replacement for the family and family activities. The attitude was different in the video concerning how West Des Moines provides community services. The video showed how the school was used to instruct others in dance and computer training. It is a great idea to use the resources of a computer lab to instruct the public. It was also a great idea for the family to be working together on the computers, i. e., the little girl teaching her mother. Fairview’s technology nights are similar, but alas, they occur only two or three times a year. It is very rewarding volunteering one’s time and services during these events. However, since there is no pay involved outside the normal schedule, most teachers decline to take on many extra duties.
Some of the reflections indicated that classrooms and supplies depleted or ruined by groups in the building. However, the argument is more convincing that schools should be the center of student life. Schools could certainly be used as “hubs of technology.” The school being the center of the community is certainly a way to get the family involved in education. This is a necessary element of the evolutionary changes to education.
Robin Williams ends this segment with, “…we must revitalize education. We have no other choice.” How true these words are.