Blog Post #10

I'm a Papermate. I'm a Ticonderonga

Well, I must say that I was a little confused to begin with. I am only familiar with Papermate as a pen. I had no idea what a Ticonderoga was. I now know that Papermate makes pencils also. I also know that Ticonderoga is a brand of pencil. After reading the comments listed on the post, I now realize the comparison of the two is "a mock of I'm a PC and I'm a Mac."  I would guess that the point would be ..... what is the purpose of spending less money on a PC plus the cost of repairs when you could have spent the same amount to begin with and bought the MAC. Or you could say "you get what you pay for".
So spend the money and buy the MAC!!!!!!!!!!

NO GAMES! NO GAMES! I don't care if your students are learning the objectives. 

Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?

In the post Tom, a teacher, was getting questioned by his principal, Mr. Brown. Apparently Tom had used The Factory Game as a method of getting his students engaged in the curriculum he was trying to teach. Mr. Brown, however, felt that this method was inappropriate. He had a strict "NO GAMES" policy. Tom fights for his methods by comparing them to how soldiers and doctors use simulation and games to prepare them for their jobs. Mr. Brown still would not allow the use of games, but did suggest using worksheets and algorithms. After going back and forth and discussing the matter for a few minutes, Tom figures out a way to incorporate the worksheets and algorithms while also using "The Factory Game".

I found the post to be very typical of the classroom today. Often teachers are criticized for their teaching methods without any regard to the students' learning. I know that you have to be careful because many teachers use movies and games to fill their teaching time. Often these games and movies do not teach the curriculum. I feel, as long as the teacher can show how the games/movies are being used to teach the curriculum and the students are learning, the teacher should be allowed to use those teaching methods. I know that, as a visual learner, I often learn better when I can see it. Recently a teacher showed the movie The Alamo. I'm sure that some teachers would find that completely inappropriate. I enjoyed it because it was a visual picture of the events in the history book. I am more likely to remember the events, because I watched the movie  not because I read about it in a book. I commend Tom for fighting for what he knew to be a useful and engaging teaching method while also trying to abide by the rules. Often we try to fight for what we want without any consideration for the reasoning of the other person. As future educators, it is essential that we are willing to work with principals, teachers, students, and parents to reach an agreement, if at all possible. We will be better teachers if we are able to compromise and work together.

The Con Academy
In this post Mr. Johnson, a teacher, is being encouraged to use a flipped method in his classroom. But this is not the flipped classroom where students use technology at home to prepare for the next day's lesson. The principal and salesman want Mr. Johnson to buy into this program where the students get to choose their worksheets and activities. Mr. Johnson knows that although this method might sound good, in actuality, it's not worth much.

Again, I agree that this is typical of the education system today. There are many people making decisions about education that have absolutely no idea what happens in the classroom. And we wonder why our education system is so messed up. Often things sound good until you try to put it into practice.

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?

In this post Mr. Scott McLeod was using sarcasm to make his point. He started out by saying that we shouldn't allow our students to use technology because of cheating, sexting, cyberbullying, porn, and predators. Which also denies our students the ability to create, share, think, and learn using technology as well.  Then at the end he stated that he was going to let his students use it and see who's students were better prepared for the future.

Once again I have to say that I understand the importance of technology. I have learned that this semester if I haven't learned anything else. Most students know far more about technology than I do. Much of that is because they grew up in a time where computers are easily accessible and I did not. I want to use technology in my classroom. I also think that students are more willing to learn when technology is being used. However, I also have to say that I also believe there are real threats associated with technology. Cheating, sexting, cyberbulling, porn, and predators are real concerns. These threats can have life altering effects when technology is used inappropriately. I strongly feel  when we, as teachers, choose to use technology in our classrooms, we are also responsible for what our students do with it. If we are able to monitor and guard against these threats, then I am completely for technology being used in the classrooms.