Saturday, March 7, 2009

How well equipped are you and your school?

How well equipped is your school with technology? Is your school ready for the 21st Century style of learning and students? Is your school holding you back or are you hold yourself back? I am a little bit of both of those. Our school does not allow blogging and does not recommend chatting with students outside of the classroom, too many legal issues, which is a shame. I also need to educate myself further to be prepared for the day when textbooks might disappear. I would love to hear your insights.
Posted by at

3 comments:

  1. tarebareMarch 7, 2009 at 11:56 AM

    Hey Stephanie! Great blog!
    I work at a private alternative high school, using a completely relational approach to teaching. I have a whole section of friends on facebook who are my students. On more than one occasion, I have 'chatted' with a student after school hours and was able to help them through a tough time. Our relationship was strengthened afterward, therefore making 'teaching' and 'learning' a little easier.
    I know this is uncommon in traditional teaching models. There is a time and a place for this sort of thing. I think the intent for blogging must be more content oriented. Have you ever had a great idea at the wrong time???... unable to express it to anyone??? ... then you forget it by the time it's relevant again? I think glassroom blogging just extends the window of opportunity to students who either need processing time to manifest their great ideas, or to people who just learn better with a little variety.

    Great topic!
    -Tara :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. scoultripMarch 7, 2009 at 6:47 PM

    Thanks so much for sharing Tara. The approach of using Facebook sounds great. I'm sure you do build a better bond with your students. It’s kind of like seeing your teacher at the grocery store or something. “They don’t live at the school?” Yes, we are real people. Lol What's nice about using that form of communication is for the students who have are hard time expressing themselves with words in front of their peers. Blogging gives them the perfect opportunity to share what they might have wanted to say in class, but were afraid to. And I know exactly what you are talking about; getting an idea after the day is done. Sometimes my best ideas come to me as soon as I get in bed. I know I should write them down so I don’t forget, but posting a blog would even be better. Great idea! I never thought of that. Thanks so much for sharing your story. Feel free to add more ways you use technology in your class. I’d love to hear them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. adibftwMarch 9, 2009 at 2:57 PM

    Hello Stephanie,

    I see we share similar frustration about using technology in the classroom. My school also frowns upon the use of blogging or podcasts in school. I do not understand sometimes how we are supposed to evolve as modern educators if we are still stuck within the confines of yesteryear's idea of professionalism. Surely we as adult's can interact with our students outside of the classroom via blogging (school sanctioned of course) without the worry of indecencies and the like. Unfortunately for me I get the double whammy, I'm a younger teacher and I am not married, and while this is my third year in my current assignment I still feel uneasy when I use technology to communicate with my students outside of the classroom. This is especially the case when I have to text message my soccer boys about a late practice or a canceled game. ~Adib

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)