tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12754278416908375472024-03-13T11:54:49.149-07:00Education Is ClassyMontie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-4067825859179999262012-08-01T00:19:00.004-07:002012-08-01T00:19:54.119-07:00Flipped classroom meets progressive education?I had a chance to listen to a podcast by Troy Cockrum with <a href="http://edreach.us/2012/07/31/flipped-learning-008-elementary-flipping-with-lisa-highfill/" target="_blank">EdReach on best practices</a>- this was one of his mad minute narrations, and ended up being more of a "what not to do list." I couldn't help but draw a few parallels with progressive educator Alfie Kohn. I had a chance to <a href="http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2012/apr/19/educator-have-students-help-shape-curriculum/" target="_blank">see Kohn speak</a> a few months ago in VA, and from everything I remember about his energetic lecture was that the classrom should not be centered on the teacher, that students should not be bored to tears with worksheets, and that less time should be devoted to test prep. Ditto all these things with Cockrum. Where Kohn flashes his most controversial colors is his disdain for homework. Which makes me wonder: would Kohn and other progressive educators support the flipped classroom? My gut feeling is that yes, yes he would. Unless someone out there knows the answer right off the bat, my ninja reporter instincts are to try and get in touch with Kohn- it would be an interesting conversation.<br />
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At the same time, my thoughts on narrated podcasts are a bit conflicted after the 2 minute segment. Maybe it's because I'm a visual person, maybe I prefer to read, but listening to monotone voice takes concentration and is not the most enjoyable way of digesting information. Nonetheless it's easy enough to play again, and I suppose that's part of what the flipped classroom is about.Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-49477113171685240562012-07-31T23:27:00.002-07:002012-07-31T23:27:34.535-07:00My first Twitter solicitation! And other practical adviceA pretty cool thing happened to me recently: an education professional reached out and plugged his blog to me by Twitter! I've dabbled with this social networking platform in the past, but it always seemed complicated and I wasn't standing on firm ground when it came to hashtags, who to follow or what to tweet about. In the end it took an assignment with my Tech Ed class to pull me out of my shell, and so far it's been the finest!<br />
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I babble, and as I mentioned an educational professional reached out to me and it was a flattering experience. <a href="http://www.stevereifman.com/" target="_blank">Steve Reifman</a> keeps a wonderful blog, it's full of very practical advice I will be taking into consideration as I progress toward a full time teaching job. One useful snippet Reifman points out is the importance of being a proactive teacher when it comes to parent communication. In his post on <a href="http://www.stevereifman.com/featured-articles/for-teachers/264-be-proactive-in-your-communications-with-parents" target="_blank">parent-teacher communication</a>, Reifman details the pitfalls of not conveying information to parents, which can be nasty phone calls and general unpleasantness all because of miscommunication. In the end it only takes sending a flyer home, or maybe even a post on the class blog. <br />
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I can't think of a creative way to attach a visual to this blog post, so here's a photo of my grandmother holding my dog as a puppy!Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-56649961368351497152012-07-31T22:46:00.001-07:002012-07-31T22:46:02.881-07:00Picture the lesson with a picture<a href="http://www.edutopia.org/visuals-math-curriculum" target="_blank">The use of visuals in the classroom</a> is a simple way to engage students. Visuals further classroom discussion, and stimulate creative thinking. No matter the individual learning style, be it hands on, verbal, or intrapersonal, all learners benefit from a thoughtful image that conveys a meaning. There is also a very practical reason for the use of visuals: it takes less work on the teacher's part.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJFfoVsHUsXTU2YmAfNFFimzVzd6OOTSuDmLGO9bvg6IL4wGjOHKdvgayfLriW3FkEwoWjRlWe-hhKIwpn4NTcdw8JxEHbpk-aiFekhspy-tUTALklYF_4TP1zhY5LHWbbyWX70eL4ZeD/s1600/DSC01441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJFfoVsHUsXTU2YmAfNFFimzVzd6OOTSuDmLGO9bvg6IL4wGjOHKdvgayfLriW3FkEwoWjRlWe-hhKIwpn4NTcdw8JxEHbpk-aiFekhspy-tUTALklYF_4TP1zhY5LHWbbyWX70eL4ZeD/s320/DSC01441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
How would I be able to explain what a road runner looks like without an image of the bird? I could also put the cartoon roadrunner next to a real one, and hold a discussion on differences/similarities.<br />
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<a href="http://blog.mrmeyer.com/" target="_blank">Dan Meyer</a>, a high school math teacher in Santa Cruz, CA, makes a strong point that the difficulty with visuals is to select the right one. The right kind of visual requires creativity and innovation, and that can be time consuming. He may be right on this one, but I was given some solid advice by my Professor Steven Knight (@plan3t_t3ch) which is to keep a visual diary. Every day take a photo of some object, maybe a set of silverware or a truck, which can be used to good effect in a future lesson.Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-32664565408985483562012-07-23T12:58:00.001-07:002012-07-23T13:16:19.182-07:00Hello Slide presentation: Education in ChinaOne of the defining moments in my teaching career was my time abroad in developing China. There's so much to say about the entire experience, but I decided to focus on my time in the classroom for this 10 min presentation. I used Google presentation, which was a fairly straightforward process, then added narration with Hello Slide. There are a few choppy parts, I still have to get the a few kinks out, but overall I think the presentation was a success.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_192690203"><br /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.helloslide.com/presentations/a9ij4xxxh9/china-teach-ed554"><iframe width="600" height="440" src="http://www.helloslide.com/embed/a9ij4xxxh9" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsUhPDJsgoV4KK1sNmMRXQw0w8myw5gwoDwVSzgygmBAodCGjfbHeJndKHZJVHKOkx_SIi8IYuoc3gMaTstqmymzfcukMLpDH8u9JRW9D5VMpMM3WkgiQqd9C1XuGAnFWA-3dDtt8dYuS/s1600/Montie+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsUhPDJsgoV4KK1sNmMRXQw0w8myw5gwoDwVSzgygmBAodCGjfbHeJndKHZJVHKOkx_SIi8IYuoc3gMaTstqmymzfcukMLpDH8u9JRW9D5VMpMM3WkgiQqd9C1XuGAnFWA-3dDtt8dYuS/s320/Montie+088.JPG" width="320" />长春工业大学</a></div>
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For those interested, my <a href="http://chinatake.blogspot.com/2011/06/post-on-teaching-good-bad-and-lame.html" target="_blank">ChinaTake blog</a>
has more detailed information on my time as an English teacher in
China. I seriously recommend teaching abroad for an extended period of
time, my two years in developing China were formative and inspired me to
go down the education career path.Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-89652473886750164702012-07-17T14:42:00.001-07:002012-07-17T14:42:22.752-07:00Sold on cell phonesMichael Soskil does an excellent job boiling down the top reasons to allow students to use their smartphones in the classroom. Soskil's <a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/07/5-reasons-to-allow-students-to-use-cell.html" target="_blank">5 reasons to use cell phones in class</a> include:<br />
<ol>
<li>Smart phones are a part of life, and students should be learning life skills.</li>
<li>Smartphones stretch school technology budgets.</li>
<li>The arguments against smartphones, that they enable cheating, are baseless because students should be learning how to manipulate facts rather than regurgitate them on standardized tests.</li>
<li>There's a double standard when teachers/administrators use them at school.</li>
<li>Teachers can facilitate the responsible use of smartphones; they will be used by students no matter what.</li>
</ol>
I have a friend who works at a school in Denver that focuses on nature. He frequently takes students on wilderness hikes, and explicitly forbids the use of smartphones. He argues that students need the opportunity to unplug and enjoy the time outdoors without distractions. I say let the kids have their phones; if the aim is to educate students on nature, which includes species identification, why make the kids lug around a a bird book when they can use a smartphone app? 21st Century learners prefer tech anyway, and a smartphone app can get students to appreciate nature a lot more; a potential negative is that the association of nature and no smartphones will leave a bitter taste in their mouths.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGp3owNyMgwx0VpBr6WrmHkj7t5Gc3ORT5crZ16Lfmk_womx9gAaUj_vtunx9uciy91C9oPuH05J5ofZbQRvX8aOjBgbh3stxCVKc2hbh5wICQToJPFdIK8wUbp1iFK3k1LjAZM0Yh-wA/s1600/Jemez_catus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGp3owNyMgwx0VpBr6WrmHkj7t5Gc3ORT5crZ16Lfmk_womx9gAaUj_vtunx9uciy91C9oPuH05J5ofZbQRvX8aOjBgbh3stxCVKc2hbh5wICQToJPFdIK8wUbp1iFK3k1LjAZM0Yh-wA/s320/Jemez_catus.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hopefully students will be able to recognize a cactus without their phones!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJHev_nwW4c-tfdR2zaAIf-gcbRyaLU3c-_xWu-XpZqGidlaBElbBMI8Emn7YEZWJ7KOENAENs1YUCjH9PMaqXtJ5F6KRfGsdAXCiCeQC7p7crFejVYeYB6s4NcZIyw1Jm_ev05s5t_0L/s1600/Great_falls_birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJHev_nwW4c-tfdR2zaAIf-gcbRyaLU3c-_xWu-XpZqGidlaBElbBMI8Emn7YEZWJ7KOENAENs1YUCjH9PMaqXtJ5F6KRfGsdAXCiCeQC7p7crFejVYeYB6s4NcZIyw1Jm_ev05s5t_0L/s320/Great_falls_birds.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students can use their smartphones with bird identification apps, rather than lug around a massive bird book that is difficult to use. Also, there are weekend <a href="http://connection.membershipsoftware.org/articleprint.asp?article=355287&paper=65&cat=104" target="_blank">birding activities</a> at Great Falls park; it's early in the morning, but you can find out all about it thanks to this intrepid reporter :)</td></tr>
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<br />Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-16287938947853504452012-07-10T13:55:00.001-07:002012-07-10T13:55:38.072-07:00Talking safely onlineThe Common sense media online unit about <a href="http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/lesson/talking-safely-online-4-5" target="_blank">Internet safety for 4-5th graders</a> stands up. What are the differences between real-life friends and online-friends? Can you even know a person's gender? There are activities for in class work, but I particularly like the assignment portion: go to a chat room with a monitor, see if people post personal information, and report back the following day. It's a life lesson that can put children on a safe path to cyber living.Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-7948169338671674652012-07-10T13:45:00.001-07:002012-07-10T13:45:13.523-07:00Too many teachers?The WSJ came out with a <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303734204577465413553320588.html?mod=googlenews_wsj" target="_blank">scathing report</a> on the influx of teachers in America, that basically extra teachers add nothing to math skill development and subsequent science-based jobs of the future- I'm honestly not sure what to make of this, except that doesn't creativity count as well? Doesn't a good teacher foster creativity in 21st century learners?Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-42947024349881687192012-07-10T13:35:00.000-07:002012-07-10T13:35:11.301-07:00PowerPoint is Evil?Back in 2003, Yale professor of political science Edward Tufte wrote about the <a href="http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html" target="_blank">evils of PowerPoint</a>. His argument that PowerPoint focuses on looking cool rather than content stands up over time, but I still have issues with many of his points.<br />
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There's nothing inherently "evil" about presentation software, it comes down to the presenter. Tufte maintains that at the elementary grades PowerPoint typically has a few pieces of art, and no more than 40 words. I don't find anything really wrong with this; PowerPoint is about public speaking, and if that is a skill students need to learn then there is no harm in making an engaging presentation.<br />
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The harm comes when a presentation breaks the 3 level format:<br />
1. Tell us what you will say<br />
2. Say it<br />
3. Tell us what you said<br />
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Most importantly, however, is that less is more. A good presentation uses PoiwerPoint as a supplement, not a platform where the presenter reads every word and calls it a day.Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-67829782260693097702012-06-26T18:40:00.001-07:002012-06-26T18:40:49.118-07:00A crack at digital story tellingDigital story telling is pretty fun, and for my first project (first of several I hope!) I picked Artomatic 2012. Not sure what Artomatic is? Watch the story and find out!<br />
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Music is the 4155 iteration of of <a href="http://darwintunes.org/" target="_blank">Darwin Tunes</a>, Creative Commons. It's a great experiment, so check it out!Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-69916915923672535012012-06-26T17:01:00.001-07:002012-06-26T17:01:21.802-07:00Multi-media podcastMy group put together a fine podcast (a personal first) and it turned out pretty well! Hope to make some more of these in the future!<br />
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Hope you enjoy the wack Russian accent!Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-82115922718795277042012-06-12T14:50:00.001-07:002012-06-12T14:50:08.057-07:00Podcast in your pocket21st Century learners crave creating their own content, which is why podcasts are an ideal learning tool. Students can own their assignments with podcasts, and be proud of the finished product. The learner can also share creations with others.<br />
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In terms of the instructor's use of this tool, teachers can easily narrate a PowerPoint presentation and adapt the format so it is compatible with portable devices like the iPhone. The unique benefit of using podcasts in this way is that learners can access content on the go; students can fill their micro-moments by reviewing the content at their leisure (their is much controversy surrounding<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/technology/25brain.html?pagewanted=all" target="_blank"> the use of technology to fill micro-moments</a>, that they take away important time to rest, but if students fill those moments with educational material what can be the real harm?)<br />
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Nonetheless, podcasts have their own pitfalls. Due to the relevance of the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/opinion/sunday/internet-access-and-the-new-divide.html?pagewanted=all" target="_blank">digital divide</a>, learners without smartphones are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to accessing content via podcasts. While this is not strictly the case with smartphones, (think iPads, laptops, Internet access at home) it still puts those students with the means at an advantage over their peers.Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-68531780586758456252012-06-12T11:59:00.002-07:002012-06-12T11:59:39.055-07:00The Nuts & Bolts of 21st Century LearningShelby Wright's unit on the Holocaust is constructivism, grounded in 21st Century skills, par excellence. The teacher has removed herself from the pedestal, acting more as a "guide-on-the-side" rather than "sage-on-the-stage." The result of her pedagogical change can be seen in the excitement of both the students as well as the teacher. Wright notes that:<br />
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"To be honest, this project is so interesting, I want to be part of it. I
want to help make and design it, and I’ve never had that impulse while
teaching before."</blockquote>
<a href="http://plpnetwork.com/2011/03/22/the-nuts-bolts-of-21st-century-teaching/" target="_blank"></a>This is not to say there were no challenges to the change in teaching style. There were moments in her lesson where students were uncomfortable and discussion in the class came to a halt. As painful as these moments were, Wright did not intercede with a lecture, and she waited for the students to compose their own thoughts and lead the discussion.<br />
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Perhaps the largest hurdle was the bringing the Holocaust unit into a comprehensive whole. This is a good lesson for teachers who adapt 21st Century constructivist pedagogy; there must be some structure to a unit, and the teacher can focus the classroom by identifying trends of student discussions (such as faces of the Holocaust) and posing solutions.<br />
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The technological component played an important role in the overall success of the unit. Student engagement flourished when they worked together via Google docs. After a few notes on how to evaluate primary and secondary sources, the students went cyber in their research and found the necessary material to complete the presentation. The effective use of technology in this 2st Century classroom facilitated a rich and engaging unit, fostering student desires to dig deeper and construct their own understanding of the content.<br />
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Technology does not take the place of the teacher in the 21st Century classroom, rather, learners embrace technology as a tool to construct their understanding of the content. Photo by Montie Martin, Shanghai World Expo summer 2010.<br />
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</blockquote>Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-70544268587827911952012-06-05T11:44:00.001-07:002012-06-05T11:59:09.586-07:0021st Century Learners: identity and pressenceThe elementary years are formative. In addition to the core content areas of math, science, reading, writing and social science, I hope to instill learners with a love and respect for technology, themselves and others. Elementary students are <a href="http://www.facebook.com/help/parents" target="_blank">too young to maintain a Facebook page</a>, yet they are capable and avid cyber responders. Students at this level are developing their social skills, personality and identity, which means they must appreciate the importance of their cyber selves.<br />
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I'm particularly concerned about cyber bullying inside and outside the classroom. Anonymity is great when it comes to reluctant students participating in online class discussions, but the dark side is also present. Research by Professor <a href="http://www.marymount.edu/spotlightDetails.aspx?Channel=%2FChannels%2FSite+Wide+Content&WorkflowItemID=391a92f9-9ae9-4db3-b239-e84d4f2eef68" target="_blank">Linda Gulyn</a> of Marymount University shows that bullying starts as early as kindergarten, through the elementary years, peaks in middle school, and continues to high school and beyond. Although policies on bullying are in place throughout the school systems in NOVA, learners in my classroom will develop social skills that can be honed in the classroom, the playground and online.<br />
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As an aside, this is one of the most popular comics from <a href="http://theoatmeal.com/comics" target="_blank">the oatmeal</a>- it will most likely be the summative mathematical assessment in my classroom.<br />
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Elementary students have all the tools necessary to complete such problems, e.g. multiplication, division, with the added benefit that it is grounded in really practical life situations. Can you imagine how impressed parents will be if their children "solve for dinner?"Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-6349820807962387612012-06-03T21:33:00.001-07:002012-06-03T21:33:17.470-07:00Tips on organizationC.G.P. Grey is one of my favorite YouTube personalities. He touches on the funny, the serious, and the downright practical. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuhGwaZiNIk&feature=plcp" target="_blank">Educators in the classroom need to be organized</a>, and Grey gives some wonderful advice on how to do that; keeping work at work without it eating into my personal time is a big concern, which is why I really like this video. There's also an inspiring message at the end that reminds us why we decided to become teachers in the first place.Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-45856077078477677822012-06-03T18:55:00.003-07:002012-06-03T18:55:51.051-07:00Core areas of concentrationI've chosen to go into education for many reasons; I come from a family of educators; I loved my educational upbringing and want to pass that experience on to others; I love the job based on my previous experience as an English instructor in China. There are also many reasons why I would like to pursue the Elementary Education career path; the kids are fantastic; I can teach English, Social Studies and Math instead of a single topic; I get to integrate the curriculum among the many subjects in creative and engaging ways. There's a great French saying, if you love your work it's a vacation. Honest though, nothing beats a vacation in France, and summer holidays are another added perk to the job ;)Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-67331557051496775822012-06-03T18:49:00.000-07:002012-06-03T18:49:53.062-07:00An educational blog post on educators with blogs"<a href="http://tomwhitby.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">My Island View</a>," an educational blog by Tom Whitby, is artfully written with poise and precision that I find very appealing. The blog has been ongoing since 2010, and has received several nominations from Edublog, a site that hosts close to 1.3 <i>million</i> blogs on education. He's a 40-year veteran of the NYC public school system, and currently teaches Education at St. Joseph College.<br />
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Accolades aside, a running concern I have with the blog is a lack of citation in some of the key sections. In a post about Education as a profession, he cites a district-wide ousting of every faculty member in a school in LA after two teachers were accused of molesting students; a cursory Google search found articles in the LA Times about the teachers, but nothing about the mass evictions of an entire school's faculty. Granted, Tom Whitby does use hyperlinks on many occasions, but when you make claims of such magnitude it's important to make citations readily available.<br />
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Nonetheless, Tom's most popular postings are fantastic. In "<a href="http://tomwhitby.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/we-dont-need-no-stinkn-textbooks-beyondthetextbook/" target="_blank">We don't need no stink'n textbooks</a>," I was particularly interested in his approach to moving beyond traditional textbooks. Although Tom is not as radical as <a href="http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2012/apr/19/educator-have-students-help-shape-curriculum/" target="_blank">Alfie Kohn</a> when it comes to curriculum grounded in the textbook, he makes great points about the purpose of the curriculum; standard textbooks are stagnant, and new ones are necessary to be interactive in order to meet the real goals of learning.<br />
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<i>Teaching the content is the process, getting students to use
the content and independently obtaining, and continuing to evaluate and use
more content should be the goal.</i> Tom Whitby.</div>
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Tom also brings up engaging the multimillion (billion?) dollar textbook industry. He makes reference to a conference held by <a href="http://www.discoveryeducation.com/" target="_blank">Discovery Education</a>, where educators and industry reps alike came to the same conclusions about the merits of mixing traditional textbooks with online interaction.<br />
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The thing that makes this blog great is an added mix of practicality. At the end of his post Tom gave Twitter recommendations on the major players at the conference:<br />
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@rmbyrne, @courosa, @NMHS_principal, @bethstill, @teach42,
@dwarlick, @dlaufenberg, @mbteach, @audreywatters, @shareski, @sciencegoddess,
@wfryer, @imcguy, @djakes, @jonbecker, @principalspage, @joycevalenza,
@lrougeux, @halldavidson, and of course @tomwhitby</div>
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There was also a fine <a href="http://tomwhitby.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/twitter-strategies/" target="_blank">post on how to use Twitter</a>, which was very refreshing for someone just getting started with the cyber social sensation. His prime advice: the more you use it the more you will understand how to use it. Again with the practical advice, Tom flags "teaching Tuesdays," as a great way to connect with educators and follow them on Twitter (another piece of advice: read profiles before following someone!) On Tuesdays use #tt, #TT or #teachtuesday, I'll def try it out this week!<br />
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I've already started using Twitter, downloaded the app on my beloved smartphone, and can't wait to leverage social media to the fullest.<br />
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Issues surrounding smartphones in the classroom are also fleshed out in a great posting by Tom. Yes, they can be distracting if students use them to communicate by talking or texting, but so are PA system alerts, kids next door returning from a field trip, Test Days, lawn mowing, a nice beautiful day etc.. Smartphones, Tom maintains, should be embraced by teachers because they allow a greater degree of engagement and allow learning via Gardner's multiple intelligences; a student can record a lecture, take a photo of slides, check facts as the teacher lectures etc...<br />
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On the flip side, I've had a chance to speak with a few teachers, elementary school teachers, who have had problems with students watching porn in class. Maybe I'll be able to suss out who is watching what once I get into the classroom, but the lack of control does give me the shivers- like, will I be held responsible as a teacher if a student is watching XXX movies when the class is working on multiplication tables?<br />
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I've been saving the best post for last, on the existential nature of teaching as a profession. In "<a href="http://tomwhitby.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/teaching-isnt-really-a-profession/" target="_blank">Teaching isn't really a profession</a>," Tom picks apart the haters who deride teachers for having a union. Case in point, Tom cites a <a href="http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/features/unions02012001.html" target="_blank">Harvard Educational Review</a> study that shows states with teacher's unions outperform non-union states. Tom brings up the "rotten apple" argument regarding bad teachers, which is legit although I keep thinking about Tom as a teacher in NYC school system when that's also home of the "Rubber Rooms" (although the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/16/nyregion/16rubber.html" target="_blank">NYT reported</a> that they were reformed two years ago).<br />
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This is my favorite quote in the whole blog so far, and certainly unions will be the topic of more of my future posts.<br />
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<i>It is the very lack of respect for teaching as a profession
that forced teachers into considering unionizing in the first place. </i>Tom Whitby.</div>
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All things considered, the blog is great and I can certainly see why it has been nominated for several awards. This is definitely a blog I will continue to follow.Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1275427841690837547.post-49620455613385865172012-05-29T17:02:00.000-07:002012-06-03T16:03:39.217-07:00The Reluctant StudentReluctant students are certainly something to keep in mind when teaching. Class size might play a role; there's more of a chance to contribute with ten vs thirty participants in the same discussion. That being said, class blogs sound like a wonderful and effective way to engage all learners no matter the group size or setting.<br />
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The blogs as a way of getting reluctant/shy students to contribute has ups and downs. The most obvious positive benefit would be giving timid students a chance to express themselves, and enrich the class as a whole with their observant comments. The flip side is that I can't really stand the run on sentences etc... relevant to blogging. Nonetheless, it seems the positives far outweigh any of the particulars related to grammar structure; the more students participate and own their education, the better.<br />
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On a personal experience level, I wish I had known the value of blogging when I taught 60 Chinese elementary students for a few months back in 2010... no, 60 is far too low a number,<i> 5 classes of 60 students each</i> is more like it. With such a behemoth of a class size, only the first two rows (14 students) had any chance of paying attention when there was direct instruction involved. The rest of the class, especially in the back row, didn't bother whatsoever. The one saving grace was that I had a computer with a projector screen for PowerPoint- it saved the day. Sadly, it was not possible to include all of the students in discussions, and blogging would have been a very relevant solution to reluctant learners.Montie Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13957401097205194065noreply@blogger.com0