waskowski

Title of Post: When is out of date, out of date?

URL: http://wedderburn-college.blogspot.com/

In her Blog, Anna Baird said, "I would have no qualms about reading a non-fiction textbook that might have been published 10 0r even 20 years ago. What is different about the web?"

My post: When you say how you would read books that are 10-20 years old but seem to pass over older items on the web, I can really relate. I however do this because all through school I was taught to look for more recent sources. Also the more I used the web, the more I saw that older sites tend to have bad links and faulty information. So I always wondered why isn't there something or someone who in a sense "cleans up" the web? That gets rid of these older sites that do not contain valuable information. However, also keeping the older sites that still have something to offer. Just something to think about.

Title of Post: Learning to be Myself

URL: http://www.teachandlearn.ca/blog

Konrad Glogowski wrote, "Most of the time, this development took place without me. While I certainly encouraged my bloggers, discussed their work in class, and posted comments to involve my students in instructional conversations, I have always been absent as a person. This year, I want things to be different."

My post: I think it is great that you are furthering the blogging experience for your students by having your own blog as well for them to enjoy. I believe that one way to open up the minds of students is to prompt them a little and allow for their own brains to go wild. I think when they see how you express yourself through your blog and the important topics you bring up, they will be more willing to do so in their own blogs. I know in the class I am currently taking, we are becoming more familiar with blogs and how to use them in the classroom. The more I learn, the more I love them. I think it is not only a great tool to see what kids are thinking but also allowing the shy, timid students to speak their minds without embarrassment. So I hope that having an active blog with your students work out well for you and I hope to hear how it is going in future blogs.

Title of post: Expectations

URL: http://remoteaccess.typepad.com/remote_access/

Clarence Fisher wrote, "Seems lately every time my kids walk by my laptop and either here voices coming from it or see a video playing they first of all get quiet and then try to sneak around behind me to see what I'm doing."

 My post: I think your post is proof that as educators it is important to bring all forms of technology possible into the classroom. Just seeing how they will crowd around your laptop full of curiosity is a golden opportunity to keep their interest and teach them at the same time. In a class I am currently taking, we are learning about all sorts of free programs out there on the web open to us. From these programs we are learning and coming up with ways to incorporate them into the curriculum. However, although I think technology and the internet are great tools for students, we must make sure that we teach them how to protect themselves on the web and how to use these programs responsibly.  

Title of post: I wish I could quit you!

URL:http://timfredrick.typepad.com/timfredrick/

Tim Fredrick wrote, "I remember as I was finishing up my teacher preparation program, one of the instructors said, "When you're done, you'll know it. Don't stay just to stay." I think her point was that when you are "done" with teaching (i.e., you are burned out), you are not doing anyone any favors by staying. You are making matters worse for yourself, your students, and your colleagues.

As I am on leave from classroom teacher to pursue my Ph.D. in English Education full-time, I wonder if I "quit" teaching. I certainly wasn't done with the profession (although schools and school systems is another story), but I felt that I needed an intellectual challenge that classroom teaching just wasn't providing. I'm much happier and fulfilled being a student again."

My Response:

I definitely agree with you when you say that when a teacher is "done" they shouldn't just stick around. I have been in far too many classrooms with teachers like these. In once sense I should thank them for motivating me not to be that teacher when I am in the classroom. However they also contributed to many of my bad experiences in school.
I noticed how you said that you have taken a leave from the teaching world to get your Ph.D in English Ed. You stated how right now you are much happier being a student and I was just wondering whether or not being a student would motivate you to want to go back into the classroom? I think sometime by being in the other's shoe we are opened up to their world and have a better understanding and appreciation for the others. Just a thought.

Title of post: Giving power and responsibility to adolescents

URL:http://timfredrick.typepad.com/timfredrick/

Tim Fredrick wrote, "Epstein argues that adolescence as a time of angst and turmoil is a construct which is particular to western, post-industrial cultures.  In other cultures and in our history, adolescents were not treated as children, but given a multitude of responsibility for themselves and their families.  Epstein cites several research studies to show that adolescents have the cognitive, physical, and emotional capabilities of adults.  As a culture, we infantilize them and it is as a result of this infatilization that adolescents are angry, depressed, and rebellious.  He gives many examples, but to me the most interesting and telling is that when a young woman under the age of 18 has a baby, she is responsible for making medical decisions for the baby, but because she is under 18 cannot legally make medical decisions for herself."

My Response: 

Seeing as I am only a sophomore in college, it wasn't that long ago I was a student in a high school classroom. After reading this blog it made me think back to my experiences in classroom during my adolescence. Truth be told, we were given very little responsibility and perhaps too much leeway. In turn, I noticed that not only had we been “infantilized” but we also were not prepared for the world ahead of us. In just my short two years in college, I have seen five good friends drop out because they were not prepared enough. I think by “infantilizing” adolescents, we are not only setting them up for possible anger and rebellion but more so for failure. Just by instituting the simple ideas you and your colleagues came up with could make a major difference in the classroom.