How do we work with students who come to us from very traditional, rigid educational systems/schools that do not encourage thinking for oneself? sharing opinions?
Today we couldn't find the other blog posts. We appreciated those who found ours and commented, so our goal today was to reciprocate. None of us knew how to do this, but in our attempt to find other blogs, we did find a blog by a lovely family who had a baby in 2012.
So, we returned to our initial discussion of how to get students to demonstrate what they know, but without technology.
The sixth grade teachers have discussed having a tech free week. How might this look in other grades and other subjects? middle school vs upper school?
Have we lost control of our ability to manage our information? Have we forgotten that we do have choices over whether or not to use tech?
A useful aspect of technology is having audio books for students with special needs. This is something we need to explore as a school perhaps.
Old school sometimes is still good. Books in our hands, writing on the chalk board, bringing people together without a device in between. What happens when students are given "old school" opportunities? What are kids missing when they don't have the chance to do something old school?
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Our conversation is starting with a discussion of Kevin and Brandon's ideas - trusting us to try new approaches with the understanding that we may not always succeed.
Tom has tried some new things since our last meeting - while he lectures, computers closed for the 3rd quarter. This raises the questions: is this punishing those who can listen and take notes, those who can manage themselves with a computer in front of them vs those who can't? Are students any more attentive when taking notes on paper?
Dylan is trying something for 3rd quarter: In his poetry unit, he is collaborating with the students to self-assess their work as they engage in a dialogue with Dylan about their work. A third of their quarter grade will be based on their self assessment.
To truly have students demonstrate what they know, they have to have choice. This raises how to assess different types of assignments? If you gave students a choice of doing a presentation or a test, how do you grade that? Do you give students the option to choose one, or to do both?
How about grades? Is it possible to motivate students without grades? How do you hold them accountable?
More questions than we have answers.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Questions we are pondering:
Do semester exams really demonstrate what students know?
Is there some across the board conversation about how students are doing grade wise? "Tears are being shed, not by students, but by teachers over grades."
Does the change in administration and the change to 1:1 have much of an impact on student performance and grades?
How does technology change our students' skills, such as reading comprehension (reading a book vs reading on line for example) and what is the impact of that going to be?
What have other schools done with their 1:1 launch? all in? slow roll out?
Where is education going? Is this a pivotal time because of technology in our classroom? Instead of the teacher at the podium it's the computer in the classroom. Is tech now an edifice of education? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? HISTORY will be the judge.
Do semester exams really demonstrate what students know?
Is there some across the board conversation about how students are doing grade wise? "Tears are being shed, not by students, but by teachers over grades."
Does the change in administration and the change to 1:1 have much of an impact on student performance and grades?
How does technology change our students' skills, such as reading comprehension (reading a book vs reading on line for example) and what is the impact of that going to be?
What have other schools done with their 1:1 launch? all in? slow roll out?
Where is education going? Is this a pivotal time because of technology in our classroom? Instead of the teacher at the podium it's the computer in the classroom. Is tech now an edifice of education? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? HISTORY will be the judge.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
We are talking about how to help our special needs students show what they know. We are talking about offering students choice - as in written vs oral test. Can we give all students such options even if they are not on a "plan?" Does that allow students who might be reluctant to come forward with their special needs if everyone is allowed to pursue alternative testing?
Are we on the edge of changing? Are we moving beyond the mercy D- for some students? How does this differ for humanities/social studies where it may be easier to give the mercy D- vs science or math where skills are measured and must be acquired before moving on?
Also, what about the international students? How do we deal with helping them show what they know and can do when we are confronted by a serious lack of English language skills?
Are these two different conversations - domestic students demonstrating their knowledge vs international students demonstrating their knowledge?
Where to go from here: brainstorm how different disciplines might do alternative testing
Are we on the edge of changing? Are we moving beyond the mercy D- for some students? How does this differ for humanities/social studies where it may be easier to give the mercy D- vs science or math where skills are measured and must be acquired before moving on?
Also, what about the international students? How do we deal with helping them show what they know and can do when we are confronted by a serious lack of English language skills?
Are these two different conversations - domestic students demonstrating their knowledge vs international students demonstrating their knowledge?
Where to go from here: brainstorm how different disciplines might do alternative testing
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Our discussion today started with a similar conversation that our previous PLC had at the Chester Creek Cafe. It is really about "is this working?" regarding technology. What is the balance point for screen time at Marshall for students and staff alike. I certainly don't know but I am concerned. I really don't want to implement much more technology in my classroom; I would rather engage my students about what helps them and shed the feeling that more is better. It is a discussion we need to continue.
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