Gerald commented on my blog about some of his interests and how the unicycle interest has transferred over to his daughter. I believe this shows how our passions can make others passionate. I think it goes back to the first book we read, Teach Like a Pirate, where if we can show our passion to our students we can catch their interest. I like how High Tech High has no single subjects but rather they are combined. This allows teaches to teach things they are passionate about. In turn they have test scores that are 10% above the state average and 98% of graduates enter college. The students their are allowed to explore learning from a passionate teacher and I believe this helps them to develop a love of learning. The students experience learning more as play than this required task. Now we both agree that test scores are the best means to measure our students, but right now that is what we have. Even if it isn't the best means this example from High Tech High does change the way that I view education.
In Sarah's post she talked a lot about how people embrace change. A lot of people are resistant to change because we want to do what already works even if it doesn't work great. We want to do what is comfortable. I do like trying to change things up, but when I get busy I definitely revert back to what is comfortable. I definitely learned by lecture. It is not that exciting but I was able to learn that way. It is hard to change to something we don't know. We can fear the unknown. We just don’t know what to expect so how can we prepare for it. For me I just try to live in the moment. I plan a week at a time, because that is what is required at my school. I know some teachers who plan for a month. I just don’t know how they do it because I evaluate at the end of the week and sometimes this radically changes what I will do the next week. I think this might be the biggest way to incorporate change. You have to leave room for it. I know if I had plans for a month I would not want to change because that would require more work for me. Gerald posted about how using technology for his is like a game. He plays around with the new tech until he understands it. I have the same experience. Even though the only reward I get is knowledge I still want to play. I think if we can find something that our students are passionate about and leverage it to be a learning experience we will see that students are wanting to learn for more than a grade or a prize. They do it because they want the skill. I did not think about it this way but I can totally relate.
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Essential Question: What does the way you play have to do with embracing change and how does this impact you as a professional?
Play is a part of life. We start out with play being the sole way we learn, but we are quickly transferred to the way of learning in school. I'm not convinced that schools in America have the right idea about education. From everything I have read American test scores have consistently been mid pack compared to other counties, and our scores seem to be dropping. I'm not sure testing is the best form of evaluation, but this still points out that the U.S. might need to change the way we look at education. So much has changed in our history yet education is relatively the same. "Traditional approaches to learning are no longer capable of coping with a constantly changing world. They have yet to find a balance between the structure that educational institutions provide and the freedom afforded by the new media’s almost unlimited resources, without losing a sense of purpose and direction" (Thomas & Brown, 2011)
While looking into the topic of adapting to change and play I came across a couple of great examples from U.S. schools as well as Finland's approach to education. High Tech High, a charter school in the U.S., works from the ground up. In other words they work with teachers, parents, and students to create change rather than starting with administration. "There are no bells, class periods, or single subjects. Subjects are integrated. Teachers are hired on one-year contracts, with the payoff of being able to teach whatever they want to teach. And over and over again, we see and hear that one of the great things about this place is how teachers teach to their passions and, with their students, are the designers." Their test scores are 10% above the state average and they have a 98% college entrance rate (Phillips, 2015). The other example I found is called MHS Unplugged where students have a 15-minute recess period every day. "Recess includes activities that are student- or teacher-led, like yoga, meditation, Frisbee, basketball, jam band, and art projects. Students unplug from the curriculum, from stress, and from electronics during these 15 minutes. The short break provides them an opportunity to connect with one another and teachers in a new way, and as a result, students feel more productive and more connected to the school community...True to the program's name, activities do not include anything computer- or electronics-based. 'Unplugged' really does mean unplugged...Teachers and students are also able to build a relationship outside of class, which helps to strengthen what happens in class. There's a connection made when teachers and students get to know one another better, and there's a sense of caring and community in the school." ("Recess for High School Students", 2015). I have been very fascinated by what Finland is doing with their educational system, and to be honest I am jealous. This week seemed like a great excuse to spend more time reading about their system. I found so many articles I couldn't choose which ones I wanted to use so I just used all of them. Finland really has a great way of mixing play with learning. I believe this is what Thomas & Seely (2013) are talking about when they say "the challenge is to find a way to marry structure and freedom to create something altogether new." In Finland they believe that "carefully organized play helps develop qualities such as attention span, perseverance, concentration and problem solving, which at the age of four are stronger predictors of academic success than the age at which a child learns to read" (Butler, 2016). In the U.S. public-school teachers are bound by so many regulations. We are not in charge of selecting our textbooks or content because that is already dictated to us. (Walker, 2016) In Finland teachers are given a lot of autonomy. "Teachers are well paid, well-trained (they must complete a five-year specialist degree), respected by parents and valued and trusted by politicians. There is no Ofsted-style inspection of schools and teachers, but a system of self-assessment. Educational policy and teaching is heavily research-based" (Butler, 2016). Doyle (2016) resonates the same observations where Finland's teachers "are encouraged to constantly experiment with new approaches to improve learning." Strauss (2013) makes a prediction, based on interviews with Finnish teachers who have left Finland to teach in America, that American teachers would excel in Finland because they would have the "freedom to teach without the constraints of standardized curricula and the pressure of standardized testing; strong leadership from principals who know the classroom from years of experience as teachers; a professional culture of collaboration; and support from homes unchallenged by poverty." Finland just has a completely different notion about the way education should be and they are seeing some great successes. "In a world of near-constant flux, play becomes a strategy for embracing change, rather than a way for growing out of it"(Thomas & Brown, 2011). I believe it boils down to the idea that kids need time to be kids. We all need to take time for our passions and incorporate these passion into our daily lives just as this 63 year old man has done.
Sources
Butler, P. (2016, September 20). No grammar schools, lots of play: the secrets of Europe's top education system. Retrieved February 08, 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/sep/20/grammar-schools-play-europe-top-education-system-finland-daycare Doyle, W. (2016, December 06). How Finland broke every rule - and created a top school system. Retrieved February 08, 2017, from http://hechingerreport.org/how-finland-broke-every-rule-and-created-a-top-school-system/ Phillips, M. (2015, December 17). The Problems and Promise of Educational Change. Retrieved February 08, 2017, from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/problems-promise-educational-change-mark-phillips Recess for High School Students. (2015, February 03). Retrieved February 08, 2017, from https://www.edutopia.org/practice/recess-high-school-students Strauss, V. (2013, May 15). What if Finland’s great teachers taught in U.S. schools? Retrieved February 10, 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2013/05/15/what-if-finlands-great-teachers-taught-in-u-s-schools-not-what-you-think/?utm_term=.104b61038634 Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change [Kindle]. Walker, T. D. (2016, November 28). When Finnish Teachers Work in America’s Public Schools. Retrieved February 08, 2017, from http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/11/when-finnish-teachers-work-in-americas-public-schools/508685/ Jule this week talked about how at first she aspired for her classroom to be like her favorite elementary classroom. I could easily relate to this. I think we teach to what we know. If we have never experienced a model different from the teacher imparting their knowledge on students it is hard to change. I sat through a lot of lectures and I learned it, but it works for so few students. Also with lectures it is hard to tell if a student is just replicating what you as a teacher taught them or if they actually understand the process. Next Jule went on to discuss how she aspired to have a very different classroom than the one she currently has. I believe this is very hard because so much fall on the teacher to fund. It is even more difficult in the bush where supplies are expensive and have to be ordered so far in advance. I suggested that donorschoose would be great for getting supplies. I have actually had 4 projects funded and one of them was new desks that cost over $2,000. A lot of classrooms have to do what they can with what they have. You have to create spaces that allow students to learn. One of the biggest things I believe we can do is to create an inviting and comfortable classroom. When I learn I want to be comfortable and that is one of the great advantages of online learning.
Matthew shared a couple of my favorite resources: CK12 and quizlet (I prefer quizlet live). My district is adopting new science textbooks this year and CK12 has been thrown out as an option. This way we could use the extra money to get science supplies or to update technology. Textbooks are just something that seems to get lost or left in another classroom at my school. So this would also solve that problem. Quizlet is a lot of fun and my students beg to play quizlet live or kahoot. Matthew also talked about ways to incorporate personal technology like student phones. I generally let students use phones when it comes time for a project as long as they ask permission first. But that is usually the only time I allow phone usage because it just seems like the students are too distracted. Matthew pointed out that texting is no different than note passing. And in all honestly our students are going to have to live in the real world with a phone as a distraction. I'm not sure I would be for middle school using phones but high school I could see it. Andrea posted on my blog about how to use student technology in the classroom. She shared this great article. I have really been thinking hard about how to use personal devices effectively in the classroom. My biggest fear is actually using the student's data. Our internet is locked down so students must use their own data. ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How different is your current classroom from the one in which you learned when you were a student?The biggest difference I see is in the amount of technology available. I used to have to go to a computer lab, and now students have laptops, tablets, and smartphones. With more technology it seems that technology skills are taught less and students are just expected to have them. However, I do believe the idea of what education is has changed dramatically. "Instruction doesn't consist primarily of lecturing to students who sit in rows at desks, dutifully listening and recording what they hear, but, rather, offers every child a rich, rewarding, and unique learning experience. The educational environment isn't confined to the classroom but, instead, extends into the home and the community and around the world. Information isn't bound primarily in books; it's available everywhere in bits and bytes" (Lanier, 1997). This quote is from when I was in elementary school and I don't think it is different than what is expected now. Thomas and Brown (2011) echo the same notion that learning can be augmented by using the information in digital media and by focusing "on learning through engagement within the world." With all of the new technology available Heick (2014) gives 7 ways the classroom has changed:
This last quote from Thomas and Brown (2011) really sums up my thoughts after reading this week: "A growing digital, networked infrastructure is amplifying our ability to access and use nearly unlimited resources and incredible instruments while connecting with one another at the same time." Digital connection can be integral in helping students connect to course content really expanding their learning. Sources
Heick, T. (2014, March 25). 7 Ways Teaching Has Changed. Retrieved February 02, 2017, from http://www.teachthought.com/terry-heick/7-ways-teaching-has-changed Lanier, J. T. (1997, July 01). Redefining the Role of the Teacher: It's a Multifaceted Profession. Retrieved February 03, 2017, from https://www.edutopia.org/redefining-role-teacher Levinson, M. (2015, January 14). O Captain! My Captain! Where Has Teaching Gone? Retrieved February 02, 2017, from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/captain-where-has-teaching-gone-matt-levinson Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change [Kindle]. Jim found similar research to what I found about teachers. Teachers are dissatisfied by their jobs and I believe Jim pointed out something important. We have to find satisfaction in our students. This is probably the reason almost, if not every, teacher got into the profession. I have been at the Alaska RTI conference this past weekend and heard a presenter say that each day of being a teacher is a new day with new surprises. I believe this is another reason why many of us our teachers. Everyday is a new challenge and there is something rewarding about trying to tackle each challenge that is thrown at us. Teaching is a challenging profession and I believe many teachers question their career choice at some point in their teaching career.
Josie said "The feeling of pride and satisfaction that is achieved when we see our students mastering a difficult task is how I see my calling." This always reassures me that I have chosen the right profession. Sometimes, especially recently, I have questioned by choice of entering the profession but when a students shows progress it is all worth it. I think Joise hit the nail on the head that the biggest source of dissatisfaction includes things that are outside of the control of our classroom. There are just so many things happening in education and in village schools turnover can be really high. For me this is the hardest part. But the kids remind me daily of why I am a teacher. Their success is my success. Natalie commented on my blog and it really made me think about perspective. Do we view the glass as half full or half empty? It we take the half full perspective we are more likely to be happy because positive thoughts are on our mind and we aren't consumed by everything in the field that is going wrong. MENTORSHIP UPDATE: I have selected my mentee, my site administrator. We have not had a chance to meet to talk for more than a couple of minutes. When I asked her what she wanted help with she said she wanted to find an efficient way to organize email for ease of use and responding. I know in the past she has wanted help with using some of the other Google apps such as docs and sheets. I think these might be some next steps to help her. I would like to help show her how use Google sheets to display data for our school. I have been the one to do this and I just don't always have the time nor do I plan on staying at the school next year. We have not looked at a timeline yet but hopefully after getting back from RTI we can schedule a meeting. ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What role does professional satisfaction play in the effectiveness of a classroom?I think professional satisfaction is the biggest key to being effective. A new survey from the Center on Education Policy (CEP) showed that "Nearly half of teachers would quit now for a higher-paying job" (OBrien, 2016). Now the way the question was worded may not be completely accurate it is still startling. "For most unhappy educators, some combination of inane policies, misbehaving or unmotivated students, and unsupportive administrators, colleagues, or parents is at the core of dissatisfaction" (Mendler, 2016). There will always be things that will upset us or discourage us, but Burgess (2012) makes a good point about finding "our own personal 'drum' and then playing it the best we can." There is so much that we cannot control so we need to try not to worry about the stuff we cannot control. "Play with all the passion, enthusiasm, and heart you can muster. Nothing else really matters. You can offer no finer gift or higher honor to the world than to find out what your 'drum' is and then play it for all it’s worth." Sometimes this can be hard. This year for me has been very trying. Some of the things you can't control really affect you and it is hard to get past some of these things. Up until this year I have been very happy with where I was at, but this year things are different. Everyone before me who left teaching in a village has told me there was a feeling that you got when it was time to move on and I believe this is what I am feeling. I feel like my emotions are controlling me more than my mind. I believe this is professional satisfaction in a nutshell. When you are happy you know you are in the right place, and if this isn't the case you will know it. Burgess (2012) really sums this up perfectly with a law that I actually taught to my physical science class this year. "The Law of Inertia states that an object at rest will stay at rest unless a force acts on it and that an object in motion will stay in motion unless a force acts on it. To overcome inertia and start moving forward, we must exert great force. Once we are in motion we are more likely to stay in motion. This is especially true if we build up speed and momentum. If you have to stop a car from rolling down the street, would you rather it be rolling at two miles per hour or sixty miles per hour? If it’s rolling sixty miles per hour it will roll right over the top of you and keep going. We want to be rolling sixty miles per hour towards our goals so that obstacles in our path get steamrolled and are distant memories in the rearview mirror. The reason many people get held up by problems and obstacles is that they haven’t built up enough momentum. Take your foot off of the brake and step on the gas!" Sources
Burgess, D. (2012). Teach Like a Pirate: Increase Student Engagement, Boost your Creativity, and Transform your Life as an Educator [Kindle]. Mendler, A. (2016, May 13). Rediscovering Your Fulfillment as a Teacher. Retrieved January 26, 2017, from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/rediscovering-your-fulfillment-as-teacher-allen-mendler OBrien, A. (2016, June 09). 3-Step Method to Increase Teacher Voice. Retrieved January 26, 2017, from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/increasing-teacher-voice-decision-making-anne-obrien I don't think I have ever had so many comments on my blog! Lots of good chatter about what engagement looks like. I think it was agreed that in the video Dave Burgess really shows his enthusiasm and you can see how it is contagious, just as he talks about in his book. This was a great resource to really bring what we were reading about to life.
Jule posted a comment on my blog about providing new experiences for students to keep them engaged. I did not post about this in my blog post but I am in total agreement with it. Students need to have experiences they resonate with. This is why PBL is so good. It reaches all students at their level and allows them to show what they know. The hardest part with this is that it is hard to prep for and it is hard for a teacher to step back. I tried a project last year in my physical science class and the students were all over it. They loved making something and then collecting the data on it. Natalie first pointed out that "teachers must be willing to change." So many teachers are not willing to change and this can be detrimental to students. We must do things that are good for students not just good for us as teachers. A key point is that with this change we need to interact with students and get their opinions. Sometimes we might falsely think they enjoyed something when in all actuality they just didn't want to fail. Natalie also talked about how the Essa Academy in England was able to turn around their failing school with the use of tech. So many times this does not happen because schools just throw in tech in hopes that their scores go up. With out thoughtful implementation it is rare that a school would see gains with the use of tech. We need to get all students engaged in the use of tech. I can think of a couple of examples at school: our high schoolers are asking to do ALEKS with any free time they have, when I assign CK12.org almost all of my high schools instantly go in and start reading and watching the videos, and in middle school the students ask for sumdog when they are done with any work. ESSENTIAL QUESTION: HOW DO WE KEEP OUR LESSONS ENGAGING? DOES INNOVATION PLAY A PART IN THIS?I believe engagement is always changing. What works for one class may not work for another. With that being said, I do believe there are techniques that promote engagement such as: mixing up your teaching style, getting rid of "dead time" or having students collaborate to name a few (De Frondeville, 2009). You can also engage students by showing how excited you are to teach them. As Burgess (2012) says "passion is all about being on fire in front of your class. I’m fond of the quote, 'Light yourself on fire with enthusiasm and people will come from miles around just to watch you burn!'" Findlater (2013) argues that for a lesson to be engaging it must weave together fun and learning. She advocates for the use of visuals, audio, or props to help bring students in. These kinds of things can give students something to talk about. Engagement is about providing a new experience for students and I wholeheartedly believe innovation is key. We can think about innovation if we think about pirates. A pirate is someone who is okay with being unconventional and changing things up. They are after one thing: treasure. Burgess (2012) advocates that teachers need to embrace this philosophy where we are after making school "fun" for students. Almost all pirates have hooks so to embrace this philosophy we need to hook our students to fully engage them. If we do this then everyone will receive the "treasure" which is a love for learning. In my quest to fully understand what I was reading I googled David Burgess and Outrageous Teaching: Teach Like a Pirate. I found 2 video links the first one is below. I can read all I want, but I couldn't get a sense of the person writing it. The videos really helped put me in the right mindset and allowed my reading to come alive. On a side note, Teach Like Pirate really made me think of the gamification class I took last semester. Every idea he threw out made me think of some aspect of gamification. He advocates for hooking students and drawing them in. I can't help but wonder if his classroom provides units that are gamified? I know he has aspects of it, but they seem to be separate an not tied together. I really wish I could witness one of his classes but the YouTube video helped me to get an idea. Sources
Burgess, D. (2012). Teach Like a Pirate: Increase Student Engagement, Boost your Creativity, and Transform your Life as an Educator [Kindle]. Burgess, D. [TEDx Talks]. (2013, November 05). Teach like a pirate: David Burgess at TEDxLitchfieldED. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-c3-tdSo6s. De Frondeville, T. (2009, August 03). How to Keep Kids Engaged in Class. Retrieved January 19, 2017, from https://www.edutopia.org/classroom-student-participation-tips Findlater, S. (2013, August 07). A teacher's guide to immersive lessons. Retrieved January 19, 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/aug/07/teaching-immersive-engaging-lessons |
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