Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to travel to San Cristobal Totonicapan, Guatemala with a group of fantastic people from Green, OH (and elsewhere!). Below is a video slide show set to the song "God of this City" by Chris Tomlin. Sometimes I feel like this song is overused, but I have yet to find another song with lyrics that so perfectly express both the reality of how God is working in the places we visited and the prayer of my heart for the people we met. Greater things are still to be done in San Cristobal, in the surrounding communities, and among the Quiche people. And these greater things will not be done by foreigners but by the native men and women working to keep schools and churches alive, by Quiche pastors currently being trained in their own language, and by students at Colegio Juan Wesley and other Christian schools as they grow in knowledge and in faith.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Ohio Governor calls for a new focus on 21st Century skills in schools
This article, printed in the Herald-Dispatch on Feb. 23, describes a new approach to education proposed by Gov. Strickland. While Strickland's ideas certainly sound relevant, I am concerned this will not turn out to be the solution students need.
The problem, according to the article, is that American students are falling behind the rest of the world in problem solving skills. Here is one of my favorite parts of the news article:
I agree that 21st Century skills are important for students. I agree that American schools do not focus nearly enough on problem solving skills. But will legislation fix that? The article concludes with this statement:
The problem, according to the article, is that American students are falling behind the rest of the world in problem solving skills. Here is one of my favorite parts of the news article:
"A growing body of research in cognitive psychologyReally? Are we surprised by this? Anyways...
suggests that minds learn best when memorization of facts is blended with
critical thinking exercises to use that knowledge..."
I agree that 21st Century skills are important for students. I agree that American schools do not focus nearly enough on problem solving skills. But will legislation fix that? The article concludes with this statement:
"Grading the new tests also introduces subjectivity into a realmWhat should be cause for even more alarm is that legislating and standardizing methods for teaching problem solving introduces uniformity and predictability into a realm where subjectivity and flexibility are absolutely necessary.
where uniformity and predictability are prized."
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Time To Resurrect the Blog
Originally, I told myself I would keep up with this blog once class was over. I didn't (obviously), but now I am in another class that requires a blog, so here we go...
My thoughts on the use of technology in the classroom...
As a student in middle and high school, I had experience with computers and smart boards, but these weren't used on a daily basis. We usually had technical difficulties with the laptops, and we were always having to reorient the smart board. These items were used as tools on occasion or as a way to project notes, but that was the extent of it. Aside from typing papers, we didn't do much with technology outside of the classroom.
Last semester, I was exposed for the first time to technology in the classroom from the teacher's perspective. The teacher I worked with once a week for my field experience used the smart board for every lesson. He also used a device with the students that let them log in and enter their answers to the daily focus questions. The students used the keypads at their desks, and the information they entered was calculated and displayed on the screen in the form of a graph so he could quickly see how many students answered each question correctly or how many students had done their homework the night before. In addition to using technology during class, he also utilized the internet as a tool for communication with parents. He had a website for students and parents with a homework calendar, information on class policies and events, and additional math challenge problems for families to work on together. He also communicated with parents primarily by email. He used the internet to his advantage in terms of professional development as well, and when I needed to search for lesson ideas, he introduced me to the members section of the NCTM website where I found valuable resources.
This experience gave me a taste of just how valuable technology in the classroom can be when it is used well. I believe technology should never be used for its own sake but only when it aids the sutdents in the learning process. It should be the mean by which student and teachers achieve their goals; it should never be the goal in and of itself.
My thoughts on the use of technology in the classroom...
As a student in middle and high school, I had experience with computers and smart boards, but these weren't used on a daily basis. We usually had technical difficulties with the laptops, and we were always having to reorient the smart board. These items were used as tools on occasion or as a way to project notes, but that was the extent of it. Aside from typing papers, we didn't do much with technology outside of the classroom.
Last semester, I was exposed for the first time to technology in the classroom from the teacher's perspective. The teacher I worked with once a week for my field experience used the smart board for every lesson. He also used a device with the students that let them log in and enter their answers to the daily focus questions. The students used the keypads at their desks, and the information they entered was calculated and displayed on the screen in the form of a graph so he could quickly see how many students answered each question correctly or how many students had done their homework the night before. In addition to using technology during class, he also utilized the internet as a tool for communication with parents. He had a website for students and parents with a homework calendar, information on class policies and events, and additional math challenge problems for families to work on together. He also communicated with parents primarily by email. He used the internet to his advantage in terms of professional development as well, and when I needed to search for lesson ideas, he introduced me to the members section of the NCTM website where I found valuable resources.
This experience gave me a taste of just how valuable technology in the classroom can be when it is used well. I believe technology should never be used for its own sake but only when it aids the sutdents in the learning process. It should be the mean by which student and teachers achieve their goals; it should never be the goal in and of itself.
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