Man have I grown since the beginning of this class. Eight weeks ago I had never really blogged and I had never done a podcast. Now I can say that not only did I participate in them but I helped create them. I enjoyed doing the podcast so much that now I am doing them on my own so my friends in Ohio can listen and have a good laugh. I am even thinking about getting a camera for my computer so I can skype. Before this class that never even crossed my mind as something that I would want to do. I think it might actually be cute to be able to see and talk to my two year old niece who has been doing this with my mother since before she was one. Maybe her twenty-nine year old uncle will finally get up with the times.
I am beginning to understand how the twenty-first century student is wired. (Pun intended) They need us to give them the basic tools and the essential concepts to an idea and then let them work it out. Gone should be the days when we just give the students mindless information and then have them regurgitate what we told them was correct on a test. We need to give them the problem and then since we have taught them the skills already they should be able to find the information for themselves. It is crucial for us to expose them to as many different uses for the technology that surrounds them. They are going to need these skills to compete in the job market. Now you cannot even be a mechanic without first having to hook the car up to a computer to run a diagnostic check to figure out what is wrong with it first.
My two year goal would be to have more than one recess for the students. When I was in school we had PE twice a week and three recesses a day. Now the schools are pushing our students so academically that they do not give them anytime to play and be kids. They need time for physical fitness. Studies have shown the correlation between physical fitness and academics. I am going to have to overcome institutional obstacles and try to convince the principal that she will have to give up some of her academic time. Now in theory if she just gives up a few of her minutes and lets the students get some extra physical fitness the test scores should improve.
