Friday, November 2, 2012

Blog Post #10

Papermate vs. Ticonderoga
Papermate vs. Ticonderoga

In the blog "Adventures in Pencil Integration" by John T. Spencer, the picture shows two characters who represent two different types of pencils: papermate and ticonderoga. In addition I think that they represent different styles of learning as well. The papermate character represents the old way of using paper and pencil in schools. The Ticonderoga represents the new style of learning through using technology. The old style, using only pencil and paper, is a cheap and out of date way of learning. Like the papermate says, he cost less, but always breaks. The Ticonderoga is more expensive, but it’s a one time buy. In my opinion, this is saying that investing in technology to teach and learn is more efficient and beneficial, than just using traditional pencil and paper style of learning.

Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?

"Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?" by John Spencer is a blog post about a conversation between a teacher and his principal. The principal tells him they need to talk. The principal is so stuck on his policies that he doesn't bend the rules for anything, even if it’s beneficial to someone else. For example, when he was meeting with the teacher, the principal won't close the door because of his open door policy.

The principal seems to be stuck in his way so much that he questions this teacher about playing games with the students. The “game,” as the principal refers to it, was having the students draw what they read about. The teacher argues his point by using examples of soldiers and surgeons using games and simulations as a part of their training. The principal doesn't agree with this analogy because the students aren't surgeons or soldiers, yet he compares it to the “Hang Man Fiasco of 1895.” What the principal doesn't understand in this conversation is that the students are engaged in learning by doing a project that seems to be a game. It is a fun way of learning for these students. They will eventually get more out of this way of learning than possibly the boring, out of date, pencil and paper style of learning the principal likes.

Taking what he has talked about with the principal, he decides he will continue to use “games”, which are fun ways of learning for the students, but will call it something different. The children will benefit more from this style of learning. This type of scenario is how I view of district level administration. They are not as connected to the classroom, yet they make rules and regulations for them. In theory what they come up with would work in a perfect classroom, with perfect students, and in a perfect world. This is not the case in most classrooms. Sometimes you have to accept change in order to accomplish more!

Are Pencils Making Us Narcissistic

I read the post "Are Pencils Making Us Narcissistic" by John Spencer which discusses how pen pal networks and plogs need to be viewed as education tools and not how someone who doesn't like change perceives them. The principal in this discussion is still reluctant to change.

Mr. Tom Brown is talking to the principal, and the principal warns him not use pen pal networks, plogs or the newspaper he created in his teaching. The principal said it’s making students self-centered. Tom then argued that mirrors make students more self-centered than “Pencils” do. Middle school age students tend to only think about themselves anyways. Whether they have “Pencils” or mirrors, it’s a stage that they go through.

The principal's only knowledge of what he is trying to stop is something that he read on how pencils are making people narcissistic. Once again this is an example of someone not in the situation and just in an office wanting to change something because of what they read. The teacher agrees to ask the students their opinion and change some of the descriptions to help the students, mainly the principal, feel better about it.

Mr. Brown ends with how it’s not a problem with the technology, but it’s what tone of voice is used. This is very true. I have said many times that you cannot hear the tone of voice using text messaging or blogs or other forms of writing. When a person reads it, they read it how they think it was intended. It may have been intended to sound different than how the person interpreted when they read it. With this being said, using different words to explain something may create a better environment for students.

Don’t teach your kids this stuff. Please?

“Don’t teach your kids this stuff. Please?” by Scott McLeod, is a great example of someone not wanting to change. In my opinion, the person is asking the schools and everyone involved in the students’ lives to not allow them to use anything to learn other than pencil and paper. Keeping them sheltered now doesn't mean they wont get into anything bad. One day these students will be out on-their-own and if they are not taught rules about technology, then they are more likely to get themselves in trouble. Teaching technology and guidelines for it today will help prepare students for the future. Even if people tried to shelter students from technology, they will access it somewhere. If they don’t have leadership of it now, how will they know what’s right or wrong in using it. Teachers are using technology to teach and it works, so why stop?

2 comments:

  1. Amanda,

    I really enjoyed reading your blog post! You write very well and made many interesting points. All of your links work! I did not find any grammatical mistakes. Keep up the good work! We are almost finished!!

    Jamie Ham

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  2. Good job, Amanda! Your post was well-written, organized, and insightful. I also didn't find many grammatical errors.
    Keep up the good work,
    Carly

    ReplyDelete