The gospel of I don’t know

life. So much has happened and so many things have changed in my life durning the past few years that it is hard to remember to get on here and blog it out.  I’ve since gained a daughter and two sons. I’ve been a stay-at-home dad, tutor, academic coach, volunteer, foster dad, etc. So many hats worn for the first time. As I read through my blog from the beginning I’ve realized many things. Again, my personal life has changed completely. However this has only strengthened my resolve to be an impactful teacher and positive role model for the students I will soon teach.

My foster son Elijah has the emoji face (DCFS privacy law) . My son Roman in the middle and daughter Collette. 

I am writing this very blog because of a great teacher I had at La Verne.  She taught me so much about technology and the potential it has.  She was by no means a technovangelist.  Her main objective was to turn teaching cadidates on to the potential of technology in the classroom. She taught from the perspective that technology has great potential to do good and it ought to be used with positive intentions, always.  In essence, doing what is right extends to the digital world.

Technology can amplify who you are, both in good ways and in bad.  It can eat away at who you are, or help you grow.  Do I sometimes miss a world without social media? yes, however I do not own a time machine. It’s useless to be nostalgic for more than a second or two.

It’s a brave new world.

Technology is here to stay and as a teacher it is incumbent upon me to embrace technology and learn how it can be useful and helpful to as many of my students as possible.

SO, without ado, here we go.

 

Thoughts on the SAT

The SAT claims to measure “critical reading” and “mathematics” skills.  The SAT is said to be an objective assessment of student aptitudes in these two areas. These areas are tested for the purposes of predicitng sucess in college.

In terms of these two narrow areas of reading and math, the test does a good job.  However, I do not believe that you can extrapolate that a student will do well in college since a he or she does well on the SAT.  Also, if a student performs poorly on the SAT, I do not believe that they are condemned to do horribly in college. Math and Reading are fundamental skills that are very necessary for understanding the world around us as well as doing good in college.  However, these are only a few skills that do not give the entire picture of a student’s academic and intellectual potential.

If the SAT predicts future sucess, does it predict future failure?  Just becasue a student does not do well on the SAT it does not mean that he or she lacks critical reading and math skills.  For one, the test is timed.  This prevents students who do not do well under those conditions from earning an accurate score.

The SAT is important, like I said, it measures important fundamental skills that catalyze academic sucess in college.  However, I think that a student should not be judged on their SAT score and GPA alone.  When I applied for college a decade ago, all I was told was do well on the SAT and obtain a high GPA.  I would hope that college admissions have evolved since then.

Underserved students in schools that that lack resources and caring teachers will probably score poorly on the SAT.  However, among that student populaton, there are plenty of students who are just waiting for someone or something to invest in them.

Albert Einstein by blackboxberlin

Deep down inside maybe that type of student does possess the potential to score perfect on the SAT, even though they are currently in the 15th percentile.

San Francisco’s Jack Kerouac Alley.

If I were an admissions director I would most definitly use the SAT.  However, I would lessen its importance.  Of course, someone who scores perfect would be very appealing.  They would be much more likely to do well than someone who scored in the 2nd percentile.  My point is that if you do well it is a plus.  If you do not do well, then I would ask that the applicants show me evidence of other skills they possess.  Not everyone wants a PhD and a life of academia. If that was the case, and in any case, I would want to know, above all else. what is the applicant passionate about?

The Digital Divide

I grew up and went to Egan Jr. High.  They were featured on 60 minutes for utilizing the flipped classroom.  Egan is one of the highest performing public school in California. It is also in one of the most wealthy areas of California.  While i am in favor of doing new and more effective things to teach students at my former Jr. High, Egan is clearly not where the flipped classroom is needed most.

Lets say as a result of a flipped classroom, student averages improve from 90 to 93 out of 100.  That is all well and good, but I am more interested in utilizing the flipped classroom where it could improve student averages from 20 to 40 out of 100. That is the kind of imporvement that is needed and that matters.

As teachers we need to advocate that our students get access to the right technology.  It is not a simple computer literacy problem.  We need these students to really use technology and get to know how it works in order to have it enhance their lives.  If the district cannot afford iPads, then write apple or att in hopes of getting some old refrubished ones on behalf of your students.  Crazier things have worked!

Just because students do not have access to technology does not mean that they would not be good with it if they did have access. Hopefully we can concentrate on student centered technology usage, not fattening the pockets of tech companies.

My nascent approach to what some call special education

On my road toward being a teacher, I have to take a special education class.  Along with this introduction to SPecial EDucation or “SPED”, we talk about SPED issues in our teacher education classes as well.  Here’s a short history of Special Ed:  Throughout most of human history, people with disabilities or exceptionalities of any sort were treated as less than.  Less than or differently whatever they “would be” if they didn’t have said disability or exceptionalities.  Exceptions to this statement certainly exist, but for the most part, if you pushed the “RANDOM” button in your time machine, you could be fairly certain that you wouldn’t end up in as equal a society as the one that currently exists in the US today.  Out of this comes a movement to try to understand what is going on with these people, as opposed to ignoring and ostracizing them because of their disabilities or exceptionalities.

The Cripples (a.k.a. The Beggars) by Pieter Breugel the Elder (1568). A 16th-century artistic representation of disabled beggars. Photo from Wikipedia.com

In general, people try the best that they can.  People who are against inclusion usually have valid reasons for their feelings toward the issue.  I am not a parent, I do not know what it is like to have a child with a disability. However, I do have an opinion on the issue.

Inclusion is taking a student with a disability and placing them where they would be if they did not have any disability. They are supported to their level of need but they go to their neighborhood school and have the same classmates they would if they didn’t have a disability.

I think that inclusion is a best we’ve got.  I do not think that full inclusion 100% of the time is the answer.  But I do think that our policy toward special education should be the same as it ever was, do the best thing for the child.  Given the information at the time, what is the best course of action.  Like Andy mentioned, it is not up to schools to tell all parents of SPED students what to do and how to do it.  We need to just stay focused on the good of the student.

Five years form now we will be living in a whole new world that requires a whole new set of skills. Imparting the ability of “learning how to learn” is the goal of all great teachers and schools.

Meta-cognition provides a better position to advocate for one’s self– demystification, “I need to sit in front, I have visual issue.” Or “I need to see a visual of notes, not just a verbal lecture” etc.  It is important to know your personal challenges so you can best articulate your exceptionality.

Every student ought to be taught in the least restrictive environment.

English: Multiple amputee Lisa Bufano performing on her signature orange Queen Anne Table legs at All Worlds Fair 2013. Photo by Julia Wolf

Success in making academic modifications has been greater than the success in making social modifications.  Success correlates with the level of collaboration.  Collaboration has always happened in school among teachers but now it is embedded as part of the process by which we accommodate children with special needs.  Teachers who have questions regarding a student of special education, in general, should always ask special education personnel (PT, OT, SPED teachers, resources teachers, staff, etc) about their concerns.  SPED students have their own special and specific way of learning and it is our job as educators to find out what that is.

Older more established teachers have a tendency to get stuck in their ways.  If a student is not responding to that form of teaching it is incumbent upon the teacher to change the way he or she teaches.  In essence, that is inclusion.   It is important to search for variety of answers, not one silver bullet.  We must go forward without fear of failure, for failure is inevitable.

The notion that gardeners can somehow have a green thumb is a fallacy.  It is not a gardener’s green thumb that leads to a bountiful harvest, but rather his hard and measured work in the garden that yields the fruits of a gardener’s labor.

Quite frankly, who knows what goes on in the life of the mind? It’s like Aldous Huxley wrote, “There are things known and things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.”

Graffiti Portrait of Aldous Huxley

Art v. Science

Is teaching an art or a science?  Matt and I see it as a sort of dynamic-hybrid of the two. The best analogy I can think of is a baseball swing.  When you learn how to swing a baseball bat, their is a correct way to do most of what is required throughout the swing.   “Keep your feet about shoulder width apart”  “squash the bug with your back foot” “hold on to the bat as you follow through” and so on and so forth.  The technical steps are meant to provide basic steps that allow for almost anyone to be able to swing and hit a baseball/softball.  However, people who play completely at a high level almost always have a unique swing.  They have gone further than the basic steps to create their very own, unique swing.

Morgan R Lewis

To me this is very similar to teaching. Right now, most of us are just learning the fundamentals of teaching.  We are learning the basics (science) on which we can build our own personal style (art) of teaching.

 

 

Ultimately I believe that teaching is art.

Looking forward toward what topics we are going to cover I am very excited.  I love getting hearing what my colleagues in other subject areas are thinking.  I really enjoyed 466 and hearing how each person in different subject approached their texts in their respective subjects.

I hope that made sense to all the non-baseball people out there.  I really enjoyed 475 with Dr. Parry this past January and look forward to this class.  I like his student centered style and his ability to catalyze conversations.

Nomenclature

Growing up going to school in more affluent areas as I did, one would never swear in class. I have very few memories of students acting up to the point of cursing.  Students would get into verbal altercations, but if a teacher saw it or heard it, both parties were in trouble regardless if they were joking around or not.  I don’t know if this sort of way of dealing with things makes the students better students.  I do see how this threat of repercussion cuts down on riff raff, but it also taught me to fear authority.

When it comes to slang and “foul” language, I think teachers should be more like Mrs. P from the video.  Instead of getting indignant and acting like students are attacking you personally, relax and help the student(s) channel that energy away from using those words. To me, someone who uses a lot of foul language uses that language because they do not have the knowledge of more descriptive vocabulary. 

Now me being from an affluent area doesn’t mean I will come down on students in a “holier than thou” rant.  I would just explain how using those words diminish ones ability to effectively and accurately convey ones emotions and ideas.  Funny note: screaming out the F word or another explitive is proven to reduce pain.  Like if you hit your hand with a hammer and yell F@!#, you will feel less pain.

 

Jenna, I love you post.  I can totally empathize.  High School for me was one of the more uninspiring experiences of my life.  However, I did connect with a few teachers over political ideals that lead me to find passion in other ways outside of the classroom.  I love your idea about teaching affluent students to not be market-evangelizing robots that seek an increase in their 401K at any cost.  I totally support you in that. 

However, I see myself working with the less affluent for the foreseeable future.  Although I grew up in a very affluent area (Los Altos, CA), my father is not a doctor or a lawyer.  He started his own paint contracting business decades back from nothing and does very well for himself.  If you ask my dad why he doesn’t shop at whole foods, his response is “I don’t shop there, I don’t wear an ascot!!”  This sort of no excess, no conspicuous consumption mentality rubbed off on me big time.  I feel like I was educated in the best K-8 public schools and a strict private college prep high school for a reason.  I spent plenty of time around affluent people and places.   I want to take all of that and use it in a different setting.  You hit’em high Jenna, Ill hit’em low, like space jam.  Haha,  See everyone tomrrow!

Webquest

What a long strange trip its been…

Entering into this class, I used Facebook, e-mail, and various basic google functions like: search, maps, etc. My laptop ran Mac Os 10.4.11. I’ve had an iPhone for several (~4) years but did not use it for educational purposes past taking notes on the notepad app this past summer.  I had haphazardly meandered the app store for free apps that sounded interesting but never really found anything of substance.

NOW I have a whole education app folder in my iPhone with: Dropbox, Blackboard Mobile, Google Drive, La Verne library, La Verne University App, WordPress, CommonCore, TED, and Khan academy.

Joe Chay’s iPhone

I obtained a refurbished Mac desktop that can run 10.6.8.  I’m have almost reached snagit software status. Soon…

If that doesn’t qualify as  “1. Analyze, learn & use current technology related to learning & education” I don’t know what does.  This class has taught me a great deal about technology.  That is a great thing on its own.  However I feel the greatest thing that this class has taught me is to embrace technology.

As a sort of contrarian from Silicon Valley, I have always looked at what we lose when embracing new technology.  Has Facebook, twitter, instagram and social media in general eroded the foundation of our society? Is face to face communication becoming obsolete…I don’t know.  What I do know is everyone will be much more prepared to deal with the future than before we took this class.

As far as  “Resourcefully, consistently, & actively participate in various individual, small group and large group assignments,” I love the blogging assignments.  It is so easy to express myself, even if I am given a narrow, technical topic. I love the fact that, to varying degrees, I get to give my opinion on a wide rage of topics.  As you can tell by my last post, I have a few opinions.  Other group projects like the group wiki were a lot of fun.  It was really cool to see how everyone pitched into the final product.

This class has been very refreshing.  I plan on blogging into the future, maybe not as often, but definitely doing so when I feel it is necessary.

I really enjoy hearing everyone’s opinion. I love how humble everyone is and how nobody is self-important when blogging.

Vegemitegangsta

We have been experienced…

Lastly, let me say, I am a bit behind on outcome 5.  Not to fear, My WebQuest WILL be awesome.

Welcome to the Golden Age

When I hear people use this phrase, I usually tense up because I do not like being around ignorant people.  When this phrase is spoken, it is usually followed by some complaint about kids these days and a statement about how it was better when that person grew up. It is ok to take issue with certain (legitimate) aspects of the youth, however when you lament about how you and your generation was better…o boy.  Newsflash, EVERY GENERATION SINCE THE STONE AGE THINKS THEIR GENERATION IS BETTER THAN THE FOLLOWING ONES.  Personally, I would rather educate myself as to WHY people fall victim to golden age thinking.

Roger Arpajou/Mediapro/Versatil Cinema/Gravier Productions, Courtesy of Sony …

Here’s the deal, the kids didn’t create this world, adults did. We are steering the proverbial ship and for us adults to say that we would do better if WE were kids NOW is flat wrong.  I was a  month from being 16 when 9-11 happened.  The students who I teach now who are 16. They were 4 years old when 9-11 happened.  Their whole life they have essentially been told to be afraid. I was old enough and smart enough to know that the old color coded terror threat level alert chart was a joke in preventing terrorism.  “Tangerine butterscotch alert!”  However, if I was 8 and saw my parents concerned over a terror alert, then you bet I would feel anxiety and fear.  The only way to relieve this fear and anger is to find truth.

Lets turn the statement around, finish this statement “Adults these days…” are bad models of how to use technology, ignorant of world issues, lack critical thinking skills, care more about their 401k than the future of humanity, tacitly approve of: the patriot act, Guantanamo, prisoner rendition,  the run-away green house effect, massive wealth inequality, military & prison industrial complex,  etc.  What would the baby boomers do if they were faced with this job market and these issues when they were 18-21?  Every body thinks that the arc of their life & generation ought to animate the arc of every generation.  Sorry folks, the only thing that doesn’t change is the fact that their is change. In 1960, when you drove drunk, the cops made sure you got home ok  (if you were white).  Now, its like 10k out the window minimum.  I am NOT defending drunk driving, its dangerous, don’t do it.  I am simply pointing how different the world is.  The stakes are so much higher now when you mess up.  What if the military and the department of education switched budgets, phasing that in over 50 years, would that help?

not Right, but Rational

Does anybody ever remember debating with your teacher as to what exactly constituted an A- vs. a B+.  “But I have an 89.52%, can’t you just round up!!!” This has forced teachers to put on their syllabus “B+ = 87.00% – 89.99%.”

OccasionalPiece

This is madness to me and shows how inherently difficult grading is from a structural standpoint.  In regards to the quantitative grading that I am describing, I want to have a set of points that each student must cover.  I am asking students to develop an argument, on their own, and as a group.  They must argue why the “cause of war” they are discovering is the main cause for World War One. Just think:  (BLANK) is the main cause of world war one because x, y, z.

Harris Morgan

Their is no real right or wrong answer, only a rational or irrational one.  The more sound and rational the argument, the more points they get.  I will grade information presented on a quantitative scale.  If they cover all the information and tasks required they get the points.  Every task or point they miss, that is minus points.  On the other hand, the Collaboration grade will depend on the quality of their collaboration.  Is it genuine and helpful?  Is collaboration used to enhance the project or done to satisfy the requirement of talking to one another?  This aspect of the project will be graded in a qualitative fashion.    For the most part, my project will lean toward qualitative analysis.  The most important thing is that students make a real argument for their “cause”.