This post contains my thoughts about an article in Volume 50, Number 4 of TechTrends. The article is a summary of work done by Richard West, Geoff Wright, Bruce Gabbitas, and Charles Graham.
First of all I have to say go BYU! I am impressed with BYU's Math Education program, of which I am a graduate, and reading this article gave me a sense of what other things are happening at BYU. Although I was at BYU during the study dates, I was not in one of these classes.
And now back to the article...
The first paragraph of the article caught my attention, particularly the quote by Darling-Hammond and McLaughlin...
"Teachers learn by doing, reading and reflecting (just as students do); by collaborating with other teachers; by looking closely at students and their work; and by sharing what they see."
This made me wonder, what if teachers could spend less time grading and more time watching themselves teach? I don't think much is gained from grading student work. There is much to gain from analyzing student work, though. If grading, attendance, etc. were outsourced to others, or to technology, teachers would be able to spend more time learning how to teach.
Now to blogging and RSS feeds...
The authors mentioned the limitations of the tools they were using, and the frustrations felt by the users as they were not able to do the things they wanted to do. It would be interesting to learn more about the history of each of the blogging options out there. Does a blogging application exist that is designed specifically for classroom use? Does a blogging application exist that is designed specifically for mathematics instruction? Does a blogging application exist that is designed around the latest research in education and technology, and so caters to the best practices and the most widely available open source software?
I am often frustrated at the difficulties I encounter as I try to use a hodge-podge of technologies and tools to do the various things I need to do. Maybe I will have to create something better.
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6 comments:
Richard,
I really liked your point about teachers watching themselves rather than grading. I so often wanted to put a camera up in the classroom just to figure out what I was doing that was right and what I was doing wrong. When I went into other classrooms to try to observe, the mood often shifted, and it just wasn't my classroom and wasn't me.
I am curious when you mentioned the hodge podge of technologies. Are you referring to PowerPoints and Word, or other more complex examples? I am enjoying the number of different options we are receiving in both classes, but also am struggling to keep up with them all. Many are so similar, and when it comes to keeping track, I'm not sure how to network all my networks. Good post!
Richard,
While in the Navy, one of the many jobs I had was that of Instructor at a Navy schoolhouse. Before you can become an Instructor, you have to attend the Navy's Instructor School.
One of the techniques they used at school was to videotape your presentations to the class. You then had to analyze your own "performances" and develop a plan to help you improve.
Although it was nerve-wracking, I must say that it was a very valuable evolution. You just don't realize the distracting movements you make, the body language you carry and your tone of voice that sets the tone for your class.
Good wonderings!
I concure Richard. Watching oneself is really painful but I always find I have insights into what I'm doing well and not so well when I do. In my job we also listen to calls - our primary means of communication. Similar to watching yourself deliver a presentation. I notice things like flow, transitions, voice modulations. It's a good thing.
I never thougt of a seperate blog for different content areas. Creative. What would you envision in a math blog that would make it unique?
Yes undoubtedly, in some moments I can phrase that I agree with you, but you may be making allowance for other options.
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I noticed the phrase you have not used. Or you profit by the pitch-dark methods of helping of the resource. I take a week and do necheg
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