Technology in the Classroom

Wow, what a conference. Every table provided internet resources that I could incorporate into my math classroom. Math games, teacher aids, student aids, etc. This was so unbelievably useful; I did not realize how much stuff was actually out there. Students can really enjoy many of the sites found and listed. It was presented in an organized, professional manner that made the presentation that much better. I will certainly delve more into the websites listed and become more familiar with them. The game websites incorporated tons of different math topics, and they provided games that were fun and interesting. Students can directly relate to these games, they're modern. This was great. It was certainly eyeopening and when we first began the discussion I was under the impression I could use technology appropriately and I felt comfortable with it, there's a lot more out there that I had no idea about.

Eight Theories

Essentialism: Essentialism is a teacher-centered theory that stresses formal discipline and focuses on producing good citizens. This theory reminds me of traditional school where teaching methods include reading, lectures, memorization, repetition and examination. The role of the students is that of a learner and the teacher is the one person best suited to provide instruction. The development of basic skills are very important in an essentialist classroom. Essentialism is closely related to both Idealism and Realism.
Behaviorism: Behaviorism is also a teacher-center theory which encompasses behavior derived from the environment. According to B.F. Skinner, human behavior is directly correlated to external stimuli. The teacher's job is to provide an environment which fosters good behavior. They do this by using both positive and negative reinforces. "Learning begins when the approved behavior is observed and then positively reinforced." (pg. 111) This theory is directly linked to realism.
Positivism: Positivism is a learning theory that is based on knowledge that is observable and measurable. Intuition, mind, and spirit are rejected. This is obviously closely related to realism. Direct instruction is the method used in a positivist classroom. This requires teachers to clearly and precisely deliver expectations and instructions which is what they believe is the best way for a student to learn.
Progressivism: Progressivism is a student-centered learning theory where the classroom is more of a democracy than a dictatorship. Here the teacher and students work together to make decisions. The main idea of this theory is the idea of experimentation. Students learning through doing according to a progressivist teacher. The learner must practice, experiment and learn how to think rather than what to think. This theory stresses the process rather than the result of learning. Student involvement is key in a progresssive classroom, however the teachers role is to facilitate the student's learning with organized instruction and activities. This is very much so a pragmatist philosophy.
Humanism: Humanism is an educational philosophy which focuses on the individual. Group work and cooperative learning is rejected and the learning should focus on each individual. It's a learning process which should focus directly on the student's feelings. It is linked with the existentialism philosophy where the individual learner is the target. Students interests and beliefs are what dictate what is taught, read, and learned. This philosophy fosters an environment of caring according to humanists.
Constructivism: Constructivism is a learning philosophy closely related to existentialism. However, this learning philosophy focuses on student learning by hands-on activities. This allows students to develop their own frames of thought which allows them to individually learn their own ways. A diverse way of teaching methods is highly encouraged in a constructivist classroom.
Perennialism: Perennialism focuses on student learning based on the great ideas of Western Civilization. The focus of this philosophy is to teach everlasting ideas, ideas that are never changing. It is a principle-based teaching method which encompasses lecture and a controlled discussion.
Reconstructionism: This learning philosophy is centered around social questions. It focuses on bringing change to society and creating more of a Utopian society. A reconstructivist classroom involves both teacher and student involvement. It cultivates an atmosphere which focuses on culture and its primary purpose is to better society with equal student involvement through discussion.


After researching these eight theories on education I've come to the conclusion that the one that best fits me is Progressivism. I love the idea of learning through experimentation. Learning by doing is one of the best ways to adopt new ideas and knowledge. As a future math teacher, it is so vitally important that my students understand the process rather than the conclusion/result of problem-solving. This philosophy greatly focuses on the process. Students learn best by posing their own questions and then analyzing those questions they want answered. I also like the idea of Humanism, however I believe group work and cooperative learning are some of the best ways to learn. Not to mention working with a diverse group of people really allows you to develop skills which you will need as you grow older and continue to work alongside others. The idea of Humanism which I like is the idea of hands-on activity. Student involvement is very important and if we as teachers can incorporate this into our classrooms, students will learn much better. They will be able to relate to the process by experimenting through hands-on activity.

Discipline/Classroom Management

I really enjoyed this presentation particularly because they outlined the difference between punishment and discipline. Most teachers and parents resort to punishment, and at times it is needed, however the importance of discipline is much greater and if we as teachers can provide discipline instead of punishment then our students will be much better off. I also really liked the scenarios given, I thought they prompted great problems that all teachers are likely faced with. After discussing the scenarios, I understood the importance of finding out why a student misbehaves, skips class, etc. Why being the key component to every solution, and to also involve the students in solution is helpful and beneficial. Their presentation was filled with useful facts and information on material widely discussed across the educational system. I like how they provided three different styles of classroom management, obviously the middle being the best. All in all, great presentation with great information.

Empowerment

This last section called Empowerment wrapped up the book nicely. It provided stories which talked about the skills teachers gave students to be successful in life. Life lessons well beyond lessons from core curriculum. My favorite story was about Charlie. Charlie was this kid always making snide comments in class directed at other students or just in general. The teacher gave students the opportunity share out loud the journal entries they had written; a few decided to and during this time Charlie did not say a word. This was unusual because Charlie always had something to say. Instead, he approached the teacher asking for a journal himself in which he then read out loud. The other students had some sort of clarity and understanding of Charlie. They were able to connect with him differently than before. I liked this story because it sort of reminded me of the community that I want to build in my classroom. Not everyone is going to like everyone but it is important that they all feel comfortable.

Story of School Part IV

This section of the video talked about the time period from 1980-present. This section intrigued me the most because of the time frame, it took place during the period of when I went to school. The beginning of the 1980's schools became more noticeably in need of help. The article Nation at Risk portrayed facts that American schools were not performing and producing students with the skills and the ability to be successful. Schools around the world were doing much better and we were becoming a nation in need of help. The education system began taking action which they thought would hopefully lead to improving school systems. They allowed more choices for students. I grew up in a town that did not have a high school; we were given the choice of what high school we wanted to attend given the surrounding communities. This allowed my family and I to further analyze the secondary schools and make an appropriate decision that was best for my education. The most important thing I took from this video was that our country finally recognized the need for change in our schooling system. We have come a long way, however we still have a long way to go.

Philosophy: Reflections on the Essence of Education

There are four well-known philosophies used in Education the first being Idealism. Idealism is the philosophy based on the concept that ideas are considered all that is worth knowing. Idealists believe ideas are everlasting and perfect. "The educational philosophy of the idealist is idea centered rather than subject centered or child centered because the ideal, or the idea, is foundation of all things." (pg. 87) The second philosophy is called Realism, and this philosophy was formed from the thinking of Aristotle. This school of thought is based on reality and knowledge derived from scientific investigation. A realist teacher would deliver things in a straight forward, organized way that was backed by science. This is actually opposite of Idealism. Ideas are not reality according to Realism. The third philosophy is called Pragmatism. This philosophy is based on ever changing belief system. Pragmatists welcome change and encourage thought processes to evolve over time. They believe experience is extremely important, however unlike the Realist, Pragmatists believe changes occurs to both the knower and the world. Pragmatists like to use the ideas they've gathered as an instrument for problem solving. They believe doing is learning. It's certainly more learner centered. Lastly, the final philosophy is called Existentialism. This philosophy is about the individual. "Each individual is the creator of her or his essence; each individual is the creator of her or his meaning." (pg. 93)An Existentialist believes knowledge is based on the individual experience and personal choices made. Individuals must be autonomous in order to be an Existentialist.

After reading the four different philosophies I would categorize myself as a Pragmatist. I believe doing and experiencing is the best way to learn. Perhaps that's a major reason why I enjoy hands-on learning the best. I also relate to the idea that things are changing and developing over time, knowledge will also develop and change over time as well. Understanding the process for me is more important than the big picture. It seems like a cycled learning that is constantly evolving, which I like.

After taking the philosophy test and the class discussion about the four different philosophies my initial thought was correct. I am a Pragmatist without a doubt. The idea of well-roundness I believe is very important and that is exactly what the purpose of school for a pragmatist. I love the idea of cooperative learning, and hands-on activity. That is how I learn best, but I also believe that is a key component in learning. Experience by doing is a great way to learn.

Multicultural Issues

The issue discussed was solely about diversity in the classroom, however this issue is dynamic in itself. This presentation talked about three different kinds of diversity that are prevalent in every classroom: race and ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. They first discussed the difference between race and ethnicity which I think is very important. Across the United States, classrooms are becoming much more diverse in regards to race and ethnicity, and if we do not educate ourselves we will stay ignorant to the differences that can only enrich learning experiences. Gender being the next diversity issue talked about has been an issue since issues have been documented. Equality among males and females is heavily sought after yet there are still issues that arise in classrooms. Stereotypes play is a big role and as a female math teacher if I can help break down those stereotypes I can greatly enhance my classroom. Lastly, sexual orientation was discussed. This is becoming a heavy topic that many refuse to talk about. As mentioned previously, if we can educate ourselves on this issue than we can break down those barriers that are built with negative thoughts about sexual orientation. We live in a diverse world, which ultimately provides diverse classrooms. Let's embrace this diversity and enrich our education

Rejuvenation

This section brought some uplifting stories that gave me excitement and hope. Despite most of the previous sections being slightly depressing, I think they were important to read and learn about. But this was the section that provided that feeling of a job well done that all teachers hope for. After reading these stories of teachers providing that spark and inspiration for students it only got me more excited to start student teaching next semester. What we sometimes forget, or maybe choose to ignore, is that students spend more time in school than they do at home. Teachers have the power to be one of the most inspirational people in a child's life. I know it's not going to happen to every student, but if I can give that spark to as many as possible I will have fulfilled much of my duty.

After reading this section I couldn't help but connect it to a comment my soccer coach once said to our team earlier this year. In attempt to unite the team she said, "we all have stories, we all have backgrounds that make us who we are, we all come from different places, families, but we are now here together attempting to accomplish what some might say is impossible. If we cannot unite as a family, and community then we will not accomplish what we would like to accomplish." I directly connect this to my classroom. If I cannot unite my classroom as a family and community where students feel safe, and the labels are let go, then it will not be as successful as it can be. As a teacher, that is my job. I'm excited to get to it.

Nation At Risk

Our nation is at risk. This article was interesting to read because they depicted the overwhelming fact that America's education is descending. According to the article the overall performance or lack thereof, has allowed other countries to catch up to and even surpass us in what is thought to be one of the greatest educational systems. Students graduating from high school are not graduating with the skills necessary that prepare them for success. Test scores have lowered greatly and America is no longer considered to be the forefront in education. This is a problem, with the opportunities we have provided as a nation to have a successful education system, we are not meeting those standards. How can we improve?

I agree with the article, yet I also believe that with time we will start to see some positive changes. We have begun to recognize our poor performance and hopefully this will push the educational system to do a better job. Clearly what we've been doing lately has not been working. The traditional style is out the door, it can no longer be used as the fundamental teaching method. As a future teacher, it starts with me. I, as well as the rest of the future teachers, need to make a commitment to help make the change our nation needs. We are well-equipped to do so.

Story Of Schools Part I

This section of Story of Schools took place from the early 1800's through the early 1900's. When watching this episode one of the things I began to think about was an experience I had in middle school. My middle school class went on a field trip to one of the only one-room school houses left in Maine. We dressed the part of students during that time era, and brought pb & j and corn bread for lunch. We used outhouses for restrooms and feathers dipped in ink to write only in cursive with. Another idea about the past concept of school that I found very interesting was the idea that values were based strictly from religious influences and political influences. The use of technology and science were obviously not in effect, thus they were not used to determine different values. Horace Mann had a profound philosophy for education that helped education develop into what it's most effective ways.